Deadline: 17-Sep-2026
The European Commission is inviting grant applications to support the development and demonstration of scalable solutions that improve recycling, reuse, and circularity of plastic food packaging within the European Union. The programme focuses on advancing sustainable packaging systems that can safely reintroduce recycled plastics into food contact applications while ensuring compliance with EU regulations.
The initiative provides funding between €5 million and €6 million per project, with a total budget of €11 million, and supports large-scale, industry-linked solutions across the plastic packaging value chain.
Overview
Plastic food packaging, particularly multilayer flexible films, presents significant challenges for recycling due to complex material structures and limited circular processing systems. This funding opportunity aims to accelerate the transition toward recyclable, reusable, and resource-efficient packaging systems.
The programme supports innovation across the entire packaging lifecycle, from design and production to collection, sorting, recycling, and reuse, while strengthening collaboration between industry stakeholders.
Funding Information
- Total funding available: €11,000,000
- Indicative funding per project: €5,000,000 to €6,000,000
- Funding type: Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions
- Scope: Industrial-scale demonstration and innovation projects
Focus Areas
Projects should address one or more of the following areas:
- Recycling of multilayer flexible plastic food packaging
- Eco-design for recyclability
- Development of mono-material packaging alternatives
- Improvement of recycled plastics for food contact use
- Digital product passports
- AI-based sorting technologies
- Advanced recycling and decontamination processes
- Circular value chain integration
Project Scope
Projects are expected to deliver scalable and market-ready solutions that improve circularity in plastic packaging systems.
Key activities include:
- Designing mono-material multilayer packaging solutions
- Enhancing collection, sorting, and recycling systems
- Developing safe recycling processes for food-contact plastics
- Increasing recycled content in new packaging products
- Improving industrial-scale recycling technologies
- Integrating digital tracking and data systems across packaging lifecycles
Projects should also focus on:
- Value chain collaboration among producers, retailers, recyclers, and waste managers
- Improving end-of-life packaging management systems
- Strengthening material recovery efficiency
- Ensuring regulatory compliance with EU food contact and packaging rules
Expected Outcomes
Projects are expected to:
- Improve recyclability of plastic food packaging
- Increase availability of safe recycled materials for food contact use
- Enhance efficiency of sorting and recycling systems
- Reduce environmental impacts of plastic packaging waste
- Strengthen circular value chains across Europe
- Enable scalable industrial solutions for packaging circularity
- Support digital innovation in packaging traceability and recovery
All solutions must be assessed for environmental, economic, and social impacts using robust methods such as life cycle analysis.
Policy Context
This funding topic supports major European Union policy frameworks, including:
- European Green Deal
- Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation
- Single Use Plastics Directive
- Waste Shipment Regulation
- Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation
- Zero Pollution Action Plan
- Circular Economy Act
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- Any legal entity under Horizon Europe rules
- Public organisations
- Private companies
- Research institutions
- Universities
- Industry stakeholders across the packaging value chain
- Waste management and recycling companies
- International organisations
- Entities from non-associated third countries, subject to call conditions
How to Apply
Step 1: Review Eligibility Requirements
- Confirm eligibility under Horizon Europe rules.
- Review all specific call conditions and regulatory requirements.
Step 2: Develop a Circular Packaging Innovation Proposal
Prepare a proposal that:
- Addresses plastic packaging circularity challenges
- Demonstrates scalable industrial solutions
- Integrates recycling, reuse, and design innovation
- Aligns with EU regulatory requirements
Step 3: Build a Cross-Value Chain Consortium
Include stakeholders such as:
- Packaging manufacturers
- Food producers and retailers
- Recycling and waste management companies
- Technology providers (AI, digital systems)
- Research and innovation organisations
Step 4: Submit the Proposal
- Prepare full technical and financial documentation.
- Submit according to Horizon Europe application procedures.
Tips for Applicants
- Focus on scalability and industrial feasibility of solutions.
- Integrate eco-design principles from the earliest stages.
- Demonstrate compliance with EU food contact regulations.
- Include robust lifecycle and environmental impact assessments.
- Strengthen digital traceability using tools like digital product passports.
- Ensure strong collaboration across the entire packaging value chain.
Why This Funding Matters
Plastic packaging waste, especially multilayer flexible materials, remains a major environmental challenge in Europe. This funding opportunity supports innovation that can close the loop between packaging production and recycling, enabling safe reuse of materials in food contact applications while reducing environmental pollution and improving resource efficiency across the circular economy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the total funding available?
- The total budget is €11,000,000.
- How much funding can each project receive?
- Projects can receive between €5,000,000 and €6,000,000.
- What types of packaging are targeted?
- Multilayer flexible plastic food packaging and mono-material alternatives.
- What technologies are included in the scope?
- AI-based sorting systems
- Digital product passports
- Advanced recycling and decontamination technologies
- Who can apply for this funding?
- Any legal entity under Horizon Europe rules, including international organisations and entities from non-associated third countries, subject to conditions.
- What is the main objective of the programme?
- To improve recycling, reuse, and circularity of plastic food packaging while ensuring safe use of recycled materials.
- What policies does this initiative support?
- European Green Deal
- Circular Economy Act
- Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation
- Single Use Plastics Directive
- Other EU sustainability frameworks
Conclusion
The European Commission’s circular plastic food packaging initiative supports the development of scalable recycling and reuse solutions that strengthen Europe’s transition to a circular economy. By funding industrial innovation in packaging design, recycling technologies, and digital systems, the programme aims to reduce environmental impact while enabling safe and efficient reuse of plastics in food packaging applications.
For more information, visit European Commission.
