GREEN PACK: SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS FOR PACKAGING

Introduction: Materials for packaging frequently presents unresolved issues about environmental sustainability. A truly sustainable packaging must have a unique separate collection and recycling channel. The aim of the work is to develop biopolymers and composite materials for the realization of a real environmental sustainability composite that allows to produce biodegradable and/or recyclable packaging in paper/cardboard recycling channel. Materials and methods: The development of different matrixes in order to obtain water-soluble polymers and composites has been carried out. A composite material resulted from fiber of cellulose embedded in a water-soluble PVA has been developed. At the same time studies about biodegradable polymers has been conducted. A PLA biodegradable polymer added with some natural organic loads like sawdust, wood fibers or lignocellulosic loads derived from low-value plants has been realized. The obtained bio-composite materials have been processed by injection processes in order to product sheets of material for stiff packaging realization. Mechanical characterization by several traction tests has been performed. Results: Injection molding process has allowed to test the best process temperatures for these materials in order to obtain optimal quality results. Temperatures corresponding to 180°C for the barrel and 70°C for the mold have been considered the most appropriate. A good stress-strain behavior has been achieved from mechanical characterization tests. Processability as well as morphological and mechanical aspects are currently being optimized. Discussion: The obtained results demonstrated the possibility to process biocomposite materials with stiffness and environmental sustainability properties for packaging. Acknowledgements: The financial support was received from the Bando Congiunto INSTM, Regione Lombardia 2016, Project Green Pack: materiali sostenibili per il packaging.