Biodegradable and Cooling: Gdańsk Tech and PLASTPOM Develop New Fruit Packaging
More than PLN 2 million has been secured for the next stage of a university–industry partnership that has already led to a successful commercial implementation. The PLASTPOMCoolBioPack project, carried out by PLASTPOM in collaboration with the Department of Polymer Technology at the Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, has received nearly PLN 1.47 million in EU funding. This time, researchers and industry partners will work together to develop biodegradable packaging designed not only to protect delicate fruit, but also to make the cooling process more efficient.
More than PLN 2 million has been secured for the next stage of a university–industry partnership that has already led to a successful commercial implementation. The PLASTPOMCoolBioPack project, carried out by PLASTPOM in collaboration with the Department of Polymer Technology at the Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, has received nearly PLN 1.47 million in EU funding. This time, researchers and industry partners will work together to develop biodegradable packaging designed not only to protect delicate fruit, but also to make the cooling process more efficient.
he “PLASTPOMCoolBioPack – a biodegradable container for dynamic cooling and preserving fruit freshness” project will be carried out by PLASTPOM Beata Szwabis in partnership with Gdańsk University of Technology. Gdańsk Tech is the project’s scientific partner, with the Department of Polymer Technology at the Faculty of Chemistry involved in the research and development work.
Packaging designed to do more than protect fruit
The aim of PLASTPOMCoolBioPack is to develop and prepare for market a new container for delicate fruit such as blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. The packaging will be made from a fully biodegradable material designed to resist moisture absorption.
Its shape and construction will be just as important as the material itself. A specially designed ventilation system is expected to shorten cooling times and improve heat exchange efficiency.
This means the research team will be working on both the material and the functionality of the packaging. The final solution is intended to withstand high humidity and low temperatures, reduce the use of conventional plastics and, thanks to more efficient cooling, help lower energy consumption in refrigeration processes.
The project will include industrial research and development work, as well as pre-implementation activities related to the preparation and registration of industrial and utility designs. It will also support the development of research staff expertise in polymer materials, bioplastics and eco-design.
Potential users of the solution include fruit and vegetable producers, processors and distributors, horticultural farms, producer groups, packing facilities, cold stores, logistics centres and retail chains.
A partnership with a proven track record
PLASTPOMCoolBioPack is the latest stage of a collaboration that has already resulted in the full-scale industrial implementation of technology developed at Gdańsk University of Technology.
Bio Plast Pom previously implemented a Gdańsk Tech invention protected by European patent EP3064542. The technology concerns the production of biodegradable and compostable granules based on thermoplastic starch and biopolymer compositions containing it.
The work carried out by the Department of Polymer Technology went far beyond developing the material itself. Researchers adapted its composition and processing conditions for industrial-scale production, designed a production line with a capacity of 12 tonnes per day, oversaw its commissioning and trained the production team.
The technology was then transferred to the company, and the resulting granules entered the market under the NOPLA brand.
Today, NOPLA is used, among other applications, in the manufacture of rigid packaging and single-use products. It is also available in nine different granulate formulations, with customers in Poland as well as in Germany and the Netherlands.
This part of the story is particularly significant because the research did not stop at the laboratory or patent stage. It completed the full journey from research to industrial production and commercial use.
The partners are now beginning the next chapter of that collaboration. Building on the experience gained during the earlier implementation, they will develop a new solution for the packaging and food industries.
A success built on years of collaboration
Securing nearly PLN 1.47 million in funding for PLASTPOMCoolBioPack is a major achievement for both the Department of Polymer Technology and PLASTPOM.
What makes the project particularly significant is that it does not mark the beginning of the partnership, but rather its next stage. It builds on experience gained from a solution that has already progressed from invention and patent protection, through technology scale-up and the launch of industrial production, to a finished product available on the market.
This kind of continuity is one of the most tangible outcomes of successful university–industry collaboration: a company returns to its academic partner with another technological challenge, while earlier research becomes the starting point for further R&D and the development of new products.
The project has received European Union funding under Measure 1.1, “Comprehensive R&D Projects for Enterprises”, as part of the European Funds for Western Pomerania 2021–2027 programme. Its total value is PLN 2,019,145.22, with PLN 1,468,756.35 provided through European Funds.
