Project description
Biodegradable polymers for a sustainable packaging sector
The packaging industry is focusing on circular innovations to tackle economic losses from non-biodegradable plastics. The EU-funded Be-UP project will develop novel aliphatic-aromatic biopolyesters with increased renewable content, using bio-based building blocks such as 1,4-bis (2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (1,4-bio-BDO), alongside innovative catalysts and additives. These biopolymers will be blended with commercial biopolymers (PLA, PBAT, PHA) and chain extenders to create bioplastic packaging materials. Advanced modelling tools will optimise blend design to achieve the desired performance and sustainability targets. Key production techniques, including blown film extrusion, injection moulding, and thermoforming, will be employed. The findings will guide the development of circular design tools, enhancing the standardisation of testing and labelling for materials and packaging.
Objective
Within Be-UP project new synthesis and processing routes will be developed for novel aliphatic-aromatic biopolyesters with increased renewable content using biobased building blocks (e.g 1,4 bio-BDO), alongside innovative catalysts and additives. These components will be optimized through advanced digital modelling tools, based on Kinetic Monte Carlo (kMC) models, for synthesis and polymerization. These biopolyesters will be blended with commercial biopolymers (e.g. PLA, PBAT, and PHA), biobased chain extenders, and mineral fillers to create bioplastic packaging materials. The design of these blends will employ advanced compounding modelling tools, supported by techniques like screw design and inline rheology measurements, to achieve the target technical performance, sustainability and biodegradation goals using multi-objective function evaluation. Processability will be also a key factor, with a focus on the primary production techniques used in the packaging industry, namely, blown film extrusion, injection moulding and thermoforming. A set of packaging products’ prototypes (TRL7) will be manufactured to validate the developed materials. The biodegradability of these novel products will be assessed in different End-of-life (EoL) scenarios, including open environments and controlled conditions, thus making possible to fill the gap between laboratory conditions and real end-of-life behaviour of these materials. Additionally, the recyclability of the new products will be evaluated. The data and conclusions of these assessments will be useful for: i) the development of guidelines and tools for circular design contributing to the adoption of the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) Framework; ii) contributing to improve the standardization framework for testing and labelling of materials and packaging products. Be-UP is expected to replace more than 50,000 tonnes in 2032 of non-biodegradable plastics leading to savings of over 120,000 CO2 eq tonnes yearly.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.2.4 - Digital, Industry and Space
MAIN PROGRAMME
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HORIZON.2.4.4 - Advanced Materials
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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-IA - HORIZON Innovation Actions
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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) HORIZON-CL4-2024-RESILIENCE-01-TWO-STAGE
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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.
46980 Paterna
Spain
The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.
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.