CIMPA, an EU-funded H2020 project, aims to develop a recycling chain for post-industrial and post-consumer multilayer films from food and agricultural applications. This complex approach combines innovative compositional sorting, mechanical and physical recycling and an advanced decontamination process.

The consortium CIRCULAR FoodPack is working on solutions to enable the circular use of plastic packaging, focusing on the most sensitive product category: food. The project aims to develop recyclable packaging with at least 50% post-consumer recyclates incorporated behind a functional barrier.

The MERLIN project (Increasing the quality and rate of MultilayER packaging recycLINg waste) aims at designing innovative solutions for all the processes required to increase the quality and rate of recycled plastic materials coming from multi-layer packaging waste. MERLIN’s new solutions will meet the growing number of plants that are seeking effective solutions.

Coffeefrom is an innovative project from Italy, the second circular economy project run by Il Giardinone Cooperativa Sociale. It has built a supply chain based on the recovery and processing of industrial coffee grounds. Coffee grounds from the food industry are blended with biopolymers to become a new bio-based material that is a durable and resistant alternative to single-use plastic.

The RE.WIND project routes used film to a dedicated supply chain that allows it to be recycled more efficiently, ensuring that the film obtained is of a high quality. The material goes back to the company in the form of film that can be used again to wrap pallets of goods.

Bioforcetech aims to reduce energy and labour costs while reducing emissions and generating by-products (fertilisers) with added value. The company's vision is simple: instead of transporting "waste", machines are designed to autonomously transform organics into value. Bioforcetech's technology locally transforms organic streams into renewable energy and biochar.

Food waste causes loss of materials and energy, environmental damage and negative effects on people's health and quality of life. In response to this, two Italian consumers' associations have decided to provide a series of nationwide services and activities, investing in innovative tools that promote the information needed to curb daily food waste.

NP-bioTech uses a biocatalyst, adsorbed onto an inert material (catalytic substrate). This enables the accelerated fermentation of critical biomass (such as citrus pulp or sewage sludge), transforming it into a biostabilised and pasteurised material with excellent agronomic properties.

The Hydro Ben project focuses on resource recovery for reuse in other industrial activities. It consists of recovering fatty substances from wastewater in professional catering facilities, by means of a special device which is placed under the sink.

The LIFE CIRC-ELV project has developed a new process for managing end-of-life vehicles to recover bumpers and fuel tanks, recycle the materials and use them to manufacture pipes and new parts for vehicles. Using this recycled plastic in products from this industry and others will help reduce the carbon footprint by 85%.