We are interested in participating in projects dealing with the development of new processing methods or new materials for food packaging where we would perform the risk assessment of the food contact materials, both in terms of IAs and NIAS detection as well as in vitro toxicity testing.

The Analytical Research Group (GUIA) of the Aragon Institute of Engineering Research (I3A) from the University of Zaragoza has been conducting research in the field of food packaging technology since 1990. GUIA group research tackles one of the most important issues in this modern world, food safety, from two very important points of view. The first one is related with the chemical risk assessment of the packaging material itself while the second one is related with controlling biological and chemical risks in the food itself through the development of active food packaging. These two different points of view intersect in a synergistic way with a final goal that is to protect consumer’s health, by avoiding the transmission of foodborne disease because of the ingestion of contaminated food, weather this contamination comes from the packaging material or the food product. The group activities have been economically supported by research projects funded by the European Research Frameworks, R&D National Plan, and regional Plan, as well as industrial contracts. Chemical risk assessment of food contact materials is performed according to Commission Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 of 14 January 2011 and its 18 amendments on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with food. Our group started this research back in 1990, focusing on commercially available packages manufactured from virgin plastic materials, either monolayer or multilayer materials and the migration of intentionally added substances (IAS) such as the additives or the ones coming from printing inks, adhesives, lacquers, among others, as well as non-intentionally added substances (NIAS). Furthermore, the focus of our research group has shifted towards a more circular approach to packaging, focusing nowadays on recyclable and recycled materials as well as compostable and biodegradable new polymers and blends. In this sense, we are involved in two consortia regarding mechanical and chemical recycling PET, designated PET-Core and PET-Europe, and with specific projects with more than 6 PET producers. Additionally, we have a national funded project regarding the improvement of polyolefin recycling for their use as recycled food contact materials without the need of being in a close loop (RTI2018-097805-B-I00 and PID2021-128089OB-I00). We are also producing cellulose nanofibers from recycled cardboard paper pulp for their use as safe food contact materials.