Bangor science project shortlisted for second EU award

BREAD4PLA, a green science and technology project in which Bangor University’s research played a significant role, has been shortlisted in the ''Green Awards'' as one of the best LIFE Environment Projects of the last 25 years.

Researchers from AIMPLAS, Technological Institute of Plastics, Spain; the Biocomposites Centre and School of Chemistry from Bangor University; ATB, the Agricultural Engineering Institute, Germany and CETECE, the Cereals Technology Centre, Spain successfully developed a new biodegradable packaging for bakery products from the wastes generated by the same industry they come from.

Dr Viacheslav Tverezovskiy, Biocomposites Centre, explains: “Wastes from bread crusts, sliced bread and sponge cakes underwent fermentation and enzymatic treatment to obtain lactic acid. Lactic acid was polymerised to a biodegradable polymer, PLA. The latter was processed by the current extrusion technique to produce a packaging film with excellent barrier properties, suitable for different products of the bakery sector, even for packing pasta and sweets. The new packaging materials are fully biodegradable and compostable.”

LIFE is the EU’s financial instrument supporting environmental and nature conservation projects throughout the EU, as well as in some candidate, acceding and neighbouring countries. Since 1992, LIFE has co-financed some 3506 projects, contributing approximately €2.5 billion to the protection of the environment.

The ''Green Awards'' will reward the most outstanding closed LIFE projects since 1992. They were selected by a jury, based on a number of criteria, including long-term sustainability, communication potential and broader impact on national, European or global level. Considering the topics of the projects, they were additionally scored on innovation, transferability, environmental benefits and conservation status improvement.

''Green Awards'' winners will be selected by means of a public vote on Facebook and winners will be revealed during EU Green Week in Brussels on 30th May.

Be sure to vote for your favourite LIFE Environment project!

Publication date: 28 April 2017