Project description
Renols, a better alternative to eco-friendly plastics
Environmental concerns over plastic pollution in oceans are powerful reasons supporting the development of biodegradable plastic. Starch-based bioplastics found on the market cannot find widespread application because they have poor mechanical properties and low water resistance. With the help of the EU-funded Ligninpolymers project, Sweden-based company RenFuel is developing a process for transforming lignin into Renol – a bio-waste product from the forest industry. Renol can be used in a wider range of applications, offering superior material properties (mechanical strength, UV stability and fire resistance) even compared to some fossil-based polymers. Renol’s business model will involve the sale of Renol in pellet form and the identification of high-value niche markets.
Objective
RenFuel, a Swedish SME which has developed a drop-in biofuel, Lignol, from kraft lignin, has now developed a process for transforming lignin into a biopolymer, Renol. Renol, a biodegradable biopolymer with strong material properties, represents an alternative to many plastics, such as polystyrene (PS), which are associated with serious environmental and health issues.
Growing concerns regarding the problem of plastic in our oceans is leading to legislation banning certain plastics and driving demand from brand owners for replacement products. Starch based bioplastics, already available in the market, are limited in terms of applications as they are not water resistant. Renol, in contrast, can be used in a wide range of applications and in fact offers superior material qualities to some fossil-based polymers (e.g. mechanical strength, UV stability and fire-resistance). It is suitable for use in products which must be durable while in use, but, unlike most plastic, it will degrade (in a compostable environment) when no longer needed.
Kraft lignin is a waste product of kraft pulping (widely used for the manufacture of pulp and paper). RenFuel's solution offers to add value to lignin waste - thus representing a circular solution to the plastics pollution problem. Lignin raw material is widely available in the pulp industry, in sufficient volumes to hypothetically replace a significant percentage of the fossil fuels used in the global plastics market.
RenFuel's business model involves the sale of Renol in pellet form to compounders, for mixing with existing (fossil-based) polymers to manufacture an end plastic product with a percentage of biodegrability - and potentially also add other valuable properties.
In the Phase I project, RenFuel will identify high value niche markets for biopolymer pellets, to enter initially into low volume processing (several thousand tons). Longer term, in higher volume production, it aims to compete directly in bulk plastics mar
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.
- engineering and technology materials engineering amorphous solids organic amorphous solids
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences environmental sciences pollution
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology biomaterials bioplastics
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology biomaterials biofuels
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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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H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges
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H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies
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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.
SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1
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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) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020
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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.
102 48 STOCKHOLM
Sweden
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.