Project description
Pigments from renewable plant-based cellulose crystals
Pigments that produce eye-catching optical effects are widely used in cosmetics, plastics, print products, industrial surfaces and car paints. Unfortunately, they are derived from non-biodegradable sources such as microplastics and unsustainable mica- and titanium-based minerals. Drawing inspiration from nature, the ERC-funded CelloSparx project has successfully produced an effect pigment from plant-based cellulose nanocrystals – a self-assembling, organic and renewable source. It now aims to demonstrate the product’s validity in an industrial environment. To do so, it will locate a large-scale supplier of cellulose and identify the most suitable manufacturing equipment. Finally, it will supply end users with the technology to validate and compare the product’s viability with existing materials through life cycle analyses, as well as biodegradability and ecotoxicity assessments.
Objective
Inspired by nature, we developed effect pigments prepared from a single organic and renewable component extracted from plants: cellulose nanocrystals. Obtained via self-assembly, these pigments offer one of the most sustainable alternatives to all existing products, including microplastic, partially biodegradable glitter, and unsustainably sourced mica- and titania-based pigments. Securing this ERC-2022-PoC2 proposal will allow us to bring this much-needed technology from TRL6 to TRL7 by addressing 4 challenges: 1/ Finding a supplier of cellulose with ton-scale production capacity; 2/ Finding the best-suited manufacturing equipment with innovative options that we did not explore in our previous work; 3/ Delivering kilograms of our materials to end-users who are in need of this technology, for them to validate the technology; 4/ Quantifying the benefits of our products against existing alternatives, using Life Cycle Analysis, biodegradability and ecotoxicity studies.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2022-POC2
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
80539 MUNCHEN
Germany
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.