A new European research project called ANIPH aims to develop biodegradable wound dressings and packaging for humanitarian crisis zones. The four-year initiative will utilize polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), a family of biodegradable polymers that can fully break down in soil, freshwater, and marine environments. The project is being coordinated by Spain’s Plastics Technology Centre (CETEC) and includes seven partner organizations across Europe.
The project’s main focus is creating wound dressings from PHBV, a type of PHA, as an alternative to traditional cotton dressings. While cotton dressings are biodegradable, they lack antimicrobial properties and often require additional antibiotics. ANIPH’s solution will incorporate probiotic cellulose as a natural antimicrobial agent, avoiding the use of conventional antibiotics that can contribute to resistance.
The University of Granada will use 3D printing to produce customized PHBV wound dressings with controlled thickness and porosity. The Agricultural University of Athens will employ artificial intelligence to predict biodegradation rates and assess environmental safety. The project will also implement a digital traceability system for supply chain monitoring.
To manage production costs, ANIPH will use residue feedstocks such as hydrolyzed yeast from brewing and sugar-rich agricultural waste. The manufacturing process will utilize halophilic microorganisms that can operate in non-sterile conditions, helping reduce energy consumption and production expenses.
According to project estimates, ANIPH’s innovations could reduce CO2 emissions by 43% for packaging and 68% for wound dressings compared to fossil-based alternatives. The project aims to eliminate 12,930 tonnes of hazardous substances and recirculate 1,475 tonnes of biomass. The consortium will work with NGOs and healthcare experts to study waste management challenges in humanitarian contexts and develop appropriate deployment strategies.
Source: sustainableplastics.com