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Project Code [2025-GCE-1308]
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Project title
PEForm: Polyethylene furanoate (PEF) a Sustainable Polymer – Pioneering Circular Bioeconomy in Barrier Food Packaging
Primary Funding Agency
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Co-Funding Organisation(s)
n/a
Lead Organisation
Taighde Eireann Research Ireland (DCU)
Lead Applicant
Purabi Bhagabati
Project Abstract
While food packaging is essential for food security, and plastic food packaging offers additional benefits over other materials [1], it has so far come at a cost. It is now universally realised that plastic-led pollution has had a significant negative effect on our climate. Highly unsustainable, fossil-fuel based plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) have been used excessively for food packaging, and while recycling is available, it is not the solution. PET cannot be indefinitely recycled, and when it is recycled, the mechanical properties are diminished making it less and less useful at each cycle. Moreover, it has been shown that only 23% of PET is actually recycled at all, with the rest being sent to landfill or incineration [2]. Polyethylene furanoate (PEF) is a fully bio-based polymer that is both recyclable and compostable; however, the technical challenge of synthesis and manufacturing has limited its development so far. The PEForm project will address this by producing PEF with the required molecular weight and architecture to be used in food packaging. The project will reduce the amount of material used in packaging, test its shelf-life enhancing capacity, test the compostability/recyclability of the materials, and demonstrate the scalability of the manufacturing process.
Grant Approved
€334,069.45
Research Hub
Facilitating a Green and Circular Economy
Initial Projected Completion Date
04/11/2029