STRETCHABLE BIO-BASED POLYMER FILMS AND LABELS, acronym: STRETCH-B

Recent EU legislation regulating waste management has focused on reducing the environmental impact on packages and their wastes. In this legislative context, the secondary and tertiary packaging field is already looking for materials and solutions covering market needs while being an adequate alternative to the current market solutions.The Stretch-B project develops an innovative line of bio-based stretch films for making recyclable or compostable packaging and labels. These films will be obtained through an innovative extrusion technology of bio-based polyesters and agro-food waste materials, including keratin-based materials from poultry feathers and coarse wool waste. Stretchable films will be obtained with high elasticity, good barrier, enhanced surface properties and competitive cost. Bio-based inks for labels printing containing keratin derivatives will be also formulated in order to reduce the environmental impacts and enhance the recyclability of the products. The superior environmental profile of the stretch films developed by Stretch-B not only complies with the current legislation but also allows the exploration of new market possibilities.