Industrial and environmental transition
Pro²Reuse: A major step forward in assessing the reusability of plastic food packaging
10
Feb
Published on: 10/02/2025
Pro²Reuse: A major step forward in assessing the reusability of plastic food packaging
The Centre Technique de la Conservation des Produits Agricoles (CTCPA), in collaboration with the Industrial Technical Center for Plastics and Composites (IPC)is proud to announce the operational launch of a platform dedicated to assessing the reusability of plastic food packaging as part of the Pro²Reuse project.
This innovative project, supported by Citeo in 2023 and winner of the call for projects EncoRE more reuseis part of a reinforced legislative framework, marked by the AGEC law (Anti-Waste for a Circular Economy)The aim is to reduce the consumption of raw materials and limit waste production. In this context, Pro²Reuse aims to provide manufacturers with a reliable, standardized protocol for testing the reusability of their packaging, while guaranteeing compliance with sanitary and functional requirements.
An innovative platform for recycling
Located at the IPC site in Bellignat (Ain), the platform aims to simulate reuse conditions representative of real packaging use...
At the end of 2024, as part of the work carried out by Citeo, a series of industrial tests began covering different uses, such as catering, ready-made meals, fresh dairy products, and meat.
Through five complementary industrial stations, the platform simulates food simulant dosing, sealing, accelerated aging, abrasion simulation and tunnel washing.
These tests are essential for assessing the durability of packaging and its impact on food quality and safety during its reuse cycle.
A rigorous scientific approach to reusable packaging
To meet the challenges facing the sector, the CTCPA and IPC have defined precise evaluation parameters, focusing on packaging, use and washing, and integrating the most appropriate technologies to characterize their properties after reuse. The assessment is based on four fundamental criteria:
- Container-content interactions to guarantee food safety;
- Functionality, to ensure that reusable packaging retains its useful properties;
- Appearance, by assessing resistance to visual alteration;
- Cleanability, to ensure optimum hygiene after each re-use cycle.
A lever for certification and standardization
With Pro²Reuse, the CTCPA and IPC are paving the way for the implementation of a certification framework that will enable packaging manufacturers to better understand and improve the design of their products. This project also represents an essential step towards standardizing reuse practices, thus facilitating the development of a high-performance, sustainable circular economy.
Contacts :
CTCPA
David ALLAIN - Packaging Division Manager - dallain@ctcpa.org
Manon BOULVEN - Packaging Project Manager - mboulven@ctcpa.org
Patrice DOLE - Research & Innovation Director - pdole@ctcpa.org
IPC
