The main objective of the SIMBIO project is to develop social innovations to meet challenges in the use of bioplastic packaging in food supply chains in light of the circular economy concept. The project is financed by the National Center for Research and Development and covers basic as well as industrial research from 01/09/2020 to 31/08/2022.
The project methodology includes: individual in-depth interviews, social innovation labs and IDEO human-centred design toolkit. Its stages form a cycle of joint value co-creation with its stakeholders. We started by identifying the challenges throughout the entire lifecycle of bio-packaging in close cooperation with private and public stakeholders. In the second stage, we will integrate stakeholder groups to get to know each other’s needs and aspirations in discussion panels and then jointly develop a closed-loop system for bio-packaging.
The stakeholders will understand both the challenges and importance of their cooperation in solving problems. In the third stage, we will organise partnership panels of stakeholders to jointly develop innovations supporting problem solving. In the fourth phase, the stakeholders will conduct testing (rapid prototyping) and evaluate the application value of selected solutions. Project implementation in a consortium with partners from Brazil (Federal University of São Carlos), Canada (Simon Fraser University), Poland (University of Łódź) and Great Britain (Coventry University) enables transfer of knowledge and experience in line with the cooperation idea reflected in the Trans-Atlantic Platform Social Innovation programme.