SSICA is a Public Institute for applied research, established in Parma in 1922 with the specific aim of promoting the technical and technological progress in the Italian fruit, vegetable, meat and fish processing industry. THE KEY-IDEA starting from tomato industrial by-products to formulate a natural lacquer (BIO) to protect cans and closures.

1. Sustainable chemistry from tomato skins
at Azienda Agricola Virginio Chiesa
SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY FROM TOMATO SKINS
PILOT PLANT INAUGURATION
at Azienda Agricola Virginio Chiesa

2. Sustainable chemistry from tomato skins
at Azienda Agricola Virginio Chiesa
SSICA is a Public Institute for applied research, established in Parma in 1922 with
the specific aim of promoting the technical and technological progress in the
Italian fruit, vegetable, meat and fish processing industry.
SSICA
Experimental
Station for the
Food Preserving
Industry
Through research, assistance to the companies, training and dissemination the
structure provides answers to general and specific problems of the Italian canning
industry.

3. Sustainable chemistry from tomato skins
at Azienda Agricola Virginio Chiesa
from renewable resources to metal packaging
THE KEY-IDEA
starting from tomato industrial by-products to formulate
a natural lacquer (BIO) to protect cans and closures.

4. Sustainable chemistry from tomato skins
at Azienda Agricola Virginio Chiesa
• The tomato cutin is a natural polymer of polyester type
• The main component of tomato cutin is the 10,16
dihydroxyhexadecanoic acid (70-80%), starting substance for the
polymerization
Each year in the EU-
28 more than
200,000 tonn of solid
tomato residues
(peels and seeds) are
produced.
The initial substance is cutin, a component of the cuticle of the
tomato peels.

5. Sustainable chemistry from tomato skins
at Azienda Agricola Virginio Chiesa
In the first project, Biocopac FP7, ended in November 2014, the extraction method
of cutin has been set up, developed and patented.
(BI n. 0001419412)
BY-PRODUCTS
EXTRACTION WITH
THERMAL TREATMENT
FILTRATION
ACIDIFICATION +
PRECIPITATION
CUTIN
POLYMERIZATION
EXHAUSTED
PEELS AND
SEEDS
BIOGAS

6. Sustainable chemistry from tomato skins
at Azienda Agricola Virginio Chiesa
•The bio-lacquer has been formulated (patent registered)
•The cans were produced and filled
with tomato and fish products
The results of the pack-test
were very interesting and
promising.

7. Sustainable chemistry from tomato skins
at Azienda Agricola Virginio Chiesa
Based on Biocopac’s LCA results a
new proposal, BiocopacPlus,
was submitted under the Life
programme.
The comparison of the new bio-lacquer with a standard lacquer of
fossil origin were really impressive: lower emissions of CO2, equal to
130.7 mg in the CO2 produced (or avoided) for each can.
The LIFE programme is the funding
instrument of European Union for the
environment and action for climate.
“BiocopacPlus”/LIFE13 ENV IT 00590
Sustainable bio-based coating from tomato processing by-products for food metal packaging
The project, started in June 2014, lasts 3 years

8. Sustainable chemistry from tomato skins
at Azienda Agricola Virginio Chiesa
Site of the plant
Canneto sull’Oglio (MN)
c/o Azienda Agricola Virginio Chiesa
Objectives
• Prove on semi-industrial scale the
technical feasibility of the production
process of the bio-lacquer.
• Evaluate yields and costs
• Realize a pilot plant
Total cost: € 2.056.045
(LIFE+ contribution: 50%)

9. Sustainable chemistry from tomato skins
at Azienda Agricola Virginio Chiesa
BIOCOPACPLUS: Experimental Plan
Action B.1 :
“Specifications and
Requirements for Cutin
Extraction Plant
Production and Pre-
polymerization”
Action B.2 :
“Plant Design and
Prototypes Assembling for
Cutin Extraction and
Polymerization”
Action B.3 :
“Plant Testing and
Cutin Extraction
Analysis”
Action B.4 :
“Bio-lacquer Formulation,
Production and Analysis”
Action B.5 : “Demonstration
of the Bio-lacquer Production
and Application including Pack
Test”
Action B.6 : “Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)”

10. Sustainable chemistry from tomato skins
at Azienda Agricola Virginio Chiesa
Optimization plant components
Evaluation test lacquering system
Reduction environmental impact of the process
Capacity of the pilot plant: 100Kg/h,
equivalent to 10-20% of a future industrial line
Yield of extraction : 5-10%

11. Sustainable chemistry from tomato skins
at Azienda Agricola Virginio Chiesa
The bio-based lacquer we are
developing meets the demand
for sustainable production and
for the safeguarding of
consumer health, it doesn’t
contain BPA, it improves the
recyclability of the can

12. Sustainable chemistry from tomato skins
at Azienda Agricola Virginio Chiesa
The project meets the criteria of circular economy