Romania: Manufacturing 100% biodegradable and compostable packaging

Promateris SA is a Romanian company with more than 60 years of experience in plastics processing. The company offers sustainable alternatives to single-use, disposable plastic packaging. Promateris teamed up with a Norwegian partner – BioBag Norge – to implement a project under the EEA and Norway Grants Programme SMEs Growth in Romania. The project is producing plant based packaging that is 100% biodegradable and compostable.

Bio-based and compostable packaging

The projects allows for Promateris to green its production, reduce energy consumption, reduce fuel consumption and improve material efficiency. It also integrates local agricultural chains for bio-based and compostable packaging. This ultimately reduced the company's carbon footprint, subsequently strengthening the local circular economy.

Romania is also a key producers of agricultural outputs within the EU, and Promateris aims to encourage the development of a strong local bioeconomy and an efficient use of natural resources in Europe.

The project produced four new products: compostable mulching film, compostable hygiene film (lining for pads and diapers), ultralight produce bags (fruit and vegetables) and marine biodegradable film using biodegradable materials, instead of classical plastic material.

Bilateral cooperation

The Norwegian partner BioBag Norge shared its competence and know-how on developing biodegradable and compostable products. Even though Promateris is in charge of producing these goods, this is being done under the guidance of BioBag Norge. The partners are sharing the Intellectual Property Rights for the products they are developing within the project.

Responding to demands for green production

There are increasingly legislative measures that encourage the development and use of biodegradable, compostable and biodegradable products. There is also increasing demand for eco-friendly materials. Biodegradable, compostable and marine biodegradable products are appealing for consumers interested in sustainability and environment protection. Consumers are concerned especially with food waste, carbon emissions, packaging waste, marine pollution and plastic pollution.

Testimonial

Promateris CEO Tudor Georgescu: "Receiving financing from the EEA and Norway Grants enabled our company to grow and to develop a new line of products, introducing to the Romanian public a new generation of sustainable packaging".

Hear from the CEO at Promateris, and learn about their cooperation with the Norwegian partner BioBag in the video below:

Results of the project

- 50 new employees (more than 10% increase)

- 297% increase of turnover by the end of 2021

- 610% increase of profit up by the end of 2021

- Registered one brand of marine biodegradable products, namely Aquamateris

- 100% recycling and reusing technological waste (1846 tonnes/years)

- Reduced annual fuel consumption with 4800 liters

- Reduced electricity used by 58% (971 MW) for the intended yearly production

- Reduced the used raw materials with 10% (155 tonnes)

- De-fossilised production by cutting back on 99% low-density polyethylene compounds and replacing it with 100% compostable and biodegradable ones

The SMEs Growth Programme in Romania

The project is supported by Norway through the Norway Grants. See more opportunities under the SMEs Growth Programme in Romania.