Food Waste Being Converted into Dissolvable Packaging

Food Waste Converted into Biodegradable Packaging

The EU-backed 'USABLE' project aims to produce biodegradable packaging from biological waste. Koruma Şirketler Grubu, participating in the project involving 11 countries including Turkey, will be the first user of biodegradable packaging produced from food waste in Turkey. The USABLE* project, developed with the idea of creating sustainable and biodegradable packaging, continues its research with 25 partners from 11 countries including Turkey. The project has reached its product target, aiming to develop high-performance bio-alternatives to plastic packaging by using by-products from food production as raw materials. Koruma Klor Alkali, which will be the first to use the biologically-based, biodegradable packaging developed by the USABLE project in Turkey, will contribute to the recycling of food waste, reduce its carbon footprint and enable the decomposition of its packaging.

Packaging from by-products used in pasta production

The project, in which Koruma Klor Alkali, a subsidiary of Koruma Şirketler Grubu, participates as end-user, will convert low-cost and commonly found food industry by-products such as food residues and biogenic CO2 into polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), or bio-plastic, using microbial cultures. The high-strength bio-plastic can be used in packaging applications.

Bio-plastic meets many needs of nature

S. Baran Öneren, Deputy Director of Research and Development at Koruma Klor Alkali, outlining the project's main objectives, stated: "The USABLE project, launched in 2019, aims to create bio-packaging solutions that will meet diverse packaging needs for food, beverages, pharmaceuticals and clothing, convert food processing by-products or residues and biogenic CO2 into compostable (organically degradable) and recyclable bio-packaging through low environmental footprint processes, carry out PHA (bio-plastic) functionalization and optimization to meet final use requirements in packaging, achieve bio-based, biodegradable products enabling the implementation of complex packaging structures including multi-layer films, and reduce the environmental footprint of the plastic packaging sector."

"Preparing for the Green Deal is one of our targets"

V. İbrahim Aracı, Chairman of the Board of Koruma Şirketler Grubu, the project's end-user, noted the importance of the Green Deal Agreement for companies exporting to the European Union, stating: "The Green Deal Agreement, which sets a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, has increased in importance following our accession to the Paris Climate Agreement. The carbon tax to be applied if our exporting companies do not reduce their carbon footprint poses significant risks. To maintain our market competitiveness and leave a liveable world for future generations, we must accelerate the green transition. Our participation in the USABLE project is part of our green transformation; as Koruma Şirketler Grubu, we owe more to our country and our world."