CIRCLE will boost bio-based chemical production in Europe by making use of food waste streams. The project’s team will upgrade an existing biogas plant to transform locally sourced food waste and other biological residues into valuable bio-based chemicals like lactic acid to be used in cosmetics, cleaning products, the automotive industry and the food packaging sector.
TERRIFIC will help de-fossilise the packaging sector and make it circular with bio‑based materials for recyclable, compostable and high performing packaging. The project will build a first-of-its-kind biorefinery to produce bio‑based and biodegradable film laminated on pulp or paper, as well as rigid and flexible thermoplastic bio‑based materials for packaging solutions.
WOODCELL will develop viable bio-based alternatives to fossil-based materials in the chemical and material industries. The project will turn hardwood residues into micro-scale microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) for a wide array of applications. This will help reduce global dependence on fossil-based chemicals while creating new job opportunities in the region.
PROTEUS will unlock the full potential of brown algae by optimising its harvesting and extraction techniques. The project's biorefinery will transform 100% of the biomass into bio-based food and feed ingredients, personal care products and other industrial applications. This approach aims to sustainably boost Europe’s blue economy by improving circularity and creating new business opportunities.
Innovation actions (IA)
BIONEER will develop low-cost and sustainably sourced bio-based platform chemicals from lignocellulosic biomass for the personal care and coating sectors. The project aims to change the landscape of the chemical industry by bringing to the market replacing current toxic and less environmental-friendly alternatives.
BIOntier will develop bio-based composites - sustainable, renewable, and eco-friendly materials - that will help the automotive, aerospace, energy, and water-treatment industries become more sustainable.
LANDFEEDwill create new bio-based fertilisers by using underutilised waste from the agro-food industry, forestry, urban, and natural sources as feedstock, and develop coating for these bio-based fertilisers to improve nutrient release mechanisms. The project will help cutting imports of fossil-based fertilisers and will contribute to restoring soil health and biodiversity.
MANUREFINERY will develop innovative ways to convert livestock manure into bio-based feed and fertilisers. The project will help reduce the environmental impact of livestock farming and create alternative income sources for farmers in four sites in Romania, Slovenia and Spain.
MOEBIOS aims to revolutionise plastic waste management in Europe by developing separate recycling streams for bioplastics within three key industries: packaging, agriculture, and textiles.
NEXT-STEP will scale up the production of sustainable and biodegradable materials, particularly focusing on a chemical called 3MdVL, to address the needs of European industries. By leveraging second-generation feedstock hardwood sugars and innovative production processes, the project aims to unlock new sustainable and economically viable applications for 3MdVL.
PROMOFERaims to boost bioplastics production from lignocellulosic biomass and food industry waste by improving the fermentation and downstream purification processes. The project will work on sustainable, safe-by-design and circular bio-based plastics solutions for the geotextile nets, technical textile and coated paper packaging applications.
PROSPERaims to demonstrate the viable sorting and recycling of bio-based plastics in packaging, integrating them into waste management practices and policy frameworks to boost their demand. Through collaboration with stakeholders and technical advancements, PROSPER seeks to establish a circular economy for bio-based plastics, with an emphasis on their sustainability and recyclability.
ReBioCycleis optimising the recycling and biodegradation of bioplastics in three recycling sites across Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands to boost the potential of this material for the circular bioeconomy.
ReLEAFtackles the EU's reliance on non-renewable synthetic fertilisers by using waste streams to produce bio-based fertilisers. The project aims for widespread acceptance and industrial scale-up of bio-based fertilisers, contributing to future food security and sustainable agriculture in Europe.
Rural BioReFarmeries will support the European grassland farmers with alternative income sources from small-scale decentralised green biorefineries. The project will bring together farmers and industry to launch a model biorefinery turning agricultural residues into high-value bio-based solutions.
SSUCHY-Next aims to advance an innovative use of hemp in the production of bio-based and recyclable polymer matrices. The project’s team will demonstrate how these bio-based solutions can be used in a variety of products, including wind turbine blades, leather replacement materials, and construction materials like façade panels.
SURFs UP will develop new bio-based surfactants, widely used compounds in personal care, cosmetics, food and cleaning products, among others. The project’s team will work on turning wood and food processing waste into safe and sustainable bioproducts for home and personal care, as well as agrochemical applications.
SurfToGreen will develop fully bio-based surfactants for various industries, such as home and personal care, textile and agriculture, with an emphasis on the products’ effectiveness, sustainability, and safety.
ZESTaims to boost the production of bio-based proteins by optimising fungal fermentation processes and using low-cost agricultural waste streams as feedstock.
Research and innovation actions (RIA)
BIOPYRANIAwill create bio-based polyamides and polybenzimidazoles from forest-based feedstock. Through innovative research, the project aims to provide materials for automotive electrification and green hydrogen production.
FLEXIZYMEaims to pioneer a biotechnological platform for fatty amine production to enhance their environmental performance and boost their uptake in cosmetics, detergents, and agricultural sectors.
GoodByOwill use food waste, biogenic CO2, and bioprocess wastewater to develop a groundbreaking microbial-based solution for diverse industrial sectors. The project aims to improve the environmental footprint and cost-efficiency of both existing and new bio-based value chains, and help reduce the EU’s dependency on fossil fuel and palm oil imports.
IASIS will develop solutions for curing both contaminated and saline land by cultivating high-yielding industrial crops for the production of bio-based products. The project will create job opportunities and alternative income sources for the involved farmers while restoring eight affected land sites across Europe.
OptiForValueaims to optimise forest value chain management to increase the value, competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience of the chain, boosting the European circular bioeconomy.
pHYBiaims to boost the circular bioeconomy by cultivating industrial crops in degraded soils for sustainable feedstock sourcing. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and social innovation, pHYBi seeks to develop replicable strategies and engage stakeholders to promote sustainable practices.
POLYMEER aims to establish a sustainable bio-based value chain for bioplastic products, using brewers' spent grain as feedstock. The project will design recyclable or biodegradable agricultural films, brewery tertiary packaging, and automotive textiles.
Polymers-5B aims to create a sustainable bio-based plastics alternative for the textile, automotive, furniture and polymeric resins market applications.
SingleTree aims to develop an optimised value chain for improved climate change adaptation, forest resilience, multifunctionality, and cascading use of woody biomass in precision forestry. This will help support sustainable bioeconomy, counteract biodiversity loss, and boost the resilience of European forests.
Coordination and support actions (CSA)
BioINSouth will promote bioeconomy as means for sustainable growth in Southern Europe with the help of stakeholders and using innovative methods. The project will encourage the adoption of circular bio-based solutions and integration of environmental considerations in the regional bioeconomy strategies.
COPILOTwill build a Europe-wide reference database of open-access - infrastructures for bioeconomy. The database will support collaboration among infrastructures, innovators and enablers helping to scale up bio-based innovations across Europe.
The NEBA Alliance will address important skills gaps in the construction industry by both democratising access to sustainable training and accelerating the transition to a circular bioeconomy across Europe. The project encourages innovation and active collaboration, fostering sustainable development and a greener future for Europe.