Bioplastics: The Future of Food Packaging? Erasmus Project

Project Title

Bioplastics: The Future of Food Packaging?

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for Schools Only

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Entrepreneurial learning – entrepreneurship education; Natural sciences; Environment and climate change

Project Summary

Pollution and other environmental issues are a threat to life on earth. Especially plastic packaging causes a lot of damage. A UN study published in 2016 reports that small pieces of plastic bags, bottles etc. get into the oceans and cause a real threat to mankind and marine ecosystems.
It was time to make students aware of these problems and to encourage them to gain more knowledge about how to tackle these problems and find alternatives. Bioplastic packaging for food could be such a solution.

In our project we wanted to:
– get in touch and establish a lasting relationship with regional companies that produce bioplastic food packaging to get insights into the development and needs of this market
– be able to analyse the food packaging market and draw conclusions from this
– develop our own ideas of eco-friendly food packaging, produce and market it virtually
– raise students’ awareness regarding environmental issues
– promote cooperation between students from other countries + cultures, thus reduce prejudices + create an awareness for cultural + linguistic diversity
– establish a connection between theoretical curricular knowledge of Chemistry (the components of bioplastics), of Economics (structure of company) and of Languages + practical implementation (creating and promoting own bioplastic products; using knowledge provided by companies)
– establish a strategic partnership between schools, universities and public authorities on a local, regional, national and transnational level
– motivate students + teachers to be an active part of Europe and promote European values
– motivate teachers to try out new teaching methods + find ways to connect theoretical practices with practical + vocational training.

The project was carried out by 4 schools from Germany, Greece, Romania and the United Kingdom.
In each project meeting there were at least 24 high-school students of all educational backgrounds and 8 teachers involved. The teachers teach Nutritional Science, Biology, Biochemistry, English, Literature, Economics, Computer Science, Business Administration, Physics, Mathematics, Social Science. But many more students and teachers of all participating schools were involved in the project (e.g. preparing project meetings, conducting project work etc.; approx. 2000 students and approx. 150 teachers).

The activities were:
– 1 preparatory meeting, 4 project meetings
– production of bioplastic food packaging
– visit to bioplastic production companies
– international workshops
– presentations/brochures/articles etc.
– presentation of results (= bioplastic food packaging and websites, blogs) to a bioplastics company in London
– creation of:
own websites and blogs
online CLIL exercises
eBook (chemical background of production of bioplastics)
final CD with all materials
magazine about the whole project

Results + longer term benefits:
– The subject “Life Science”
– The teaching and study material on bioplastics (CLIL exercises, experiments).
– Methods to produce bioplastics
– Methods to produce websites + to communicate via blogs and social media
– Methods to enhance teaching and learning processes (for bilingual teaching, peer learning, interdisciplinary teaching)
– The newly introduced computer programs remain available for all students in all countries
– The cooperation between the companies + the schools remains, also between the universities + our schools
– Students’ STEM, CLIL, foreign and native language, ICT skills and social competences have improved
– Students know which bioplastic products neighbouring companies produce, get an insight into production processes, the structure of companies, job opportunities in other countries
– Students had the opportunity to visit each other and to work on a mutual product. This strengthened the intercultural competence of students in all participating countries. Students and teachers broadened their horizons and contributed to international understanding and therefore, correspond with European values
– Students are part of a society that is orientated towards technical development
– Students + teachers have found new friends and partner schools within Europe and have abolished prejudices.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 107490 Eur

Project Coordinator

Augusta-Bender-Schule & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Fulston Manor school
• 1st Vocational Lyceum of Heraklion Crete
• COLEGIUL NATIONAL CALISTRAT HOGAS