NENU2PHAR will contribute to the creation of new cross-sector interconnection in the bio-based economy by means of the interconnection between the aquatic biomass production sector and the plastic production sector. This cross-sector interconnection has been established as the core concept of NENU2PHAR, the production of PHA biopolymer based on microalgae biomass achieved. The NENU2PHAR value chain addresses new (or optimised) bio-based value chains, the PHA-based bioplastic products from a biological source have been transformed into plastic compounds, the End of Life of these products is promising in terms of biodegradation. 4 new bio-based materials are identified from the initial aquatic carbon feedstock, these are the following bio-polymers: hydrolysed sugars, starch, cellulose and PHA.
The new ready-to-market bioplastic products developed in NENU2PHAR with new bio-based materials are: Flexible PHB based films compounded with other biopolymers which will serve as lid films for food packaging; PHB-based rigid films which will serve as a tray after thermoforming process to replace actual multi-layer petrochemical-based structure used for food packaging; Biodegradable and compostable film to substitute actual multilayer fossil-based film for food packaging in a stand-up pouch format; Biodegradable and compostable thermoformed cup food packaging applications, more specifically for fruits puree; Packaging for personal care, roll-on type of packaging consisting of 3 parts: bottle, ball and cap; Woven ground cover based on the PHB formulations; Formulation of PHA destined to 3D printing and Surgical meshes as bioresorbable implants.
The use of microalgae as the bioplastic feedstock avoids both competition with food sources and the environmental impacts associated with agricultural activities for the production of 1st generation biomass, predominantly used in commercial bio-based plastics (such as the use of fertilisers and pesticides causing water eutrophication and soil acidification). Microalgae-based PHA production can be achieved by integrating carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) processes into microalgae farming activities. The results revealed that microalgae-based PHA production could be economically viable, but it will depend on establishing well a series of production and marketing parameters, such as: the location of the plant, the production scale, the cost of CO2 supply (ensuring cheap sources or even at zero cost by using captured CO2 from industrial emissions), and the PHA selling price. Concerning the awareness and understanding of bio-based economy in the society, the project held a workshop on societal acceptability inviting different stakeholders, including companies and SME from the plastics and bioplastics sector, to analyse the barriers around PHA acceptability, and highlighting the key elements to design a proper strategy for their future acceptance. NENU2PHAR results estimate that the social footprint of the microalgae-based PHA produced in EU was estimated lower than for PHA production in the United States, while being significantly lower than for Chinese PHA production. These NENU2PHAR results should therefore be used as a decision-making tool towards the social improvement of the productive process by evaluating in more detail the hotpots and proposing measures that contribute to improve the social conditions.
