The Packaging Cluster of Catalonia is leading a transformative change in the way industrial companies can take advantage of European initiatives to innovate and become more sustainable.

The Green Impackt, Value4Pack and EPIC projects represent a strategic commitment to boost the competitiveness, innovation and sustainability of Catalan companies in the packaging sector. Now is the time to take advantage of these initiatives to position themselves as leaders in an increasingly demanding global market. With these projects, companies have a unique opportunity to connect with international players, access innovative resources and contribute to the transition to a circular economy.

Green Impackt: Building Bridges with Latin America
Led by the Packaging Cluster, this project focuses on helping more than 150 Colombian SMEs adopt sustainable practices in their plastics and packaging management. Specifically, Green Impackt will connect 180 SMEs from Colombia and Europe, fostering international collaboration and the exchange of sustainable solutions. Thanks to the collaboration with European solution providers, these companies can benefit from tools, knowledge and access to financing to boost the circular economy.

A business mission to Colombia, scheduled for March 2025, will offer Catalan companies the opportunity to explore commercial opportunities and establish collaborations with strategic Latin American partners. This mission includes B2B meetings, co-creation workshops and the possibility of co-financing up to 80% of travel and accommodation expenses.

Value4Pack: Interregional Innovation for Food Packaging
This project aims to strengthen collaborations between European regions to drive innovation in the food packaging value chain. Value4Pack has already collected over 60 innovative project proposals and selected 30 to support them in identifying partners and accessing funding lines.

The project activities include conducting inter-regional value chain analyses to identify innovation gaps and connect key players in the sector. It also facilitates access to matchmaking and networking events, developing regional roadmaps for innovation investments and promoting collaboration between regions with complementary needs and resources.

Expected results include increased capacity building for companies in the food packaging sector, the creation of concrete innovation projects and the development of a collaborative ecosystem that fosters sustainability at a European scale.

EPIC: Strengthening Regional Innovation Ecosystems
The EPIC project seeks to develop innovation capacity in less developed regions by connecting players in the packaging value chain to drive sustainable solutions. This includes identifying technological needs, developing business cases and supporting SMEs to participate in European projects.

The consortium covers the entire packaging value chain, from suppliers of machinery and materials to end users in sectors such as food, cosmetics and biomedical. Special attention is dedicated to the packaging machinery sector, which is crucial to ensure the transition to more sustainable materials and processes. Companies in this sector play a fundamental role in adapting technology to new materials, such as bioplastics and recycled materials, ensuring their functionality and safety.

With data indicating a 26% increase in the consumption of packaging plastics between 2012 and 2021, EPIC addresses these challenges in a comprehensive way, promoting interregional collaborations and sustainable innovations.

Benefits for Catalan Industrial Companies
In total, the cluster collaborates with 30 entities from across Europe and Latin America in 19 different countries. Catalan companies have an exceptional opportunity to:

Go international: Access emerging markets such as Latin America through Green Impact.

Innovate in sustainability: Participate in circular economy initiatives with European support.

Collaborate interregionally: Understand the needs of the sector and the needs of other regions and develop strategic alliances with other European regions.

Access resources: Benefit from funding and knowledge to implement innovative solutions.
How to Participate
To get involved in these projects, companies can contact the cluster or consult project platforms such as Value4Pack. Don't miss the opportunity to be part of this international collaboration network that is transforming the future of the sector.

All projects are financed or co-financed by the European Union.