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Increasing technical requirements and a multitude of legal regulations are making compliance work for food packaging increasingly complex and quickly confusing.

As the person responsible or a new employee in this field, you are therefore faced with the challenge of applying these requirements in such a way that compliance work can be carried out more safely, quickly and cost-effectively throughout the entire supply chain.

In cooperation with the Industry Association for Food Technology and Packaging e. V. (IVLV), the one-day practical seminar "Conformity 2.0 – Food Safety and Sustainability" will take place on February 10, 2026, at the Fraunhofer IVV in Freising. You will receive a structured overview of the basics of compliance work and clear recommendations for your daily work.

These topics await you:
• Basics and practical examples for daily compliance work
• Current challenges and legislation for food packaging
• Insight into the practical implementation of migration and compliance testing in the (testing) laboratory.

We look forward to the exchange on site! Register now for the IVLV cooperation event.

Hygiene is a key factor for product safety in food production. Machine interiors and packaging must be reliably sterilized, especially in hygienic and aseptic filling processes. However, traditional sterilization processes using chemicals and high temperatures are often energy-intensive. They also require the handling of hazardous substances and careful control of possible residues.

To overcome this challenge, we are researching two innovative approaches: In the "O3Ster" project, we are testing the use of ozone in combination with high humidity for the efficient sterilization of machine interiors in food filling.

At the same time, we are investigating the use of xenon flashlight for the sterilization of packaging materials in aseptic filling systems in the "BLITZ" research project together with industrial partners. The aim is to inactivate even resistant microorganisms reliably and residue-free.

Are you interested in a customized test method to reliably evaluate the effectiveness of your sterilization processes? Then get in touch with us! You can read more information about the projects here on "O3Ster" and here on "BLITZ".

Composite packaging made of cardboard and plastic is mainly used in the food industry: it saves up to 80% plastic and combines a protective function with stability. However, their weak point is their recyclability, as the packaging components cannot be separated by type using current technology and manual separation by consumers is almost impossible to implement in practice. This means that a lot of hybrid packaging is lost to the recycling loop.

But what if the packaging itself actively supports recycling? In the "DEBO-Pack" research project, we are working on turning this vision into reality. With the Debonding on Demand approach, we are developing packaging concepts in the Fraunhofer joint project that separate themselves autonomously after use in a controlled and unmixed manner.

With our expertise in the development of resource-minimized packaging that meets requirements and the use of our model system for thermoformed packaging ("MoTiV"), the first demonstrator packaging has already been produced and analyzed. We are currently developing new adhesive and material concepts and testing variants for technical feasibility, cost-effectiveness and consumer acceptance.

Our goal: hybrid packaging that can be easily integrated into existing recycling streams – an important step towards a circular economy. Would you like to try out a packaging sample for yourself?
Visit us from May 7-13, 2026, at interpack in Hall 4, Stand C54!

What is the economic and ecological cost of common cleaning processes in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries? We are systematically investigating this question in the "QRiAS" research project. Experience to date has shown that simulations deliver more efficient results than iterative, experimental approaches. However, there is no quantitative evidence to date. The aim of the study is therefore to reliably quantify the concrete benefits of optimization measures. We are using simulations to achieve this.

Your benefits if you take part:
• Early access to the study results
• Data basis for process optimization
• Direct insight into the needs of potential customers
• Market overview of common cleaning processes
• Optimization of existing cleaning processes (e.g. temperature, chemistry, sequence)
• Budget relief
• Increase in resource efficiency
• Opportunity to bring in your own challenges and develop practical solutions together.

Take part in our survey now and use the opportunity to contribute your experience, gain practical insights at an early stage and optimize your processes based on data!

▶️Link to the survey for machine and plant manufacturers
▶️Link to the survey for producers

You can find out more about optimizing cleaning processes and hygienic production on our website.

Recipes are developed in the laboratory, but market success is only achieved through acceptance in the feeding bowl. It is precisely this moment that is the focus of our current research.

A central impulse for this project arose from everyday observations: Pet and household odors are highly influenced by the feed – and they are not always perceived as pleasant by pet owners. This brings into focus an aspect that plays a major role in everyday life but has hardly been systematically investigated scientifically to date. The central research question is therefore: What do animals need to enjoy eating their food – and what do pet owners need in order to find feed and its effects pleasant in everyday life?

