An international consortium of industry and research partners launched the EU flagship project BIOWRAP with a kick-off meeting on 17 June. The aim is to further develop and scale up PapairWrap, the first fully paper-based bubble wrap, to an industrial scale. The project will run for five years, has a total budget of around 19 million euros and is co-funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe via the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU).
Project management and overall coordination are handled by Papair GmbH from Hanover, which developed and patented the underlying technology.
The project consortium brings together 14 partner organisations from seven countries: Germany, Portugal, Austria, the Netherlands, Spain, Denmark and Poland. These include paper manufacturers, mechanical engineering firms, coating companies, producers of plant-based paper alternatives, research institutions and universities.
A response to the PPWR
In the EU alone, more than 16 million tonnes of plastic packaging waste are generated every year. Only around 40 % of this is recycled. The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) stipulates that, from 2030, all packaging must be recyclable. BIOWRAP provides a concrete, scalable solution to this challenge.
The product, which is to be scaled up to industrial standards, is PapairWrap, the paper bubble wrap that can be disposed of via the used paper cycle and fully recycled. The aim is to reduce CO₂ emissions by 25 to 50 % per square metre compared to plastic.
First industrial flagship plant as a blueprint for Europe
At the heart of BIOWRAP is the construction of a ‘first-of-its-kind’ production plant at technology readiness level TRL 8, which is to be commissioned in Lower Saxony. It operates with a width of 1,200 mm and production speeds of up to 100 metres per minute. The plant integrates nanocellulose compounds, precision embossing, bio-based coatings and fully digitalised process management into a single production line.
The plant is designed as a blueprint: its technical design, economic efficiency and environmental data will be documented and made available for the replication of further production sites in Europe.
Measurable targets by 2031
The consortium has set out specific targets:
- Replacing more than 100 million square metres of plastic bubble wrap within five years of the project’s completion
- Saving around 10,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents per year
- Demonstration of at least a 90 % material recovery rate in paper recycling
- 70 % consumer acceptance in Europe-wide tests
- Creation of more than 200 skilled jobs across the supply chain
Comments from the consortium
“With BIOWRAP, we are proving that paper-based bubble wrap not only works technically but can also be produced economically and sustainably on an industrial scale. This sets the standard for the entire packaging industry.” Christopher Feist, CEO of Papair GmbH, project sponsor of BIOWRAP
About BIOWRAP
BIOWRAP is a flagship innovation project under Horizon Europe, funded by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU). Project duration: June 2026 to May 2031. Further information here. www.biowrap.eu