Welcome to the MAGNO Newsletter – Second Half of 2025
The second half of 2025 has been an active and dynamic period for the MAGNO project. Over the past months, our partners have taken part in major international events, organised dedicated MAGNO workshops, and launched new tools to strengthen dialogue, visibility and collaboration around sustainable food packaging.
Here is a snapshot of what we have been working on.
PROJECT PRESENCE AT INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
During the past months, MAGNO has been present in a wide range of international scientific and policy oriented events. These spaces have allowed our partners to share MAGNO’s research, connect with diverse communities and bring the project’s perspective into broader conversations on health, environment and sustainability.
One Health Conference 2025 – Rome
From 30 September to 2 October 2025, MAGNO was represented at the 4th International One Health Conference in Rome by Dr Mohamed Banni (University of Sousse), who was invited as a keynote speaker.
His talk, “Food Packaging–Derived Micro- and Nanoplastics and Their Role in Human Health Challenges: A One Health Approach”, addressed the links between food packaging, environmental contamination and human health. This contribution highlighted the importance of addressing plastic packaging not only as a waste issue, but also as a public health concern, fully aligned with the One Health and MAGNO approaches.
Plastics Summit – Global Event 2025
On 6 October, MAGNO took part in the Plastics Summit – Global Event 2025 in Lisbon, an international forum bringing together researchers, policymakers and industry leaders under the theme “Moving into a New Era of Responsible and Holistic Sustainability”.
MAGNO’s presence focused on sharing the project’s vision for a more circular packaging ecosystem and building new connections with companies and organisations interested in contributing to the transition toward sustainable packaging systems.
Science and Technology Week 2025 (Secyt25) – Murcia
Between 24 and 26 October, MAGNO was showcased at the Science and Technology Week 2025 in the Region of Murcia through the participation of CETEC (Centro Tecnológico del Calzado y del Plástico).
During the event, interactive activities, demonstrations and workshops were organised to bring science and innovation closer to the public. MAGNO’s work was presented as an example of how research and development in biodegradable, bio-based polymers can support more sustainable food packaging solutions and inspire future generations of scientists and innovators.
MEDLIFE International Meeting & SULIEIA Winter Schools – Naples
MAGNO was also present at the MEDLIFE International Meeting 2025 in Naples, one of the most relevant scientific gatherings in the Mediterranean region.
Dr Mohamed Banni delivered a keynote lecture and two scientific communications in special sessions dedicated to soil and marine waters. In parallel, he opened the SULIEIA Winter School with a 50-minute lecture, introducing MAGNO’s perspective to young researchers and students working on environmental challenges.
Across all sessions where he participated, MAGNO was presented and introduced, reinforcing the project’s visibility and strengthening connections with the Mediterranean scientific community.
DNV Award Ceremony – University of Padova
On 27 November, MAGNO was presented at the University of Padova during the annual DNV award ceremony recognising master’s theses focused on sustainability.
During the event, Luigi Operato and Jessica Genovese, together with colleagues from DNV’s Research & Development team, introduced the Ocean & Food research programme and highlighted MAGNO’s contribution to sustainability-driven innovation in food systems and packaging. The ceremony brought together academia, industry and institutions, celebrating young researchers addressing pressing environmental and societal challenges.
MAGNO WORKSHOPS
Alongside participation in external events, the second half of 2025 was marked by a strong programme of MAGNO-led workshops. These sessions created dedicated spaces to exchange knowledge, test ideas and foster collaboration across disciplines and sectors.
BIO4PACK Cluster Workshop
MAGNO also took part in the BIO4PACK Cluster Workshop, alongside the Horizon Europe projects ViSS, REBIOLUTION and STOPP.
The online session created a shared space to explore synergies between projects working on bio-based, circular and safe food packaging solutions. Moderated by Dr Wael Hamd, the workshop highlighted how collaboration across projects can accelerate innovation, inform policy and contribute to new European standards.
BIO4PACK Cluster Workshop: Shaping the Future of Sustainable Food Packaging
HOLOSS Workshop 1 – Laying the Groundwork for Sustainable Food Packaging
On 30 July 2025, MAGNO hosted its first online workshop, led by HOLOSS, building on a presential session held in Monção in May.
The workshop brought together local and regional stakeholders representing different stages of the circular economy, illustrating how materials and resources can be repurposed and reintegrated into the system. Discussions focused on product lifecycles, lessons learned and practical pathways toward circular packaging solutions.
MAGNO EU: First Online Workshop on Laying the Groundwork for Sustainable Food Packaging
HOLOSS Workshops 2 & 3 – Future Trends in Food Packaging Technology
In December 2025, HOLOSS organised two more workshops dedicated to future trends in food packaging technology and circular strategies.
These sessions explored emerging solutions for sustainable and smart packaging, combining expert insights, real-world corporate examples and interactive discussions. Together, they offered participants a comprehensive view of how research, industry and innovation are shaping the next generation of food packaging.
Fraunhofer IVV Workshop – Quo vadis Packaging?
On 9 December, MAGNO partner Fraunhofer IVV hosted an online workshop on design trends for food packaging, coordinated by Phil Rosenow.
The session presented MAGNO’s analysis of packaging design trends using a SWOT-based approach, covering topics such as mono-materials, recycled content, biomimicry, biodegradable and reusable packaging, and smart solutions. Participants were invited to reflect on how market trends and research developments can shape the near future of plastics-based food packaging.
Quo vadis Packaging? A workshop on design trends for food packaging
OTHER KEY PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Beyond events and workshops, MAGNO continued to strengthen its communication and engagement tools, making the project more accessible and open to dialogue.
Inside MAGNO – Meet the Partners
During the second half of 2025, MAGNO launched the Inside MAGNO video series, offering a closer look at the people behind the project.
So far, three episodes have been published:
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Episode 1: Ignacio Fernández-Pacheco Ruiz, MAGNO Project Coordinator, on the project’s vision and challenges.
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Episode 2: Wael Hamd, on technical progress, breakthroughs and problem-solving within his Work Package.
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Episode 3: Anna Arias (IRIS Technology Solutions), on coordination, collaboration and what lies ahead for MAGNO.
Launch of the MAGNO Hotdesk
This period also saw the launch of the MAGNO Hotdesk, a new support service designed to provide guidance, resources and connections for researchers, practitioners, public authorities and civil society actors.
The Hotdesk offers expert support, access to tools and knowledge, orientation on MAGNO activities and tailored responses to real-world challenges. It serves as an open gateway into MAGNO’s European network of knowledge and action, helping ensure that project outputs remain relevant, practical and grounded in stakeholder needs.
MAGNO Hotdesk – Your Gateway to Guidance, Knowledge, and Collaboration
Thank you for following MAGNO’s journey.
To stay updated, follow us on LinkedIn and Bluesky, and keep exploring MAGNO’s work as we continue shaping sustainable and circular food packaging systems together.
