Sustainable Packaging

Project Team

How can companies be supported through successful further training to use packaging made from sustainable plastics that do not rely on oil or natural gas during their production? This question is addressed by a joint project of the Sustainable Packaging Institute (SPI) at Albstadt-Sigmaringen University of Applied Sciences and the Sigmaringen Economic Development Agency (WFS). "PackMit" has a duration of three years and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). The goal is to develop a training concept for further education as a so-called Packaging Information Mediator. With this additional qualification, the necessary knowledge for the more sustainable use of packaging will initially be conveyed and then implemented in companies.

"Food packaging is often made entirely or partially from oil-based plastics," says Institute Director Prof. Dr. Markus Schmid, who conducts research on sustainable packaging concepts at SPI in the Sigmaringen Model Factory with numerous scientists. "These are high-performance materials, which many consumers are often unaware of." However, the oil or natural gas often used in production is limited in availability, and environmentally friendly handling of increasing packaging volumes is challenging. And: "Although alternatives already exist, they are hardly used in terms of quantity. One reason for this is that many companies are not sufficiently informed about their properties and possible applications."

Building such knowledge, however, is time-consuming and costly, posing challenges especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. In the course of "PackMit," WFS and SPI are now addressing exactly this problem to support companies in achieving their sustainability goals. "In close exchange with companies in the packaging industry, the knowledge needs are identified and then combined with scientific study results," reports Mara Strenger, who manages the project operationally. Subsequently, preliminary training modules will be developed for the further education as a Packaging Information Mediator. In a final pilot phase, they will apply their learned knowledge to regional companies before the training concept can be further expanded.

"The Academy at the Innovation Campus offers ideal conditions to provide expert information there," says WFS Managing Director Uwe Knoll. With "PackMit," the foundation is being laid for further projects to build upon.

Institute Director Prof. Dr. Markus Schmid, Alina Kleiner from Sigmaringen Economic Development, Project Manager Mara Strenger, and WFS Managing Director Uwe Knoll (from left) aim to bring knowledge about sustainable packaging into companies.