Packaging and nutrition: Towards a more sustainable future

As the food and beverage industry undergoes an unprecedented transformation, businesses must rethink their models on several levels. Driven both by rising environmental requirements and growing consumer expectations for tailored solutions, many players are now innovating to play a role in shaping the industry’s future.

Organised by Luxinnovation, the latest edition of the Innovation Boost event showcased several such innovations, beginning with essential transitions in the packaging sector. The urgency of reducing environmental impact through rigorous eco-design was emphasised once again: fewer materials, more reuse, improved recyclability and better information for consumers.

New EU regulatory requirements (EU Regulation 2025/40) were widely discussed. These rules create a key framework for promoting sustainable packaging and set a timeline for waste reduction across the EU. They also directly influence the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fee — the contributions paid by manufacturers or distributors to eco-organisations responsible for managing end-of-life product waste.

Michelman presented a concrete example of this transition: recyclable metallised paper bags developed alongside partners. This technology, based on an aqueous, food-safe coating, combines strong barrier performance with recyclability. In 2023, the product received the FEDIL Environmental Prize in the “Products” category.

Towards standardised circular transparency

Beyond design, data quality is a crucial lever for strengthening circularity. With this objective in mind, the Product Circularity Data Sheet (PCDS) was created and adopted as the ISO 59040 standard published in February 2025. It is a standardised international format that describes a product’s level of circularity using unique definitions and criteria — without disclosing sensitive information.

The PCDS addresses a critical issue: the reliability of environmental declarations, which are often inconsistent and vulnerable to greenwashing. By offering a simple, verifiable and interoperable model, it facilitates data exchange between suppliers and customers, while preparing companies for the future digital product passport.

Created in 2022 by the Ministry of the Economy and the Chamber of Commerce and officially launched in November 2024, the mission of GIE Terra Matters is to democratise the use of standardised circular data through the PCDS. It is supported by a simple and affordable platform, neutral governance and a collaborative ecosystem.

Nutrition: personalisation as a health revolution

Personalised nutrition was another major innovation theme showcased at the event, notably through a presentation by Nium, which aims to revolutionise health through nutritional personalisation.

Responding to a rapidly expanding global market, this spin-off from the University of Luxembourg is developing a scientific approach combining microbiome analysis, bioinformatics and digital tools powered by artificial intelligence.

Nium is contributing to a growing movement that is gradually transforming nutrition into a form of digital therapy, complementing traditional medical solutions. The company is one of 24 public and private partners in the European HealthyW8 project, coordinated by the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH), which aims to develop an integrated and personalised approach to obesity prevention.

Nium contributes with its digital platform, Nutrida, specifically designed to enhance clinical trials in eight European countries, including Luxembourg. The platform enables users to receive personalised nutrition plans, track their food intake and monitor key health indicators, while providing valuable data for clinical research.

To date, the Nutrida application supports 12 active clinical trials involving more than 1,300 participants(1), integrating data on over 13,500 food ingredients.

Luxinnovation: a key partner

Beyond the technical content presented, Innovation Boost also served as a reminder of the key role played by Luxinnovation in the national ecosystem. Through its programmes, the agency supports companies at every stage of their transformation — from product innovation to digital transition, circularity and the integration of artificial intelligence.

The “Fit 4” programmes, in particular, have become benchmark tools helping companies structure their innovation strategies. Each programme is based on a simple logic: assess, analyse, plan. Assessments are carried out by accredited consultants, and projects benefit from co-funding by the Ministry of the Economy, enabling companies — large and small — to significantly reduce the cost of accessing innovation.

The “Fit 4” programmes have become benchmark tools helping companies structure their innovation strategies.

Among these, the most recent programme, Fit 4 AI, focused on the integration of artificial intelligence, is a clear illustration of this approach: assessment of digital maturity, identification of relevant use cases, estimation of returns on investment and development of a concrete roadmap. “This approach helps avoid risky deployments and ensures investments are directed towards truly useful solutions,” explains Claude Hostert, Business Relationship Senior Advisor at Luxinnovation. “It enables companies to approach AI methodically, ensuring regulatory compliance and clarifying the resources required.”

Luxinnovation also supports more ambitious projects through the Ministry of the Economy’s RDI (research, development and innovation) aid schemes, which provide companies with subsidies covering personnel, equipment and consumable costs.

(1) If you are aged 60 or over and would like to take part in this study in Luxembourg, please visit the project page dedicated to the recruitment of participants.