AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre based in Valencia, is spearheading a new initiative to assess the health and safety risks associated with reusable plastic food packaging, particularly when exposed to high temperatures during microwave and dishwasher use. The SAFEREUSE project, funded by the Valencian Institute of Competitiveness and Innovation (IVACE+i) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), addresses the current regulatory vacuum by developing a standardized methodology for risk assessment.
The project responds directly to the recently adopted Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, which imposes mandatory reuse targets for packaging across the European Union. Despite these ambitions, no harmonized procedures currently exist to evaluate whether repeated exposure to heat in consumer environments may compromise food safety. AIMPLAS’s SAFEREUSE initiative seeks to fill this gap.
“These short-term bioassays also play an increasingly important role in identifying toxicological risks,” said Mª Carmen Moreno, a researcher at the Food Contact and Packaging Laboratory at AIMPLAS. The SAFEREUSE project will employ in vitro bioassays to analyze the release of non-intentionally added substances (NIAS) and microplastics (MPs) from reusable plastic materials — both of which are critical in assessing health risks associated with prolonged use.
AIMPLAS is developing testing protocols that could eventually be adopted by manufacturers, market surveillance authorities, and retailers to validate compliance with safety standards. “Its development will provide a reliable methodology to help market surveillance authorities, manufacturers, and retailers ensure that reusable packaging complies with safety requirements,” Moreno emphasized.
The SAFEREUSE project also aims to address growing public concern over plastics. “This could help shift negative perceptions and promote a more realistic and balanced view of plastics, their health impacts, and their environmental footprint,” she added, noting that the project’s methodology could play a pivotal role in reshaping consumer and regulatory confidence.
In addition to ensuring consumer health and regulatory compliance, SAFEREUSE also supports corporate competitiveness in the food packaging sector. The research is being conducted in collaboration with Pohuer Creative Injection, S.L. and Great Plastic, S.L.U., two companies specialized in the manufacture and development of plastic materials.
By advancing the understanding of how repeated consumer use impacts material integrity and chemical migration, the project aligns with several UN Sustainable Development Goals, including SDGs 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
“The research results will improve the consumer experience by providing personalized, data-driven recommendations. This will enable users to make informed decisions and adopt safer consumption practices in their daily lives,” Moreno concluded.
The SAFEREUSE initiative is part of the IVACE+i support scheme for non-economic R&D projects conducted by Valencian technology centres in collaboration with industrial partners during the 2024 fiscal year. It is co-financed by the European Union through the ERDF 2021–2027 Operational Program.
