Press kit
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The Interreg NWE project CurCol aims to demonstrate economic potential for the production chains from regionally produced plants to colourants in packaging. The project assesses three pilots for colourant production and application in plastic and paper packaging, by defining barriers, business cases and action plans. The focus of CurCol is on the yellow natural colourant Curcumine.
Europe absorbed approximately 87 million tons of packaging waste per year. (Industrial) composting is often used for biobased packaging materials, such as PLA. Non-biodegradable synthetic colourants are released during composting. Many contain toxic components that accumulate in the environment. When recycling paper, these colourants also end up in wastewater. We can prevent this by using natural colours. Project partners from Ireland, Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands join the CurCol project to reach this.
Transition to curcumine colours
The few available biodegradable colourants do not meet the quality criteria, so that the packaging industry cannot use them now as an alternative to fossil-based substances. Curcumine, a yellow natural colorant, is already used in food and pharmaceuticals. Wide application is hampered, mainly due to poor UV stability. Recent research shows that it is possible to improve UV stability and generate other colors like red and blue. CurCol continues this research.
Long term
The aim of the project is:
On the long term new knowledge and transnational partnerships support the transition to a circular and biobased economy. CurCol focuses on packaging, but application in, for example, textiles and cosmetics is also possible.
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Kruishoutem
9770
Belgium
70 Technologiepark
Zwijnaarde
9052
Belgium
12 Prins Reinierstraat
Steenbergen
4651RZ
Netherlands
Dublin Road
Athlone
N37HD68
Ireland
55 Forckenbeckstrasse
Aachen
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Germany
Moydrum Industrial Estate
Athlone
N37CF82
Ireland
3 Correnstrasse
Münster
D-48149
Germany
13 Professor Cobbenhagenlaan
Tilburg
5037 DA
Netherlands
Lead partner
Organisation | Address | Website | |
---|---|---|---|
Stichting Avans |
13 Professor Cobbenhagenlaan Tilburg 5037 DA Netherlands |
b.koebrugge@avans.nl | www.avans.nl |
Name | Contact Name | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Provinciaal Proefcentrum voor de Groenteteelt Oost-Vlaanderen vzw | Saskia Buijsens | saskia@pcgroenteteelt.be | Belgium |
Centexbel | Isabel De Schrijver | ids@centexbel.be | Belgium |
Rubia 100% Natural Colours | Rudolph de Jong | rudolphdejong@rubia-nc.om | Netherlands |
Athlone Institute of Technology | Margaret Fournet | mfournet@ait.ie | Ireland |
Aachen Maastricht Institute for Biobased Materials e.V. | Yvonne van der Meer | yvonnevandermeer914@gmail.com | Germany |
DeltaQ T/A Quality Additives | Patrik Rohrer | patrik@deltaq.ie | Ireland |
Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster | Bodo Philipp | bodo.philipp@uni-muenster.de | Germany |