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A new generation of sustainable packaging to extend shelf life of salad leafs and vegetables simplifying operations

In the fresh-cut produce segment, preserving quality over time remains a critical and complex challenge. Leafy salads and freshly grated vegetables continue to respire after processing, consuming oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide and moisture—leading to gradual quality degradation.

Traditional Modified Atmosphere Packaging (MAP) systems rely on artificial gas mixtures and dedicated equipment, increasing operational complexity, costs, and environmental impact.

A fundamentally different approach
BIOPAP® LC introduces a paradigm shift by working in harmony with the product’s natural respiration.

Its precisely engineered gas permeability enables a passive and dynamic regulation of gas exchange:

• controlled oxygen intake supports natural metabolism,
• selective CO₂ release prevents accumulation,
• both anaerobic fermentation and excessive CO₂ levels are avoided.

This creates a stable internal atmosphere that maintains optimal physiological conditions and naturally slows down metabolic activity.

Proven technical performance
Studies at 5–6°C show that products packed in BIOPAP® LC maintain a respiration quotient close to 1, indicating metabolic balance and optimal preservation conditions.

Key outcomes include:

• extended shelf life, even for delicate mixed products,
• preserved texture and crispness,
• absence of off-odours and anaerobic reactions,
• improved visual and color stability.

Operational efficiency and equipment savings
By eliminating MAP, BIOPAP® LC delivers tangible process advantages:

• no need for technical gases or related logistics,
• reduced or eliminated dedicated equipment,
• simplified packaging lines,
• improved throughput and flexibility,
• lower CAPEX and OPEX.

RESPIRATION RATE

The solution is fully compatible with existing sealing equipment, enabling immediate integration without layout changes.

Environmental impact and sensory quality
BIOPAP® LC also drives measurable sustainability benefits:

• no technical gases required,
• compostable and recyclable materials,0
• reduced food waste across the supply chain.

At the same time, it enhances organoleptic quality—delivering longer-lasting freshness, natural aroma, and a superior consumer experience.

A smarter fresh supply chain
From production to foodservice, BIOPAP® LC enables more efficient workflows, earlier preparation, and better resource management.

BIOPAP® LC is not just packaging—it is a new standard for fresh preservation: natural, efficient, and sustainable by design.

In the prestigious setting of Palazzo Mezzanotte, headquarters of Borsa Italiana, the NSA INTEGRITY AWARD ceremony took place—an initiative created by NSA to recognize companies demonstrating a concrete commitment to sustainability, legality, and the protection of corporate assets.

More than 100 SMEs across Italy were honored for their contribution to the economic and social fabric. The award was accepted on behalf of the entire company by Maria Teresa Brassiolo and Michelangelo Anderlini, co-founders together with Filippo Rossi and Giuseppe Anderlini.

“This is both a source of pride and a responsibility. We must continue to act as both witnesses and active contributors to society. The true value of a company lies in its values—those that bring people together and foster trust, innovation, and continuous investment, creating a positive dynamic for all.”

We thank NSA for promoting this important awareness, and all the companies committed every day to doing business with a long-term vision focused on the future.

#NSAIntegrityAwards #ESG #Sustainability #Compliance #SMEs

BIOPAP® POSITION PAPER ON PPWR (EU REGULATION 2025/40)

1. Executive Summary

BIOPAP® Società Benefit proposes an industrial model aligned with the PPWR (EU Regulation 2025/40) that maximizes the valorisation of biowaste through compostable packaging designed for collective catering.
In this context, compostable is not a generic alternative but a high-efficiency systemic solution where recycling and reuse are suboptimal.

Key element: European biowaste represents a largely untapped resource with strategic potential for renewable energy (biomethane) and soil fertility.

2. Strategic positioning within PPWR

The PPWR prioritizes:

1. Reduction
2. Reuse
3. Recycling
4. Compostability (in specific applications)

BIOPAP® is strategically positioned where:

• reuse is inefficient (hygiene constraints, logistics, costs)
• recycling is compromised by food contamination
• an efficient organic waste infrastructure exists

3. Biowaste: a strategic European asset

Europe generates significant volumes of organic waste that are not fully valorised.

Full activation of the biowaste value chain would enable:

• Biomethane production → reduced energy dependency
• Compost production → reduced use of chemical (especially nitrogen-based) fertilizers
• Improved soil quality
• Increased soil organic carbon (biogenic carbon sink)

BIOPAP® enables this system by improving collection efficiency and organic waste quality.

4. Italian model: European benchmark

Italy represents an advanced system:

• high separate collection of organic waste (together with certified compostable packaging)
• integration of composting and anaerobic digestion
• agricultural use of compost

BIOPAP® is designed to maximize performance within this ecosystem.

