Improving circularity of multilayer flexible plastic food contact packaging

Overview

Supports the development and industrial-scale demonstration of recyclable multilayer flexible plastic food contact packaging, focusing on eco-design, sorting technologies, and closed-loop recycling systems. Targets value chain stakeholders, including raw material producers, converters, brand owners, waste managers, and recyclers.

Who Can Apply

Consortia of legal entities from eligible countries, including primary and secondary raw material producers, polymer suppliers, additives suppliers, converters, agri-food suppliers, brand owners, retailers (SMEs and large companies), waste managers, and recyclers.

Funding Details

• Maximum grant amount: 10,000,000 EUR
• Funding is provided as a lump sum.

What Is Funded

• Development of mono-material multilayer flexible plastic food contact packaging.
• Eco-design improvements and digital solutions for circularity (e.g., digital product passports).
• Physical and digital technologies (e.g., AI, watermarking) to enhance sorting yield.
• Recycling technologies (separation, purification, decontamination) for food contact-compliant recycled plastic.
• Industrial-scale demonstration of solutions involving the entire value chain.
• Feasibility, effectiveness, and impact assessments, including lifecycle evaluations.

Technology / Maturity Requirements

• Activities must achieve TRL 6-8 by the end of the project.
• Projects may start at any TRL within the range of 4-6.

Key Dates

• Open date: 2026-04-16
• Deadline: 2026-09-16

Application Process (High-Level)

• Single-stage application process.
• Proposals must be submitted via the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Geographic Scope & Language

• Eligible countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, United Kingdom, Switzerland.
• Application language: English.

Notes

• Proposals must comply with relevant food contact regulations (Regulation 2022/1616 and Regulation 1935/2004).
• Engagement of all relevant value chain stakeholders is mandatory.
• Clustering with other Horizon Europe projects is encouraged.
• Proposals must align with the European Green Deal, Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, and other related EU policies.