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At the Fraunhofer IVV, we follow our vision of a healthy future worth living in by focusing on the needs of tomorrow. In using our knowledge and competencies, we are actively shaping the future. Learn more about our research in the areas of bioeconomy and circular economy, health and well-being, and security and resilience. Our scientists take you on a visual journey and give you insights into our research work.

We can help you develop circular packaging concepts and resource-efficient manufacturing processes, while at the same time maintaining quality and ensuring product safety throughout. Our test rig for deep-drawn packaging allows us to create a laboratory-scale simulation of the industry conditions in which packaging is manufactured using any kind of formable materials, including plastic and paper. This gives us the flexibility to test specific requirements and a whole range of application cases presented by our industry customers - from a batch size of just one.

Legislators are demanding more use of recycled and reusable forms of packaging, something that is going hand in hand with a general trend toward the responsible use of resources. In January, we launched the SafeCycle project as a means of making it possible to use post-consumer recycled materials successfully in food applications. Within the scope of the project, we are developing a testing strategy for identifying unknown semi-volatile substances that are suspected of having a genotoxic effect in cell cultures.

Cocoa butter is used in items ranging from lipsticks and body lotions to shower and haircare products, but demand for the raw material has been rising continuously in recent years, as has its price. To make better use of the scarce resources that are available in growing regions, we have joined forces with UNICAMP (Universidade Estadual de Campinas) in Brazil as part of a CORNET project that aims to investigate the extent to which it is possible to use cocoa butter from pods with visual defects in cosmetic products.

In one study, we measured a significant reduction in stress while using certain cosmetics. These findings might be of interest to you if you also manufacture olfactory active ingredients or would like to use them in your products to produce a reinvigorating, refreshing, calming or relaxing effect. You can read the full peer-reviewed article titled: "Measurement of Stress Relief during Scented Cosmetic Product Application Using a Mood Questionnaire, Stress Hormone Levels and Brain Activation" here.

We are developing 3D forming technology for alternative food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical packaging materials that will safeguard the quality and properties of a product while also taking into account the resilience and efficiency of the packaging processes. By combining fundamental 3D geometries with smooth shapes with the option of embossing complex surface reliefs, 3D forming technology offers a new spectrum of designs for packaging that keeps its shape.

The nutritional quality of food is especially important for elderly people, most of all if they suffer from loss of appetite and are at a high risk of malnutrition. At the same time, the proportion of elderly people in the population is rising rapidly. To ensure adequate and healthy nutrition based on sustainable practices, new plant-based foods that are rich in protein and fiber need to be developed. As part of the APPETITE group project, we are combining ingredients from a variety of vegetable sources in a targeted way in order to adapt the amino acid composition of products to best fit the requirements of elderly people.

Improved recyclability of products, minimum quotas for the use of recycled materials in production and investment in new recycling technology and capacities are all drivers for implementing a circular economy for plastics. These are some of the results of the KUREA study, which was carried out by the company Ramboll in close collaboration with our institute on behalf of the German Environment Agency (UBA).

The European Circular Economy Action Plan includes calls to use post-consumer recycled packaging. However, this packaging poses major challenges for safety, especially when it comes to food contact materials. In light of this, we have developed a testing strategy to comprehensively assess the safety of recycled plastic materials as part of the PolyCycle project.

The collaborative MoPlasDekon project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) saw the development of a mobile plasma system for disinfecting emergency personnel’s protective equipment. Comprehensive tests were carried out to examine its microbicidal effectiveness. Special sensors were used to monitor the process and gas concentration levels. As part of the ongoing lighthouse project MoPlas2Dekon-PRO, researchers are aiming to further develop the compact plasma system so that it can efficiently disinfect rooms.