Embalagem do Futuro (Packaging of the Future) is a finalist in this year’s Sustainability Awards, nominated in the Thinking Big and Research and Development categories for its collaborative R&D initiative and bio-polymer coating for food-contact corrugated cardboard. We spoke with Pedro Costa, project manager at Embalagem do Futuro, to find out more about these innovations.
You’re a finalist in the Sustainability Awards 2026. Congratulations! To start off, could you summarize your entries in less than 50 words?
Packaging of the Future is a Portuguese R&D initiative uniting 79 partners from industry, research centres, startups and universities to revolutionize packaging sustainability through circular design, advanced materials, digitalization and industrial transformation, led by VANGEST-Engineering Solutions, managed by NERLEI-Chamber of Commerce and Industry from Leiria Region and supported by INOVA+ - Innovation Services.
Our natural bio-polymer coating for corrugated cardboard is an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic food contact materials and the the 10th subproject from Packaging of the Future, developed by R&D centres CDRsp and MARE-IPLeiria from Polytechnic University of Leiria, led by CARTONARTE.
Why do you think the judges were impressed with your entries? Tell us about what is innovative about your projects and/or about their impacts on packaging sustainability.
We believe the judges were impressed by the diverse group of partners that came together to transform the Portuguese packaging sector through sustainable, digital, and inclusive innovation. The project includes 79 partners with 63 companies - some of them commercial competitors – carrying out 19 subprojects focusing on packaging materials such as cardboard, glass, plastic, and wood with an emphasis on sensor technology, traceability, manufacturing processes, production facilities, waste recovery, certification and training.
For our bio-based coating, we believe the judges were impressed because the development complies with circular economy principles and is suitable for food contact applications, representing an important technological challenge for the paper and packaging industry. Chitosan is considered one of the most promising biopolymers for such applications because of its film-forming ability, biodegradability and intrinsic antimicrobial activity.
Finally, can you tell us about the ongoing development of your projects, e.g. how your innovations/initiatives have been received by the industry, or what the next steps are in commercialization/product development?
The Embalagem do Futuro project involves 63 companies, some of which are leading some of the subprojects. Many of the products are already on the market, while others are in the market promotion phase. The project will end in 2026, but many of these collaborative relationships will continue. Some products will be improved and other products, processes, or services will be created, ensuring that the project’s legacy endures over time.
The partnership between the R&D centres for the bio-based coating - CDRsp and MARE-IPleiria - and the company CARTONARTE is now in place. The research is nearly complete, and the patent application is under review. The next steps will be formal approval by the regulatory authorities and the industrial-scale implementation of the process for impregnating the cardboard with the bio-coating on the production line.
The winners of this year’s Sustainability Awards are due to be announced on the 11th November at the Sustainable Packaging Summit, taking place from the 10th-12th November in Utrecht, Netherlands. The Summit mobilizes leaders of the FMCG value chain, policymakers, NGOs, recyclers and investors to collaborate, remove barriers and identify opportunities on the road to sustainable transformation.
To learn more or register, visit: https://www.packagingsummit.earth
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