5. BIOPAP® competitive advantage

5.1 Advanced certifications

• EN 13432
• CIC certification
• OK compost HOME
• BPI (USA)
• Suitability for biomethanisation

5.2 Real differentiation

The CIC certification is a unique differentiator:

• validation by real plant operators
• disintegration testing in real scale conditions

6. Optimal application: collective catering

Ideal contexts:

• corporate canteens
• schools
• hospitals
• organized catering

Benefits:

• combined collection of food waste and packaging
• reduced sorting errors
• improved input quality for treatment plants
• higher capture of biowaste (food leftovers)

Why collective catering is the leverage point:

• concentrated waste streams
• high food contamination
• controllable systems (closed loop)

7. Competitive positioning

BIOPAP® is:

• an optimal solution in integrated organic waste systems
• an enabler of real circular economy

8. Conclusion

BIOPAP® represents an advanced and strategic solution within the PPWR framework, delivering significant impacts in energy, agriculture, and circularity when applied in the right contexts.

BIOPAP Position paper PPWR ENGL

At BIOPAP® plants, we use electricity entirely sourced from renewable energy.

Part of the energy is self-generated through photovoltaic systems installed at our production sites.
The remaining share is purchased from the grid and covered by Guarantees of Origin (GO), which certify the renewable origin of the energy.

In 2025, we consumed 123 MWh of purchased electricity, fully covered by GO from hydropower, as certified by the cancellation statement issued by the GSE.

Based on the market-based approach defined by the GHG Protocol, the electricity used in our plants is associated with zero CO₂ emissions (Scope 2).
Guarantees of Origin are electronic certificates that attest the production of energy from renewable sources and are issued, transferred, and cancelled in accordance with applicable European regulations.

In 2025, the additional renewable electricity consumed by BIOPAP® plants was generated by the hydropower plant in Bressanone. Water, like the sun, is a source of life and energy.

Hydropower, like photovoltaic energy, is one of the most important renewable energy sources and does not produce direct CO₂ emissions during operation.

Specifically, the operation of a hydropower plant is linked to the balance of water flows in streams, rivers, and lakes. For this reason, it is essential to preserve their natural conditions while respecting local flora and fauna. Adequate water flow—known as minimum ecological flow (environmental flow)—must be maintained downstream. The construction of new hydropower plants includes environmental protection and compensation measures to safeguard these parameters.

At BIOPAP®, every decision we make is conscious and responsible, including the selection of our suppliers.

This year marks a significant milestone for BIOPAP® as we celebrate our 25th anniversary—twenty-five years of progress, innovation, and commitment to sustainability. The celebration continues into 2026, an equally remarkable year for our valued associates at Novacart, who will mark their 100th anniversary.

Together, we represent 125 years of combined innovation and passion, dedicated to developing sustainable, safe, and efficient packaging solutions for the most demanding food and bakery applications worldwide.

This anniversary is an important milestone for everyone at BIOPAP®—from R&D to Accounting, from Sales to Production and Quality, from HR to Customer Service, from Marketing to Logistics—together with our global network of partners and customers.

We are proud of our first 25 years and look ahead with confidence to the next 25, continuing to embed sustainability into everything we do. Our innovations are designed with—and for—the most demanding food caterers around the world.

Our industry is undergoing profound transformation to address critical long-term objectives:

• Reduction of food waste
• Improved production planning
• Extended shelf life without compromising quality
• Enhanced consumer sensory experience (color, aroma, texture)
• Greater attention to nutritional quality
• Overall reduction of carbon footprints across menus, packaging, and processes
• Expansion of clientele and diversification of distribution channels
• More efficient, secure, and sustainable work organization

In this evolving landscape, packaging is no longer simply a container; it has become a strategic driver of business sustainability, operational efficiency, and customer loyalty.

This is the essence of BIOPAP®. We develop food packaging solutions through a systemic approach that considers the entire value cycle—from food preparation to industrial processes, from the consumer experience to end-of-life management and its environmental and social impact.

Our innovations stem from the integration of materials, design, converting technologies, and production processes. Our goal is to achieve maximum functional performance while minimizing resource use. This approach enables improved food quality, increased operational efficiency, reduced food waste, and optimized costs across the entire supply chain.

Innovation is our shared passion. It unites us as family businesses built on trust, collaboration, and long-term partnerships throughout the value chain.

We thank everyone who believes in BIOPAP® and in this journey. Let us celebrate these milestones together and continue to expand our unique compostable solutions.

Together We Care.

BIOPAP® Innovation Day – Driving Sustainable Food Packaging Forward

It has been a fantastic, lively, and constructive BIOPAP® Innovation Day, held at BIOPAP®’s Academy on October 22nd.

The goal of this special day was to share and discuss the latest sustainable food packaging innovations and best practices across our entire value chain.

Through real-world case studies, we demonstrated that sustainability can—and must—be an everyday goal:
driving fair value distribution in food and food services, enhancing operational efficiency, improving nutrition and food experiences, fostering biological circularity, supporting local community growth, and protecting both food and natural ecosystems.

Together, we traced our sustainability journey from well-managed forests—our renewable and local raw materials—through food preparation and service, all the way to composting, closing the loop of a truly circular system.

Special thanks to our guest speakers for their valuable speeches:

– Marjukka Kujanpää, Stora Enso: Fore fronting the bioeconomy, leading also in Sustainable Forest Management

– Valter Bernes, Extra Point: First BIOPAP® Easy Genius application in Hospital Catering at Zagreb University Hospital

– Mario Sestito, Polibox Srl:  Record time co-development of BIOPAP® Easy Box Insulating Box, part of the Scalable Easy Genius Ecosystem.

