The Consortium of Prosciutto di Parma is part of ECOFUNCO – Eco sustainable multifunctional biobased coatings with enhanced performance and end-of-life options, a research project funded by the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking, a Public-Private Partnership between the EU and the Bio-based Industries Consortium, operating under Horizon 2020.

The overall objective of the ECOFUNCO project is to select, extract and functionalise molecules (proteins, polysaccharides, cutin, polyphenols, carotenoids, fatty acids) from highly available, low valorised biomass – such as tomato peels and seeds, melon seeds…

This will be used to develop new bio-based coatings for application on different substrates, specifically cellulosic and plastic based, for food and personal hygiene use.

Specifically, ECOFUNCO will provide new bio-based coating materials to be applied on bio-polyester substrates, offering more sustainable packaging for pre-sliced ​​Prosciutto di Parma in terms of composting and recyclability and with better performance.

ECOFUNCO delivers a significant step forward in the efficient use of bio-based material resources making their production economically sustainable and reducing the environmental impact of packaging.

This project has received funding from the Bio Based Industries Joint Undertaking (JU) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 837863. The JU received support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the Bio Based Industries Consortium.

A virtuous and more sustainable supply chain for Parma Ham. This is the goal of PARSUTT – PARma ham high SUsTainability sTandard, the project coordinated by the Animal Production Research Centre – CRPA of Reggio Emilia and funded by the Emilia-Romagna Region, which involves the direct participation of the protection Consortium, a select number of supply chain operators – producers, breeders,  slaughterers – and benefits from the support of other technical and scientific partners, such as the University of Milan – Department of Veterinary Medicine, the CSQA Certification Body and the training organization Dinamica Soc. Cons. a r.l.

PARSUTT provides a virtuous model to all the links of the Parma Ham production chain, in order to encourage them to adopt higher sustainability standards than those set out by current legislation on issues such as animal welfare, prudent use of drugs and biosecurity. Special attention is given to the first links of the supply chain, breeding and slaughtering, where the project aims to identify, develop and promote concrete indicators for obtaining an increasingly environmentally-friendly Parma Ham, capable of meeting the requirements of modern consumers concerned about the sustainability of production and of the food they buy.