Circularity assessment approaches for polymer food packaging – a case study on a PHBV material

Replacing fossil-based plastic food packaging with bio-based and biodegradable alternatives is essential for supporting a circular bioeconomy. Poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) is a promising biopolymer for food packaging, produced through a microbial process that uses food industry residues as feedstock. The EU-funded ViSS project aims to establish a safe, sustainable, fully functional and highly replicable PHBV value chain, employing multiple circular economy strategies such as utilising industrial food waste as feedstock and designing the packaging for recyclability and biodegradability.

This research investigates adequacy of current sustainability assessment methods used in the food sector for evaluating the circularity impacts of food packaging and implements these methods in the ViSS PHBV case. A literature review is conducted to screen circularity assessment approaches, leading to the identification of the most suitable methods for evaluating the circularity impacts of material solutions implemented in food systems. The selected assessment method will guide which topics to focus on in quantitative circularity monitoring.

This poster presentation will provide an overview of the suitable approaches for assessing the circularity of polymer packaging in food systems. The presented work outlines the key components for the circularity monitoring of PHBV food packaging, ensuring the alignment of the novel material with circular economy principles.

Complementary to the environmental evaluation with Life Cycle Assessment applied in the ViSS project, circularity assessment provides an important system perspective for a holistic assessment of sustainability impacts. Our findings offer guidance on packaging circularity assessment to practitioners in material development and plastic value chain while establishing a benchmark through ViSS solutions. Early adoption of circularity assessment monitoring reveals impacts of polymer innovations and prepares for increasing regulatory demands.