Project description
Polyethylene and polyesters from waste biomass to reduce plastic contamination
The plastics sector must adopt circular approaches with scalable solutions that diminish plastic waste and pollution, as well as enhance resource efficiency. This is in line with the European Circular Economy Action Plan. In this context, the EIC-funded Bio2PEs project produces bio-based and biodegradable polyethylene and polyester from biomass waste in an attempt to reduce plastic pollution. It will create prototypes of varying packaging sizes and conduct lifecycle assessments, including biodegradability tests in several EU climates. The project will enhance circularity by incorporating a self-repairing coating to increase longevity and using fluorescence technology to make products more recyclable. Synergies with other projects will enhance consumer take-up of biodegradable materials through interactive labelling, and feed data into an AI tool to make more accurate material recommendations.
Objective
Bio2PEs aims to revolutionize the plastic sectors by developing bio-based and biodegradable polyethylene (PE) and polyester, directly derived from biomass waste, to combat plastic pollution and advance sustainability. The project will develop four eco-friendly, functional prototypes for food packaging, textile packaging, agricultural mulch, and crop protection membranes, addressing key sectors in need of sustainable alternatives.
A crucial part of Bio2PEs is its to conduct a comprehensive environmental, economic, and social impact assessment, covering the entire lifecycle of the materials. The biodegradability in open environments, with ecotoxicity tests will be carried out across four EU climate zones (including soil, freshwater, and marine environments), ensuring the materials meet real-world environmental requirements.
To support circularity, Bio2PEs will develop a cellulose-based self-repairing coating to fix scratches, enhance the durability and reusability and significantly improve product lifespan. Bio2PEs will also enhance the recyclability of materials by quantifying the exact content of the recycled material through a fluorescence marker technology. The project will also leverage collaboration with other EU-funded projects, building on social studies of consumer behaviour to design interactive labelling that encourages the adoption of biodegradable materials.
Material development data will be shared with an AI tool, developed by a sister project, to expand the data pool and refine material development and biodegradability predictions. This project will support the European Circular Economy Action Plan by fostering scalable, sustainable solutions that reduce waste and plastic pollution while promoting resource efficiency.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.3.1 - The European Innovation Council (EIC)
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-EIC - HORIZON EIC 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) HORIZON-EIC-2024-PATHFINDERCHALLENGES-01
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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.
V94 EC5T Limerick
Ireland
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.