Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) is the legal and universal successor of BBI JU in respect of all contracts, grant agreements and liabilities
Do you wonder where your clothes come from? The material they’re made of and how they are produced? Most of us don’t, but if we did, we might get a bit uneasy. Luckily, research is helping the fashion industry to take the lead in embracing the circular economy.
BBI JU-funded researchers and industry are putting insects to work – from termites that destroy wooden buildings to insect larvae that are outstanding natural waste converters. Packaging, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and animal feed are just some of the products they are beetling away to make for us.
EU-funded researchers have developed new value chains for creating novel sustainable products from bio-based waste. These will make the bio-based industry more economically viable and facilitate the transition away from a fossil fuel-based society.
Trees, crops and even organic waste can be transformed into a bewildering array of plastics to use in products ranging from single-use bags to heavy-duty aeroplane wings.
The organic fraction from municipal solid waste could provide high-value chemicals for a range of industries. BBI JU-funded companies and researchers successfully extracted a variety of useful products such as solvents and plastics from organic waste, helping bio-based economy carve out a more sustainable future.
Inexpensive, fossil fuel-based coated plastics keep foods fresher and safer for consumption, but their detrimental impact on the environment may outweigh their benefits. The BBI JU-funded REFUCOAT project has advanced bio-based alternatives leveraging microorganisms and natural metabolites.
The BBI JU-funded BIOBRIDGES project has established partnerships between brand owners, industries and consumers to foster acceptance and uptake of bio-based products to consumer markets, creating new bio-based value chains.
Solvents are ubiquitous in everyday life – from paints, personal care products and pharmaceuticals to cleaning products and inks. A new generation of bio-based solvents will now replace certain harmful, carcinogenic, toxic elements to make chemical processes more sustainable.
EU-funded scientists have developed sustainable, bio-based materials for use in the automotive and construction sectors. These new materials formed from food waste and agricultural by-products exhibit improved resilience to high temperatures and mechanical stress.
The global population will exceed 9 billion by 2050, further intensifying the demand for more energy, food, recycled nutrients and water. Microalgae are a very promising solution because they contain numerous compounds that can be harnessed for commercial use.
