Every month, we present 5 facts about a member of European Bioplastics. This time, Miriam Gallur Materials and Packaging Area Manager at ITENE, shares some interesting insights on the company.
Milliam Gallur, Materials and Packaging Area Manager, ITENE
5 Facts about ITENE
- Research and development of bioplastics with new functionalities
ITENE develops biodegradable materials, additives, and novel bioplastics formulations with tailored functionalities focusing on improve main mechanical, barrier, and thermal properties to meet the demands of different/several packaging applications. These materials, often biobased and/or biodegradable, are designed to ensure product protection maintaining or increasing their shelf-life while assuring their optimal end of life (industrial and home compostable, marine biodegradable among other end of life). The centre works on the formulation of new polymers, the incorporation of functional additives, and the optimisation of processing parameters to formulate high tech blends. Several developments have led to patents, particularly in bioplastics derived from renewable sources and in the recovery of waste materials. This activity supports compliance with EU legislation and market expectations by enabling companies to reduce their environmental impact without compromising functionality or efficiency. ITENE has participated and led EU-granted projects in this topic for over 20 years pioneering projects such as SUSTAINPACK, or latest as BIONANOPOLYS, SEALIVE, INSOIL, and Be-UP.
- Technologies for the recovery of organic waste and its transformation into bioplastics
ITENE develops and applies technologies to transform organic waste—such as agri-food residues or municipal biowaste—into raw materials for additives and for bioplastics. This includes microbial fermentation for PHA extraction of polysaccharides, chitin and chitosan and other biopolymers like cellulose in several forms: bacterial cellulose, microfibrilated cellulose and cellulose nanocrystals at pilot scale. These processes enable the recovery of waste streams and their conversion into high-value applications, contributing to circular economy strategies. ITENE’s work covers the entire chain: from characterisation of feedstocks and optimisation of conversion technologies to validation of the resulting materials and additives for packaging use. This approach aligns with the EU’s waste hierarchy and sustainability goals.
- Testing of food safety, chemical interaction, and functionality characterisation
ITENE performs advanced testing to ensure the safety and performance of bioplastics. This includes overall and specific migration tests for food contact compliance, chemical interaction analysis, as well as NIA´s characterization (Non-Isothermal Analysis). These tests are essential for regulatory approval and market access, especially in sensitive sectors such as food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. The results support packaging optimisation, functional validation, and risk assessment. ITENE’s laboratories operate under strict quality protocols and simulate real-world storage and distribution conditions to verify the behaviour of materials and the product that contains throughout their lifecycle.
- Evaluation and certification of compostability (industrial and home)
ITENE carries out accredited biodegradation and compostability testing according to European (EN 13432, EN 14995, EN 17427), French (NF T51-800), American (ASTM D6400, ASTM D6868), and Australian (AS 4736, AS 5810) standards. It evaluates materials, intermediate products, and additives for industrial and home composting as well as water and soil biodegradability. The laboratory is recognised by certification bodies such as TÜV AUSTRIA, DIN CERTCO, BPI, ABA, and others. ITENE issues test reports that help companies obtain international compostability certifications, facilitating compliance and credibility in the market. These services are key to validating environmental claims and supporting the transition towards more sustainable packaging.
- Industrial pre-scaling of new developments
ITENE supports the scale-up of bioplastic innovations through pilot-scale processing technologies, including extrusion, injection moulding, thermoforming, and film blowing; including latest technologies like reactive extrusion to produce quaternary blends formulation and helped by several simulation software’s to allow the extrusion screw configuration design and 3D moulds prototypes to predict packaging performance This service enables the transition from laboratory results to pre-industrial production, allowing for process validation, optimisation, and production of functional prototypes. Pre-scaling is essential to evaluate technical feasibility, adjust formulations, and reduce risks before full industrial implementation. ITENE’s facilities and expertise allow companies to accelerate time-to-market, validate compliance with packaging requirements, and adapt to legislative changes such as the European Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.