Circular Frozen-Food Value Chains for Reducing Cross-Border Barriers in Central Europe

Before reaching consumers, frozen and chilled food often crosses borders with different packaging rules, paperwork and hygiene procedures that create extra costs and waste. COOL-BORDER adapts tools from earlier Interreg projects into one support programme for SMEs. Six cross-border hubs will help companies choose reusable or lower-waste packaging, simplify documentation, improve cold storage and transport, and develop circular business models. By testing the same approach on both sides of borders, the project will help food businesses reduce waste, use resources more efficiently and cooperate more smoothly across central Europe.