Press Releases

A sustainable society with climate-neutral processes requires significant adjustments in the value chains, which are only possible through innovations. Seven Fraunhofer Institutes are pooling their expertise in the lighthouse project "Waste4Future" to develop new solutions for this goal, from the raw material base to material flows and process engineering right to the end of a product's life cycle. In particular, they want to increase energy and resource efficiency in the use of plastics and thus pave the way for a chemical industry that requires fewer fossil raw materials and produces fewer emissions.

Research News / May 03, 2021 The amount of plastic waste increases every year. Some of this waste is due to plastic packaging used to protect food. As part of the “BioActiveMaterials” project, researchers at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft have developed an eco-friendly coating for paper packaging. With this, not only is plastic saved, but the coating of plant-based proteins and waxes also extends the shelf life of the food. After use, the packaging can be placed in the waste paper recycling bin for disposal.

The lighthouse project »FutureProteins« combines the production of alternative protein sources in closed agricultural systems with an integrated use of all by-products to create further protein raw materials.

In the EVOBIO project, 19 Fraunhofer Institutes have combined their expertise and over a period of five months have developed concepts and modules for a new way of doing business. This is now demonstrated through the use of selected examples.

On April 1st the - FlexFunction2Sustain - Open Innovation Test Bed was launched to boost innovations for sustainable plastic and paper products to reach the market faster. The project, financed by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme, will support the Plastics and Paper Processing Industry in overcoming environmental challenges while entering the digital age.

As of 1 April 2020, Prof. Andrea Büttner is the new Executive Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV in Freising.

Plastic recyclates produced from waste packaging have to meet high sensory requirements in order to be used for new products. Plastic recyclates often have off-odors, some of which have not hitherto been identified. The Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV has analyzed the sensory properties of post-consumer shopping bags made of low density polyethylene (LDPE) and originating from different collection systems.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV will present innovations in recyclable packaging, automation, and assistance for more effective processes at the interpack fair in Düsseldorf from 7-13 May 2020. The Fraunhofer IVV can be found on the stand of the VDMA (Hall 4, Stand C50).

The Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV will present the manufacture of 3D electronics using the roll-to-roll principle at the LOPEC international fair for printed electronics being held in Munich on 25-26 March 2020 (Hall B0, Stand 411). A new thermoforming process makes this possible. It allows higher degrees of forming via temperature profiling. It was developed at Fraunhofer IVV Dresden.

Prof. Dr. Andrea Büttner has been appointed Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Process Engineering and Packaging IVV in Freising as of 1 November 2019. In recent years at Fraunhofer IVV, the internationally renowned scientist established the Department of Sensory Analytics, launched the Product Performance business field, and took on the role of Deputy Director of the Institute. Concurrently, she built up an aroma research group at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and in 2017 was appointed Professor of the newly created Chair of Aroma and Smell Research.