AICEP invests 10 million in the “new generation” plastics industry – Sustainability

By 2030, all EU countries should be able to reduce packaging waste by 5% compared to 2018 levels.

In 2024, the Agency for Investment and Foreign Trade of Portugal (AICEP) signed investment contracts worth 420 million euros, which should generally create 1,000 new jobs, revealed the Minister of Economy, Pedro Reis, in an interview with Negócios and Antena 1. The government official highlights investments in the semiconductors, automotive, pharmaceutical and plastics industry as priorities for Portugal.

It is in this last area that AICEP’s investment of 10 million euros is included in the “Smart Pack – Smart & Eco-efficient Flexible Films” project, with a view to researching and developing biodegradable materials, new recycling methods and new solutions for various applications within the film and plastic packaging industry. And there are already large economic groups interested (like Sonae, for example) in the products that will result from this project, guarantees the order published this Tuesday in Diário da República, signed by the Secretary of State for Economy, João Gomes Ferreira .

It is worth highlighting the existence of end users with a demonstrated interest in the project (“Smart Pack”), such as Bonduelle, Engivallis, Agroleite, Sierra D’el Oro, Mercadona, Vitacress, Sonae and Gamoplast. AICEP

“It is worth highlighting the existence of end users with a demonstrated interest in the project, such as Bonduelle, Engivallis, Agroleite, Sierra D’el Oro, Mercadona, Vitacress, Sonae and Gamoplast”, the document states. Furthermore, through this project, the companies involved hope to increase their level of exports. “The value of international turnover resulting from the project is expected to be greater than 13.6 million euros in 2028, the post-project year”, says AICEP

Presented by a consortium formed by five companies from the national plastics and recycling industry – Polivouga, Danipack, Serviplast, Graphenest, Isolago -, together with the Iberian International Nanotechnology Laboratory (LIN), University of Minho, Center for Nanotechnology and Technical Materials , Functional and Intelligent (CENTITVC), Polytechnic Institute of Leiria, University of Aveiro and University of Coimbra, the “Smart Pack” project was the subject of a merit assessment by AICEP, which attested to its “special and strategic interest for the Portuguese economy”, regardless of the total cost.

“Given its macroeconomic impact, it is considered that the project meets the necessary conditions for the granting of financial incentives provided for large investment projects”, says the order. The “Smart Pack” had already obtained a first approval of this incentive in September, by the Innovation and Digital Transition Program Management Authority (COMPETE 2030), taking into account financing through reimbursements from the Community Support Framework III (QCA III). , administered by AICEP.

R$5.5 million for five companies

The consortium is led by Polivouga, a company from Albergaria-a-Velha dedicated to the production of low-density polyethylene films and sleeves for packaging, bags for the traditional distribution and commerce sector and plastics for agriculture. In its 40 years of life, it has specialized in the development of flexible plastic materials, through the transformation of polymers into packaging for the most varied uses.

In the scope of sustainability, the company has been investing in solutions such as the elimination of cardboard tubes in stretch film rolls, optimization of plastic thickness for industry, elimination of polyamide from vacuum bags, certified compostable films, phthalate-free films (non-toxic and safe for children), renewable raw materials (originating from sugar cane), circular and recycled (made from bio-waste or waste from the paper and food industry). Furthermore, it invested in a new production unit, dedicated to recycling post-consumer polyethylene film waste.

Polivouga is also joined by Danipack, from Estarreja, Serviplast, also from Albergaria-a-Velha, Graphenest, from Sever do Vouga, and Isolago, from Aveiras de Baixo. The “Smart Pack” research and development (R&D) project involves an investment of approximately 10 million euros over two and a half years.

Of this amount, 5.5 million euros are directly associated with the companies that participate in it. The objective is to find answers to the challenges of excessive use of plastics in various economic sectors, through the development and implementation of solutions to create new processes, products or services related to: agricultural plastic films, food films and packaging, flexible films, recyclability and ecodesign. Underpinning these subprojects are three main axes: new high-performance materials; active and intelligent materials; and sustainability.

The project (“Smart Pack”) contributes to responding to some of the current problems of the plastics industry and society in general, resulting from the environmental impact that arises from the production, use, and consumption of plastics. AICEP

“The project contributes to responding to some of the current problems of the plastics industry and society in general, resulting from the environmental impact that arises from the production, use, and consumption of plastics”, says AICEP. As part of the “Smart Pack”, eleven research fellows will be hired and 12 new staff will be created in the entities (business and academic) that make up the consortium. The project also includes a plan for disseminating results through participation in fairs, promotional notebooks and marketing product sheets, dissemination through social networks and company websites, publication of technical and scientific articles, international congresses, doctoral theses and dissertations. master’s degree and protection of intellectual property resulting from research and development.

All this to reduce the production and consumption of disposable plastic products as much as possible in Portugal, have a more sustainable production of biodegradable packaging through composting and recyclable packaging, increase the recycling potential and develop alternatives to materials available on the market.

There are no more straws but plastic is still abundant

In the context of the European transition to a “new plastic economy”, in 2019 Brussels banned the use of several disposable plastics (such as cutlery, cups, plates and straws), banning others from 2040: fruit bags or food packaging and drinks in cafes and restaurants. In April 2024, the European Parliament approved new rules. By 2030, all EU countries should be able to reduce packaging waste by 5% (compared to 2018 levels), in addition to stipulated interim reductions of 10% by 2035 and 15% by 2040.

Furthermore, by 2029, 9% of disposable plastic and metal containers must be collected separately to ensure efficient recycling processes. By 2035, only 10% of the waste generated will be able to go to landfill, and in Portugal this percentage is still almost 60%.

In 2023, Portugal paid the European Union 195 million for plastics that it did not recycle, and should have recycled. The country reported to Brussels 428.1 million kilograms of plastic packaging waste produced and only 163 million kilograms recycled. The so-called European tax on plastics (80 cents per kilogram of non-recycled plastic packaging waste) generated in 2023 7.2 billion euros in revenue for the European Union budget, according to the European Court of Auditors.

According to the ECA, only five EU countries transposed the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive into national law by the deadline. These delays led the European Commission to initiate infringement procedures in 22 Member States, including Portugal.