Packaging Cluster and INNOVACC brought together more than 50 attendees from the packaging, meat and alternative protein sectors in a day held at the facilities of the IRTA (Institute for Agri-Food Research and Technologies). The event, which ended the project MEÆTPACK, served to present for the first time the Sector guide for meat packaging and alternative protein in the context of the Circular Economy and Ecodesign.
This guide, prepared within the framework of the MEÆTPACK project and funded by the Agència de Residus de Catalunya through the call for Projects to promote the circular economy, offers a complete analysis of the solutions sustainable packaging considering its life cycle, addressing both the ecological footprint of packaging and its role in reducing food waste. MEÆTPACK is an initiative led by the Packaging Cluster and INNOVACC, with the technical execution of Unedited, a consultancy specialising in sustainability.
The day began with an institutional welcome by INNOVACC and the Packaging Cluster, followed by the presentation of the guide by the Inèdit team, which highlighted the structure and content of the document, including a compilation of trends in sustainable packaging, their fit with the legislative context and current certifications, specific actions framed within strategic lines of eco-design, good practices of collaborating companies and the identification of common challenges in the sector. The guide also provides practical tools for the selection of materials based on their environmental impact and designs focused on recyclability, in line with the requirements established by the European Union, and is available for download for the partners of the Packaging Cluster and INNOVACC.
After the presentation, IRTA offered a talk on its sustainable packaging projects applied to the meat sector, followed by a networking café that gave rise to a participatory dynamic aimed at promoting the creation of collaborative projects. The day concluded with a guided tour of the IRTA facilities in Monells, where attendees were able to learn about the centre's lines of research, which include areas such as animal production and health, sustainable agriculture, food technology and food quality. This meeting reaffirms the commitment of the Packaging Cluster, INNOVACC and its partners to promoting a more sustainable and innovative sector.
