Packaging
Bosch & EIT develop 'inPaper' paper-based trays for confectionery & refrigerated products
Together with the EIT (European Institute for Innovation & Technology) Food project it is developing “inPaper” paper-based trays for confectionery and refrigerated products, which meet all barrier requirements while significantly reducing the use of fossil raw materials compared to conventional packaging.
Future of food
The concept phase has been completed and the first consumer surveys have been carried out.
Currently, the project partners are working on technically implementing the requirements of manufacturers, retailers and consumers.
Matthias Klauser, project leader and sustainability expert, Bosch Packaging Technology, said the company has been working with EIT Food since its establishment in 2017.
The initiative brings together players from each area of innovation, education and entrepreneurship, creating a shared vision and agenda for the future of food.
"What use is sustainable packaging, however sophisticated it may be, if it cannot be processed or filled on appropriate machines economically and with the necessary output," said Klauser.
Paper forming
Bosch Packaging Technology is also working on a machine for three-dimensional paper forming.
Klauser added, the combination of sustainability and industry 4.0 shows great potential for the food and beverage industry.
"Digitization opens up completely new possibilities for making packaging production and processing more sustainable," he said.
"For instance, various types of waste can be identified and eliminated more quickly along the value chain, or rejects can be reduced thanks to more efficient operator guidance and faster reaction times.
“In the long term, this will not only save costs, but also lower the environmental impact.”
EIT’s Food initiative is made up of a consortium of industry players, startups, research centres and universities from across Europe. It is one of eight Innovation Communities established by the EIT, an independent EU body set up in 2008 to drive innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe.
EIT Food is organising its first EU conference at TownHall Europe, Belgium, Brussels, on November 20, 2019.
The one-day event will provide a platform to discuss the possible solutions and the key levers for transforming the food system and delivering impact. It will bring together EIT Food partners with EU policy-makers from the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Council, as well as other EU stakeholders from industry, academia and civil society.
