About The Project
A-BLOCK: From Waste to Packaging, From Science to Safety
- Thematic Area: Agri-food Value Chain
- Budget: 1.109.000,00 €
- Duration: 36 months
- Project Start Date: 01/09/2024
- Project End Date: 31/08/2027
Food loss and waste represent one of the most pressing paradoxes of our time—while global efforts focus on increasing food production, nearly one-third of all food goes uneaten. A-BLOCK aims to address this imbalance by targeting waste at both ends of the food supply chain: valorizing agro-industrial by-products rich in bioactive compounds, and developing next-generation antimicrobial packaging solutions that extend shelf life and reduce spoilage.
By combining advanced encapsulation techniques, diatom-based microcarriers, and bioinspired nanostructured surfaces, A-BLOCK seeks to design innovative polymer films that actively enhance food safety. Rooted in the Mediterranean region’s agro-industrial waste streams, the project merges sustainability with cutting-edge material science to offer a smart, nature-inspired response to global food waste challenges.
A-BLOCK brings together academic and industrial partners from Türkiye (Istanbul Bilgi University, Ülker Bisküvi, Polinas Plastic Company), Greece (National and Kapodistrian University of Athens), France (University Claude Bernard Lyon 1), Luxembourg (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology), and Germany (German Institute of Food Technologies) in the fight against global food waste.
A-BLOCK PROJECT APPROACH
Our research and development follow a structured five‑stage innovation pathway, supported throughout by comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Regulatory Evaluation to ensure safety, compliance, and real‑world applicability.
- Extraction & Characterization of Bioactive Compounds
Identifying, isolating, and profiling natural antimicrobial and antioxidant agents from Mediterranean agri‑waste streams. - Design of Microemulsions
Formulating stable microemulsions that enable effective incorporation and controlled release of bioactive ingredients. - Diatom‑Based Encapsulation
Utilizing diatom frustules as natural micro‑carriers to protect, stabilize, and deliver bioactives in a controlled manner. - Design of Antibacterial Nanotopographies
Creating bioinspired nanoscale surface structures that inhibit microbial growth without relying on chemical additives. - Performance Evaluation
Assessing mechanical, antimicrobial, chemical, and functional performance through laboratory, packaging, and food‑contact tests.
