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.
The BBI JU-funded SSUCHY project demonstrates the potential of sustainable bio-based composite applications in the aerospace, acoustics and automotive sectors.
