Bio-based materials and products for biodegradable in-soil applications

Some plastics applications such as those in agriculture, infrastructure or landscaping are intended to be used in the open environment. Plastic mulch films, for example, are used extensively within a range of arable and horticultural cropping settings to prevent evaporation of water from the soil, avoid fluctuations in soil temperature, protect the crops and increase their yield. Geotextiles and geomembranes find widespread application in landscaping, construction and roadworks to stabilise and improve mechanical properties of soil, collect and transport groundwater and prevent contamination between different kinds of soil. Additional plastics applications in agriculture include greenhouses, pheromones dispensers, clips, pots, etc. The improper or unintentional disposal of plastic products and their degradation may result in soil pollution and environmental contamination. While in some cases recovery from the environment for reuse or recycling would be feasible, for some applications it is either impossible or disproportionally expensive and biodegradable (in soil) alternatives may be preferable, provided that the products are able to meet technical performance requirements throughout their use.

Proposals under this topic should:

• Demonstrate and deploy innovative production processes for SSbD bio-based products for biodegradable[[For biodegradability in soil refer to existing standards, when applicable, e.g. EN 17033:2018 for biodegradable mulch films. Also, taking into account the progress of the upcoming revision of the Regulation on fertilising product.]] -in- soil applications, addressing the problem of (micro)plastics release in soil and their further dispersion in runoff water. This topic focuses on products used in soil, for example mulch films, tarpaulins, geonets, geotextiles, geomembranes, etc. and plastics applications in agriculture, for example, greenhouses, pheromones dispensers, clips, pots etc; select one or more product categories, providing a justification of the selection based on the relevance of products in the actual market and/or on environmental considerations (e.g. the threats posed by the conventional non-biodegradable solutions for the same applications).
• The topic does not cover marine and aquatic applications as a main focus. However, spill over of the developed product streams towards other replication sectors (including marine/aquatic) can be considered, in order to widen market applications.
• Design the products for biodegradation in soil according to the environmental conditions and application timeframe, while ensuring technical performances meeting market requirements throughout the useful life of the product. Moreover, the topic also addresses eco-design and testing of reusability and/or recyclability depending on the final application(s) and use conditions.
• Demonstrate safe biodegradability of bio-based products designed for specific applications in open environments (soil) under ranges of physical/chemical environmental conditions, including extreme conditions (e.g. temperature, pH) where applicable. Safe biodegradability entails avoiding eco-toxicity, microplastic dispersion and any environmental impacts - from bio-based products including their additives and other components- on natural ecosystems and their services, including on the soil fertility, during and after degradation. All these aspects should be monitored and assessed, also in the phase of dispersion in runoff water.
• Perform validation trials of the developed bio-based products with the involvement of end users (for example, in case of applications for agriculture are selected, primary sector should be involved).
• Develop a proposal for appropriate labelling of products when applicable and provide clear instructions on their use and on disposal options after use. This task should include the consultation of targeted stakeholders, e.g. end users. Training of end users should also be envisaged.
• Contribute with recommendations related to standards for biodegradability in soil.
• Include a task for projects funded under this topic to collaborate and align the proposals for appropriate labelling, and the recommendations related to standards.
• Include a task to integrate assessment of the demonstrated bio-based products based on the safe and sustainable by design (SSbD) framework, developed by the European Commission, for assessing the safety and sustainability of chemicals and materials.[[See document defining the framework and criteria: Safe and sustainable by design.]] Under this context, projects are expected to contribute with and develop recommendations that can advance further the application of the SSbD framework.[[More specifically, provide thresholds that can support the criteria definition and improvements for the assessment SSbD methodologies, including any specificities related with bio-based plastics. Recommendations should also include identification of data gaps, especially safety, environmental, but also socio-economic factors, as well as priorities for data collection.]]

Proposals should seek for links and complementarities and avoid overlaps with past, ongoing and upcoming EU funded projects, including those funded under H2020, HEU[[Such as FIRST2RUN (H2020-BBI-JTI-2014), GRACE (H2020-BBI-JTI-2016), UNLOCK (H2020-BBI-JTI-2020),REBIOLUTION (HORIZON-CL6-2022-CIRCBIO-02-two-stage), MINAGRIS (H2020-SFS-2020-2), PAPILLON (H2020-SFS-2020-2), ELLIPSE (HORIZON-JU-CBE-2022).]] , the BBI JU and CBE JU [[For example, ‘HORIZON-JU-CBE-2023-R-05 Pre-normative research to develop standards for biodegradability of bio-based products in controlled and in open environments’]], and the Missions ‘A Soil Deal for Europe’ and ’Restore our oceans and water’. Collaboration among projects from the same topic are encouraged.

Proposals should also describe their contribution to the Specific CBE JU requirements, presented in section 2.2.3.1 of the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2024[[https://www.cbe.europa.eu/reference-documents]].