As part of the Value4Pack project, 20 clusters from 11 European countries (Belgium, Slovenia, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden) collaborate in the creation of an inclusive ecosystem to drive innovation and investment capacity in the European food packaging value chain.

The clusters represent companies and entities from 29 regions with higher and lower levels of development within the aforementioned countries and have analyzed the food packaging value chain of each of these regions, based on research, workshops and interviews. Subsequently, the situation of the developing regions was compared and related to the available resources and good practices of the other more developed regions. The challenges shared by the regions studied in order to meet the sustainable goals include, firstly, the resistance of consumers to accept packaging alternatives, as many maintain ingrained habits and perceive that more packaging means more safety.

In addition, regulatory and legislative barriers can vary between regions, creating confusion and making it difficult to implement European regulations. For this reason, it is necessary to promote a greater understanding of the advantages of reusable and recyclable materials, as well as to promote a culture of recycling and waste reduction.

Another major challenge is the lack of adequate infrastructure, including recycling facilities and waste sorting systems, which hinders the efficient management of packaging materials. Likewise, the high costs associated with the implementation of new materials or recycling systems, together with the limited financial incentives for companies, represent an obstacle to the adoption of more sustainable practices The lack of dialogue and collaboration between the different sectors of the packaging value chain makes it difficult to develop innovative and sustainable solutions that meet the needs of all those involved. In addition, limited access to new materials that meet food safety standards and the lack of certification and standardization of recycled materials are also important obstacles.

On the other hand, the developed regions have identified several opportunities for cooperation that relate to the project's objectives. One such opportunity is the development, testing and promotion of monomaterials with a minimal carbon footprint. At the same time, it is intended to establish a code of conduct for packaging marketing in order to reduce overpacking.

The possibility of developing and applying compostable and biologically based packaging solutions is valued, as well as achieving a balance between the functionality of the packaging and the reduction of material used, without compromising the quality or safety of the products. This last aspect involves the investigation of the barrier properties and the stiffness parameters of the new monomaterials, and the consideration of the logistical requirements.

Also, it is essential to establish specific guidelines for the eco-design of packaging, including the classification of materials according to their scope of application. In addition, it is considered to study the feasibility of refillable packaging solutions, such as reusable polypropylene containers. In terms of post-consumer management, efficient collection, washing and reuse systems are proposed, as well as return and recharge mechanisms inspired by the deposit systems of regions such as Flanders and Finland. In order to continue this first phase of analysis, a call will be published in June for all partners who want to participate in projects related to the aforementioned problems, or who have a proposal to promote sustainability in food packaging in Europe.