DIGIPACK: Technological innovation and sustainability in food packaging

EROSKI, together with PATURPAT and FRIBASA, is promoting the DIGIPACK project, a business cooperation initiative aimed at innovating in the quality, safety, and sustainability of packaging for fresh-cut and ready-to-eat foods. The project combines the application of advanced digital inspection technologies with the development of recyclable packaging materials, contributing to a more modern, efficient, and environmentally friendly food industry.
DIGIPACK has a twofold purpose: on the one hand, to improve food safety and the efficiency of industrial processes through intelligent quality control systems; and on the other, to reduce the environmental impact associated with the use of conventional plastics, promoting circular solutions based on recycled and recyclable materials.
To this end, the project will develop two pioneering technological prototypes:

• An advanced inspection system using Deep Learning, capable of automatically detecting defects in packaging seals with greater accuracy than human visual inspection.
• A 3D vision system for detecting vacuum loss, ensuring that only products in optimal condition reach the consumer.

These solutions will significantly reduce food waste and optimize the quality of ready-to-eat products, while improving traceability and the reliability of production processes.
At the same time, DIGIPACK will test a new flexible rPET recyclable film, developed from recovered materials, which allows the creation of 100% recyclable packaging adapted to the preservation needs of fresh products. In this way, the project contributes to reducing the carbon footprint and moving towards a circular economy model in food packaging.
As the driving force behind the consortium, EROSKI coordinates cooperation between the participating companies, promoting knowledge transfer, open innovation, and the integration of sustainable solutions throughout the agri-food value chain. This initiative reinforces EROSKI’s commitment to its Health and Sustainability Decalogue, which promotes a range of healthier, more sustainable, and environmentally responsible products.
DIGIPACK has received funding from the Basque Government under the call for proposals “Aid for innovation, through cooperation, in the agri-food and wood value chains of the Basque Autonomous Community 2024,” and from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

With DIGIPACK, EROSKI and its partners are helping to build a safer, more efficient, and sustainable food future, where technological innovation and environmental responsibility go hand in hand to offer quality products with the least possible impact on the planet.