Abstract
The reduction of environmental impacts related to plastics is one of the major current problems, especially in the field of food packaging. In the aim of using less eco-efficient materials while decreasing environmental impacts, this thesis aims to explore the possibility of the closed-loop mechanical recycling of a biosourced and biodegradable polymer (PHBV) for food packaging applications. The objective is to understand and describe the behavior of PHBV during the recycling operation, integrating the essential criteria in the evaluation of the performance of a food packaging. The question focuses on two major scientific issues: (i) the impact of the reprocessing (in the molten state) of the PHBV on its structural and functional properties; (ii) the suitability for food contact of the PHBV after the contamination/decontamination treatments. Following a decoupling of the two main steps of a recycling process (reprocessing and decontamination), the first part of this work aims at measuring the evolution of the material performances after several reprocessing cycles. Then, the decontamination of the material was studied in a first step with regard to the existing regulation for conventional polymers and the risks related to the exposure of the consumer were evaluated. In a second step, in an approach more dedicated to the characteristics of the PHBV, the real potential contamination of the material was evaluated before studying again the consequent decontamination.