The research, led by University of Santiago academics Dr. María José Galotto, Dr. Abel Guarda, Dr. Eliezer Velásquez, and Ximena Valenzuela, seeks to prove that a circular economy model can be successfully implemented in food packaging, especially for polystyrene yogurt containers.
The initiative targets the environmental issues surrounding plastic use and disposal within the dairy industry, particularly concerning polystyrene. Although polystyrene offers advantages for packaging—such as lightness, versatility, and resistance—it poses a considerable challenge regarding sustainability and environmental impact.
Researchers from Laben Chile and Co-Inventa addressed this issue by promoting the Corfo Retos project, “Development of Yogurt Pots from Post-Consumer Recycled PS.” The project successfully allows for the production of new yogurt containers, ensuring their physical and mechanical functionality, alongside compliance with international food contact safety regulations for plastics.
“In simple terms,” explained project director Dr. María José Galotto, “this technology integrates functional barriers, encapsulating the recycled material to prevent direct food contact and thereby mitigating potential contamination risks from the post-consumer recycled material.”
“The most important aspect of this project,” the academic stated, “is the application of the circular economy concept. We’re reducing landfill material by enabling its reuse in manufacturing the very same product, achieving what we term the perfect circular economy.”
This initiative, a collaboration across the entire value chain—from recyclers to processors and users—demonstrates that the material is recyclable, doesn’t affect packaged yogurt’s characteristics, and crucially, guarantees its safety. Participants in this innovation include REPS (Reciclajes Cono Sur), Coexpan-Chile, Soprole, and Watt’s.
“Validating this technology at a real scale allows us to offer it to the industry for immediate use, ensuring a circular economy throughout the process,” concluded Dr. Galotto.