We are currently addressing this question. And so we are setting up an international research network for the sensory optimization of dog food in the "PetFoodSense" project. The scientific basis is the combination of sensory expertise with modern chemical-analytical methods. A particular focus is on the dynamic analysis of the perceived intrinsic odor of animals after consuming different feedstuffs – a research approach that has been little researched to date but is also highly relevant to everyday life.

This results in clear added value for companies: the development of sensory-optimized feed that not only increases animal acceptance, but also noticeably improves the everyday lives of animal owners.

We are currently looking for further industry and research partners for a joint project application. Are you interested in a collaboration or a non-binding exchange? Please feel free to contact us!

Polyolefin films are used in countless packaging applications. However, every recycling cycle leaves traces in the material and influences processing, stability and quality. The key question is therefore: Under what conditions can recycled materials be used reliably?

In the "MultiRec" project, we are working with the Fraunhofer IGCV, the University of Hasselt and the Technical University of Wroclaw to investigate polyethylene-based sealing, stretch and shrink films over up to 15 recycling cycles. We produce new films from recycled material and evaluate web tension, friction and sealability, among other things. The results show: Polymer type and layer structure determine the extent to which properties change. In addition, additives are demonstrably lost, which can impair further processing – making targeted post-additivation necessary.

At the same time, recyclate can be used stably in multilayer films if it is embedded in a middle layer. This gives companies a clear orientation for recycling-friendly, resource-efficient packaging solutions and for meeting the PPWR recyclate quotas.

Do you want to use the results early on and help shape them? Then contact us and become part of the project support committee.

Dr. Angela Störmer has been appointed by the President of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) as a full member of the Committee for Consumer Products. The scientist and quality management representative at our institute will thus strengthen the committee, which is composed of representatives from science, industry and consumer protection associations, testing laboratories, and private laboratories.

Freshness, quality and sustainability are what today’s consumers expect from food products. And for highly perishable items, shelf life plays a crucial role. To extend it, preservatives are often used – yet the demand for natural ingredients and clean-label products continues to grow.

In the "PEARL" research project, we are working together with international partners to develop innovative processes to keep food fresh for longer in a natural way. The focus is on phlorotannin-rich extracts from cultivated macroalgae – bioactive compounds with antimicrobial and antioxidant effects.

Macroalgae are also a particularly sustainable raw material: they require neither agricultural land nor fertilizer. At Fraunhofer IVV, we examine the effectiveness of these extracts and evaluate their practical suitability for industrial applications.

Would you like to improve the shelf life of your products and open up new business opportunities? Get in touch with us – we are here to support you.

Lithium-ion batteries are a key technology for electromobility and energy storage. Their aluminum encapsulation is lightweight and easy to process, but offers limited safety: severe overheating can lead to temperatures at which the aluminum shell itself catches fire – a fire that is difficult to extinguish.

In an international research project, we are therefore developing a new generation of lithium-ion battery casings together with industrial partners from South Korea and the Fraunhofer ISC. Our approach: stainless steel combined with a high-barrier composite material for improved fire protection, high chemical resistance and a longer service life. In this way, we create a significantly more robust and safer solution for demanding applications.

We also build on this expertise to create your individual solutions: Whether corrosion protection, gas or water vapor barrier, improvement of mechanical stability or electrical insulation – we functionalize polymer and metal surfaces effectively and over a large area, precisely tailored to your overall system.

Do you have any questions or are you interested in details? Contact us – we look forward to exchanging ideas.

Reliably sealed packaging is a key lever for preventing food and resource waste – especially in the case of flexible plastics and coated papers that are to be used in compliance with the PPWR in the future. This is precisely where our new joint research project with the University of Hasselt (Belgium) comes in.

The aim is to investigate how material properties and melt flow behavior during heat contact sealing influence seam tightness and how sealing parameters (e.g. temperature, time, pressure, cooling) can be optimally adapted to this.

We would like to involve companies and experts from industry in the project at an early stage – from raw material manufacturers and packaging producers to food processors. Their experiences and needs will help us to sharpen the research focus in a practical way. We look forward to your input on our survey.