The project CARDIGAN (Twitter contact: @CardiganProject) is focused on the use of Cardoon (Cynara cardunculus L.) that is a dicotyledonous herb hailing from the Mediterranean area. In CARDIGAN project different parts of cardoon (seeds, leaves and roots) will be processed by enzymes, microbial whole-cell biocatalysts or environmentally friendly catalysts to obtain biopolymers, plasticizers and bioactive molecules for the development of innovative packaging materials. This multidisciplinary approach, where different technological expertise is combined, will enable a more efficient use of natural resources, reducing the overall environmental impact, according to the circular economy paradigm.
