What challenges will the project address?

The D4Pack project supports Central European SMEs in the transition towards next-generation and sustainable packaging solutions.

How? Through the development of a methodology for the assessment of the impact of such change and support their decision to integrate new solutions into their production layout.

Who are the beneficiaries of project outputs? SMEs, business support organizations, consumers, public authorities.

The specific problem of Central European SMEs about packaging

Many Central Europe agri-food SMEs do not yet have sufficient capacities to value the impact of new sustainable packaging solutions and new technologies for their productions due to the limited resources.

The idea of D4PACK

The D4PACK project aims to rethink the role of packaging through a service that helps SMEs to better understand and estimate the applicability of new sustainable packaging solutions for their operations.
The objective of the project is to suggest innovative packaging solutions that maintain and extend the shelf life of food to reduce food waste and minimize the ecological footprint of packaging.

The solution to help SMEs

D4Pack will develop a new TTS, a Decision Support System tool (DSS), to help companies in assessing the impact of the adoption of new packaging in their production layout, taking into account technical, environmental, legal, economic and social aspects of such change.

WP1: Common transnational strategy to address next generation packaging

In WP1 the project analyzes the packaging sector considering the state of the market, the propensity for innovation, the needs of industries and the ability of consumers to influence business decisions in each of the 4 pilot project area: Italy, Hungary, Czech Republic, and Slovenia.

WP2: Transnational Service for rapid agroindustry reconfiguration toward greener packaging solutions

The focus of WP2 is the implementation of a new Technology Transfer Service to guide SMEs towards the decisions of reconfiguring their industrial layouts and adopting more environmentally friendly packaging solutions. This application will be firstly tested among 12 companies (3 for each pilot area), secondly developed into an electronic tool (EGeT), and tested over a group of up to 60 SMEs.
The goal is to provide SMEs with a self-diagnostic tool to evaluate the impact of the adoption of new sustainable packaging.

WP3: Exploitation and transferability of next-gen packaging D4PACK system

WP3 sets the stage for a wide range of solutions (tools, business rationale, innovative services) to a broader pool of Central European food industries, with a focus on geographic areas in Central Europe that are less exposed to innovation networks. This also includes a forum for discussion with relevant regional and national policy authorities to provide guidance for targeting support schemes to finance innovation under the Framework Programs.

How will the project support SMEs?

D4PACK aims to enhance cross-sectoral cooperation, technology transfer, and coordination to reduce innovation barriers. It focuses on SMEs in peripheral areas of Central Europe that are less exposed to innovation networks by creating a transnational collaborative environment. The ultimate goal is to develop a shared vision addressing a persistent problem in the food sector across Central Europe.

The impact of D4Pack project on European SMEs

Technologist in a white robe holding a tablet for records and stands near the shelves with cheeses. Production of cheese products. Man in the cheese shop

D4Pack project aims to provide SMEs with an easily accessible tool for reconfiguring their production layout, identifying the best sustainable packaging solutions, and supporting companies in self-verifying the impact that such reconfiguration could have on their activities.

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If you have any inquiries or information, please contact us at project email address d4pack@confindustria.vr.it