Introduction
Significant amounts of fish and seafood are wasted worldwide due to spoilage and degradation during icing, packaging, storage and transportation after landing (ranging from ≈30% of the initial catching in Latin America, Africa and Europe to 50% for North America and Oceania, according to FAO). Waste at the end of the food supply chain is also substantial in all three regions, with 15-30% of purchases by mass discarded by consumers. Packaging plays a crucial role in adequate preservation and storage of sensitive products. Developing novel and efficient packaging solutions to improve product quality and shelf life and reduce waste while not increasing packaging waste is a major challenge to improve sustainability of food supply chains (Athanasopoulou et al., 2024; Basdeki et al., 2024; Spanou et al., 2024) .
Marine biomass contains significant quantities of polysaccharides, proteins and minerals. During the past years, there has been significant interest in natural products obtained from marine organisms, which may provide valuable commodities while at the same time promote health and well-being in humans (Vasilakis et al., 2025). Algae is a promising source for deriving monomers used in plastic production. Both macro- and microalgae are rich primary sources of bioactive compounds and could be used as a source of functional ingredients such as carotenoids, fatty acids, polysaccharides, peptides, vitamins and sterols (Hidhayati et al., 2025 ; Koletti et al., 2025).
The AQUAPACK project aims to develop active and sustainable packaging materials based on the selection of suitable aquatic biomass (micro- and macro-algae, fish processing side streams and by-catch) with the aim of obtaining appropriate raw materials (carbohydrates, proteins, fatty acids etc.) and biopolymers, to produce biodegradable packaging systems specifically tailored for the food and cosmetic industry. The project is at the interface between research and commercial exploitation and will generate knowledge and innovations to promote growth of the sustainable blue bioeconomy, preserving marine resources and ecosystems.
By valorising underutilized marine resources, AQUAPACK is expected to contribute significantly to reducing reliance on fossil-based plastics, closing nutrient loops, and driving innovation through bio-based packaging alternatives.
Materials and methods
To turn AQUAPACK objectives into practice, trans-regional cooperation is needed to create a strategic partnership between academia and industry, to ensure resource availability, facilitate knowledge exchange and harmonize policies. AQUAPACK project brings together 15 partners (8 academic and 7 commercial) located in 9 EU countries (Greece, Portugal, Italy, France, Cyprus, Spain, Croatia, United Kingdom and Netherlands). The proposed research work plan is organized into 3 complementary and multi-disciplinary workflows, including: (1) Customized packaging technologies based on aquatic biomass, (2) Development and evaluation of novel packaged food and cosmetic prototypes, (3) Evaluation of the sustainability and safety of biodegradable packaging systems.
Suitable aquatic bioresources (micro- and macro-algae biomass, fish and seafood production side-streams and by-catch) and algae growth conditions are selected, with the aim to obtain appropriate bulk raw materials (carbohydrates, proteins, fatty acids, biopolymers etc.) for the development and production of novel sustainable and biodegradable systems. The produced aquatic-based bioactive compounds are screened and characterized for application as active components in active packaging systems. Surface functionalization of biopolymers is carried out using cold plasma, to modify biopolymer wettability, mechanical properties and barrier characteristics and for surface disinfection of packaging materials. Biodegradable, safe and high-quality materials are developed and tested for their efficiency as appropriate packaging systems for sensitive products, including fresh fish.
Results and Discussion
The AQUAPACK project will develop biodegradable, active packaging materials using aquatic biomass and side-streams, targeting both the food and cosmetics sectors. Two representative outputs will be presented: (i ) a biodegradable active packaging film designed to preserve the quality and extend the shelf life of fresh fish and (ii) a compostable rigid container tailored for cosmetic products, offering structural integrity and environmental sustainability. These innovations demonstrate strong potential to reduce plastic waste, maintain product safety, and support a circular bioeconomy, while fostering collaboration between academic and industrial partners.
Acknowledgements
This research has received funding from the European Union under the HORIZON Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions under grant agreement No 101182929 ( AQUAPACK, https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101182929).
References
Athanasopoulou, E., Bigi, F., Maurizzi , E., Karellou , E.I.E., Pappas, C.S., Quartieri, A., Tsironi, T. (2024) Synthesis and characterization of polysaccharide- and protein-based edible films and application as packaging materials for fresh fish fillets. Scientific Reports, 14, pp. 517.
Basdeki , E., Mpenetou , E., Papazoglou, P., Ladakis , D., Flemetakis , E., Koutinas , A., Tsironi, T. (2024). Evaluation of a Calcium Carbonate-Based Container for Transportation and Storage of Fresh Fish as a Sustainable Alternative to Polystyrene Boxes. Sustainability, 16, pp. 130.
Hidhayati , N., Purba , L.D.A., Firman , N.F.A. et al. (2025). Current status and future prospects of Chlorella as raw materials in cosmeceuticals: cultivation, extraction, and commercial applications. Journal of Applied Phycology, 37, pp. 343–354.
Koletti , A., Skliros , D., Dervisi , I., Roussis , A., Flemetakis , E. (2025). Oxidative Stress Responses in Microalgae: Modern Insights into an Old Topic. Applied Microbiology, 5(2), pp. 37.
Spanou, A., Tzamarias , A.E., Ladakis , D., Koutinas, A., Tsironi, T. (2024). In-package cold atmospheric plasma processing for shelf-life extension of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata ) fillets. Journal of Food Science, 89(8), pp. 4714-4729.
Vasilakis, G., Marka, S., Ntzouvaras , A., Zografaki , M.-E., Kyriakopoulou, E., Kalliampakou , K. I., Bekiaris, G., Korakidis , E., Papageorgiou, N., Christofi , S., Vassilaki , N., Moschopoulou , G., Tzovenis , I., Economou-Amilli, A., Papanikolaou, S., Flemetakis , E. (2025). Wound Healing, Antioxidant, and Antiviral Properties of Bioactive Polysaccharides of Microalgae Strains Isolated from Greek Coastal Lagoons. Marine Drugs, 23(2), pp. 77.