NEPTUNUS project aims to promote the sustainable development of the seafood sector in the Atlantic area by supplying a consistent methodology for products eco-labelling and defining eco-innovation strategies for production and consumption under a circular economy approach. This project will provide key actions for resource efficiency based on life cycle thinking, incorporating producers, policy makers and consumers in the decision-making process.

The main outputs will be strategies to inform and underpin production and consumption of seafood where activities will be pursued to promote and maximise regional economic growth in the Atlantic area:
1. Strategies related to Water-Energy-Seafood Nexus footprint: build a robust database for Atlantic area seafood supply chains; promote continuous improvement of the environmental performance of seafood throughout their life cycle; introduce technical, environmental and nutritional criteria under a life cycle approach; set Green Public Procurement (GPP) criteria on a reliable basis.
2. Strategies related to Circular Economy in the Seafood sector: address food waste prevention actions linked to the seafood supply chain; apply of a common seafood waste measurement methodology aligned with global standards; create a seafood waste stakeholder’s platform with the involvement of all seafood chain actors and Atlantic countries; clarify legislation to facilitate food donation, in order to introduce social justice; consumer education and changing public attitudes towards waste minimisation.
3. Strategies to address the main challenges of the fisheries in the European Atlantic area, including the adaptation to climate changes and the growing threats of marine debris.

The project is structured in 3 work packages with transversal tasks and 5 others dedicated to specific themes:
WP1. Coordination and monitoring
WP2. Communication
WP3. Capitalization
WP4. Life cycle-oriented datasets and models
WP5. Lifecycle Water-Energy-Food Nexus
WP6. Technical cycle strategies under a circular economy approach
WP7. Biological cycle strategies under a circular economy approach
WP8. Threats and challenges fisheries in the Atlantic area

IPMA is leading WP6 and will work with packaging. Packaging is typically needed due to the delocalization between production and consumption of produced food and has a key role in the prevention of food waste. The WP6 goal is to work with canned seafood to define packaging eco-design strategies to reduce the environmental cost and to adapt or validate the current type of containers by applying a life-cycle approach. A number of factors will be considered when choosing packaging solutions and protective features, where economic feasibility and ease of transport will be balanced with environmental variables.

The project is awarded by Interreg Atlantic Area Programme with a grant of €1.7 million and a total budget of approximately €2.3 million running for 3 years. The consortium is composed by 11 partners from 5 different European Atlantic Area States.