Obtained 7.6 million euros in funding! The Greco project in Europe aims to create high-performance biodegradable food packaging
In May 2025, an important research project called Greco successfully received 7.6 million euros (approximately 61.8 million RMB) in funding support from the Horizon Europe program. This capital injection will provide strong support for the innovative development of the food packaging industry, and is expected to reshape the entire industry landscape with innovative technologies and sustainable solutions.
The Greco project can be regarded as a model of multi-party collaboration. Led by Dutch polylactic acid (PLA) producer TotalEnergies Corbion, Spanish packaging company Coexpan, Spanish plastic technology center Aimplas, and European Bioplastics, it has attracted 22 partners who are passionate about promoting sustainable food packaging solutions for PLA. The project will officially launch on June 16-17 at the headquarters of Aimplas in Valencia, Spain, where all parties will gather to discuss development plans.
It is understood that the Greco project has clear goals and is fully focused on sustainable packaging development. The project is committed to creating high-performance, recyclable, and biodegradable food packaging, from flexible films for holding berries to hard containers for holding cheese, striving to extend product shelf life, effectively retain aroma and moisture, and strictly comply with the requirements of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations. To achieve this goal, the project team focuses on developing a new generation of polylactic acid copolymers, functional coatings, and environmentally friendly chemical processes to meet the diverse needs of the food packaging industry, and adopts an iterative development approach to enhance the biodegradability, production efficiency, and material quality of polylactic acid. As Dimitrios Bikiaris, project coordinator at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, said, "Our goal is to create sustainable circular solutions that reduce waste and impact on the environment
In terms of technological breakthroughs, the advantages of all parties involved are fully demonstrated. TotalEnergies Corbion is developing advanced polylactic acid copolymers to enhance their recyclability and functionality. The company's polylactic acid factory located in Rayong, Thailand has an annual output of up to 75000 tons. Its polylactic acid product line is widely used in various industries such as packaging, consumer goods, and automobiles. It also leads the chemical recycling of polylactic acid waste through hydrolysis and depolymerization technology, vigorously practicing the principle of circular economy. Aimplas company utilizes cutting-edge technologies such as reactive extrusion and mechanochemistry to customize polylactic acid copolymers and additives, laying a solid foundation for scalable green packaging solutions.
In addition, the Greco project attaches great importance to the end of the product lifecycle and certification process. The project team will explore mechanical and chemical recycling methods, and test biodegradability in different environments such as oceans, soils, and compost. Certification partners T Ü V Austria and DIN Certco Germany will assist in developing new industry standards based on actual test results. It is worth mentioning that while focusing on laboratory research, the project also fully considers social factors by collecting consumer insights to ensure that the final product meets both sustainable development requirements and practical usage needs. As Hasso von Pogrell of the European Bioplastics Association has stated, "The Greco project demonstrates how collaboration and innovation can drive the European bioeconomy. "