The Quadpack Foundation is working with an academy to support the development of solutions to tackle plastic pollution.
Quadpack Foundation, the charitable arm of international cosmetics and perfumery packaging manufacturer and supplier Quadpack, has teamed up with UAB Research Park, the non-profit organization co-created by the Autonomous University of Barcelona, to support scientific research into microplastics and their effects on people and the environment. The foundation sponsored the 12th edition of Generació d'Idees (Generation of Ideas), an initiative aimed at fostering an entrepreneurial spirit and a culture of innovation among researchers and doctoral students by putting them in touch with current industry challenges.
Between September and December 2021, multidisciplinary research groups took part in co-creation sessions and received entrepreneurship training, mentoring and prototyping support. Next, the program organized a competition in which participants presented their projects to a panel of judges made up of academics, industry experts and members of the general public.
The prize for the best innovative idea went to MP Food Watching, a solution that uses hyperspectral imaging technology to detect and better visualize the presence of microplastics in food. Presented as a cost-effective and fast solution for the food chain, the project won €1,000 to launch a crowdfunding campaign, mentoring coaching, support for social networking and six months' incubation at UAB Open Labs, the university's open innovation network.
Qu4tre, a group of researchers involving Quadpack engineers Roger Oller and Mariola Rodríguez, won the People's Choice Award with the Omnibox project, a reusable container for municipal markets, including a logistics plan for distribution, take-back and cleaning to offer a zero-waste solution. The group received a six-month incubation period and support for dissemination on social networks.
"We are aware of the responsibility we bear as an industry and want to be part of the solution. By connecting with researchers and sharing the challenges we face, we can move forward together towards a healthier world and have a positive impact on future generations", explains Marta Gil, Quadpack Foundation Manager.
Microplastics are fragments less than 5 mm in size that come from the breakage of larger plastic parts, or are manufactured in microspheres for hygiene and cleaning products. The many applications of plastics in industry, combined with poor waste management, have caused microplastic pollution to grow exponentially. This is currently considered a major environmental problem, affecting ocean life, terrestrial fauna and human health.
Photo: from left to right, Quadpack CFO Bardo Bevelander, Quadpack engineers Mariola Rodríguez and Roger Oller, and Quadpack Foundation Manager Marta Gil.
