PHBOTTLE develops a biodegradable material (PHB) by fermentation of food industry by-products

Описание: After more than four years of research, the international consortium of the PHBOTTLE project has achieved the first worldwide prototype packaging made from a bioplastic material - PHB - obtained from the organic matter, primarily sugars, present in the wastewater of the juice industry.


It is the first time a bioplastic packaging is obtained from the sugars contained in wastewater presenting the strength, stiffness, and antioxidant properties and other characteristic mechanical properties of a package

The biodegradability and compostability tests of the bottle have shown that 60% of the package is degraded within 9 weeks, compared to an average of almost 100 years required for a conventional petroleum-derived plastic container

The PHB bottle prototype obtained has been used to package the juice produced by the same industry that generated the wastewater, thus providing an innovative and comprehensive solution to the problems of waste management and environmental impact of the food industry based on the circular economy

The EU's commitment for more sustainable packaging
The PHBOTTLE project, coordinated by AINIA, is a pioneer in its field in the development of the Circular Economy concept promoted by the EU in its commitment for innovation and sustainable technological development, under the 7th Framework Programme. It is composed of an international consortium that includes: the European Fruit Juice Association (AIJN), the Spanish company Citresa (part of the multinational Suntory), Logoplaste Innovation Lab (Portugal), Logoplaste (Brazil), Omniform (Belgium), Sivel Ltd (Bulgaria) and the company Mega Empack (Mexico) as well as the technology centres TNO (The Netherlands), Aimplas (Spain) and INTI (Argentina).