– Elena Fucile, Milano Ristorazione SpA:  High quality, Nitrogen tunnel-frozen, Soja Lasagne for City of Milan School Catering

– Tim Schmitt, HOFMANN‘s: Innovative and sustainable frozen ready meals BtoC packaging and concept

– Simone Orsi, Amsa Spa: Organic waste collection together with Compostable food packaging as a resource, the best practice of the Milan Metropolitan area

– Valerio Recchia, Medicair Industry Srl:  Increased shelf life and organoleptic performances with BIOPAP® MAP in organic Ham Cuts and Ready meals

– Sara Limbo, University of Milan: Shelf life extension through Natural and Controlled vegetable respirations rates with BIOPAP LC without MAP technology

– Alessandra Porro, Italian Composting and Biogas Association: Biogas and Compost from organic waste collection as a key role against climate change and positive impacts on local communities. The importance of effective Compostable packaging certifications.

Thank you to Giovanna and Chiara for the perfect and tireless organisation that made this day so special together with Marco, Francesca, Maria Teresa, Gianfranco, Roberto.

Thank you to all our guests from the professional catering and food industry: CIR FOOD, Dussmann Service, Elior Ristorazione, Milano Ristorazione SpA, Polibox, SDS, Serenissima Ristorazione, Giuseppe Citterio Spa, Red Organic…and – last but not least – to CONCORDIA Società Cooperativa for the delicious lunch prepared, delivered and served in BIOPAP® Easy Genius Ecosystem!

Thank you to our fantastic Management Team, Maria Teresa, Filippo, Carlo, Luca and to our International Network during this experience: Australia, Brazil, Croatia, Finland, France, Benelux, Luxemburg, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Christy, Letitia, Patricia, Vesna, Essi, Paavo, Pascal, Bertrand, Pedro, Ana, Chintan, Tim, Eva, Isa.

Thank you for having followed in Streaming the whole event from around the world. The recording will be available soon on YOUTUBE in both Italian and English language

#BIOPAP #Polibox #innovationDay #sustainability #professionalcatering #compostablepackaging #circulareconomy #greeninnovation #michelangeloanderlini #marjukkakujanpaa #valterbernes #mariosestito# #elenafucile #simoneorsi #saralimbo #valeriorecchia #alessandraporro

BIOPAP® EASY GENIUS ECOSYSTEM is the innovation that’s transforming the way sustainable catering is managed in schools, offices, companies, hotels, and events.
A unique system, designed and patented by BIOPAP® together with industry professionals, it simplifies the delivery of complete meals – both hot and cold – in a hygienic, eco-friendly, and efficient way, with no need for on-site infrastructure.

A patented ecosystem for the catering of the future

Born from the collaboration of exceptional people and companies, BIOPAP® EASY GENIUS ECOSYSTEM reflects a shared vision of continuous innovation and human value.
With the commitment and enthusiasm of POLIBOX®, the project was developed in record time — an example of how synergy between innovative companies can generate real solutions that simplify daily operations and reduce environmental impact.

Two components, one smart system

🔹 BIOPAP® EASY GENIUS

The compostable meal tray, GN ½ format, is practical, modular, and self-supporting.
It is sealed directly in the central kitchen with both hot and cold dishes, ensuring:

✅ Maximum hygiene and food safety

✅ Reduced preparation time

✅ Optimal preservation of food quality and temperature until consumption

🔹 BIOPAP® EASY BOX

The lightweight, ergonomic, and high-performance insulated container, developed by POLIBOX®, keeps hot and cold temperatures separate for up to 3 hours after sealing.
Each box contains one complete meal, with a dedicated slot for identification labels to ensure traceability and accuracy.

The system is stackable and modular, designed to simplify the transport of multiple meals at once.
Quality, durability, and performance proudly signed by POLIBOX®, a leading name in the field.

The advantages of the EASY GENIUS ECOSYSTEM:

♻️ Lower preparation and service costs

♻️ No washing and zero waste, thanks to the fully compostable tray

♻️ Enhanced perceived quality for the end user

♻️ Maximum hygiene, safety, and simplicity

♻️ Minimal investment and scalable solution, from 1 up to 500 meals per day

With BIOPAP® EASY GENIUS ECOSYSTEM, catering becomes more flexible, sustainable, and efficient, paving the way for new business models in green food delivery and collective catering.

Discover EASY GENIUS ECOSYSTEM at HOST 2025

Come and see how BIOPAP® and POLIBOX® are revolutionizing sustainable catering.
Meet us at HOST 2025 and experience firsthand the solution that simplifies food service operations, improves quality, and reduces environmental impact.

BIOPAP® Pad 10P – Stand B24, B32, C23, C31
POLIBOX® Pad 4 – Stand G11-H12

👉 BIOPAP® EASY GENIUS ECOSYSTEM – the future of catering is here.

#sustainablecatering #compostablemealtray #insulatedfoodcontainer #green food service #cateringinnovation #BIOPAPEASYGENIUS #POLIBOX #HOST2025 #ecofoodpackaging #collectivecatering