Highly innovative are the alternative packaging designs to plastic illustrated in the ITARCO project by the second group interviewed from the "International Leadership & Innovation" course of Management Engineering at the Milan Polytechnic: from "potato plastic" to seaweed, we are talking about biodegradable and completely sustainable products.

Students tell us more about the project:
Dallari Riccardo, Del Mastro Tiziano, Fourcade Falaschi Julieta, García Laguna M. Alejandra, Garzanti Leo Claudio, Girino Nicolò, under the guidance of Prof. Filomena Canterino

1) The next edition of MEAT-TECH 2024 will pay special attention to the innovations in the protein world and will focus on the opportunities related to the evolution of production paradigms from a circular, sustainability and energy-saving perspective. The project you have approached and that you will illustrate at the event will explore some of these issues; in fact, it focuses on "Potato Plastic," a new alternative to single-use plastic for outer packaging, and on seaweed for internal packaging, can you tell us more about it in detail?

1) Our goal was to create a product that was as sustainable as possible. Currently, the burgers we find in supermarkets have two layers of plastic: an inner one to protect it from possible contamination, and an outer one to protect it from potential impact. Typically, both layers are made of plastic, both for cost and convenience reasons. We have tried to eliminate plastic from the plant-based burger to achieve a product that is 100% sustainable (at the expense of a higher cost that was okay for the final customers). Seaweed is used as a replacement for the inner layer, while potato plastic is used for the outer layer (by reclaiming part of the discarded potato skins from the burger production process). This way, we eliminate plastic and use materials in a sustainable and circular manner.

2) What are the advantages of this packaging material over traditional packaging?

The advantages of internal algae packaging are primarily three: In the first place, algae are edible, and thus the final consumer can eat it together with the burger. The second advantage is that it is a biodegradable product that can be decomposed in the environment without harming it. Finally, algae are undeniably regenerative, i.e. a resource that can be found in large quantities. Speaking about the external packaging made of potatoes, this product is biodegradable and sustainable because the final packaging does not include the use of plastic. In addition, it can be used to prevent food waste (as in the case of potato peel).

3) Can plastic really be replaced in the future, with an innovative, biodegradable, 100% Bio-based material such as potato starch or algae?

In an environmental context like the one we are currently going through, the trend towards the adoption of sustainable packaging is becoming increasingly relevant. To achieve the effective implementation of this type of packaging (and more specifically potato plastic and algae) will have to face several factors such as developments and technological advances that allow a cost-effectiveness and scalability of production, ensuring the proper disposal and infrastructure for obtaining and maintaining the desired properties (such as barrier properties and shelf life) required for various types of packaging. On the other hand, an extremely important factor that must accompany the technological development is the environmental awareness of the involved companies and the relevant governmental institutions to incentive the adoption of this type of packaging both in the production lines of companies as in society.

4) Your project is definitely a good first step toward reducing plastic pollution, but there is still a long way to go toward an environmentally sustainable lifestyle and society?

There is certainly a long way to go. Through awareness-raising and education on environmental sustainability, new generations will be able to pursue it. Trying to reduce plastic consumption is both an individual and a collective responsibility. It is necessary for every citizen to try to replace it, when possible, with sustainable alternatives. However, help from state agencies will be essential so that people and private individuals do not lose out. The foundations are there, but now we need to start building this education quickly.

5) Participating in this project brought you closer to the world of the food industry, a growing market full of opportunities. What aspects have you been most passionate about? What surprised you in the research part? What developments do you foresee for its future?

 Certainly, one of the things we were most excited about was discovering the many possibilities of packaging and discovering the various machines used. We were particularly surprised how much the meat industry has an impact on the environment and how much this could be avoided by changing certain habits or coming up with new products (such as plant-based burgers). For the future, we foresee an increase in protein-based products with a low environmental impact, with a consequent decrease in meat consumption.

Group Contact: Tiziano Del Mastro