BBI2019.SO3.R8 – Develop sustainable bio-based materials for high-volume consumer products
Background
This is a topic in the 2019 work programme of the Biomass Based Industries Joint Undertaking which was launched in April 2019. The deadline for submitting proposals to this call is September 4th 2019, with the results expected by the end of the year and projects expected to start in 2020.Celignis is an SME that was spun-out from an EU research project (the FP7 advanced biofuels project DIBANET) that was written and coordinated by Celignis's founder Daniel Hayes. It has now been five years since the end of that project and over that time Celignis has grown in size and reputation and now occupies a valuable niche as being the premier analytical provider to clients in the biomass sector. We provide a wide range of compositional analysis services and bioprocessing expertise to a diverse array of customers (including SMEs, multinationals, and universities) looking to utilise biomass feedstocks, residues and wastes for the production of biobased products, biofuels, and energy.
But we have not lost sight of the importance of science and in advancing the start of the art. We were born from pioneering research and we are still passionately committed to playing our part in advancing the bioeconomy. As a result we continue to be highly active in European research projects and are particularly excited by the calls presented in the 2019 BBI work programme.
Celignis is a partner in 2 ongoing BBI projects, BIOrescue and UNRAVEL. These are RIA (Research and Innovation Action) projects. Click here to read more about our involvements in these BBI projects. Celignis is also a partner in an Innovation Action (i.e. Demonstration scale) BBI project that is currently in the Grant Agreement stage and is expected to start in September 2019. In addition to these BBI projects, Celignis is also a partner in the Horizon 2020 Coordinating and Supporting Action project ENABLING. As we are a spin-out company from an EU research project we are well-versed in the preparation of proposals and in the implementation of projects.
Below we present a summary of this topic and indicate how Celignis could be a valuable project partner. Click here to see more details on our relevant expertise as well as summaries of how we can contribute to the other topics in the 2019 BBI work programme.
Contributions Celignis can Make to BBI2019.SO3.R8
- Lab-scale enzymatic and fermentation experiments - Our personnel have a high level of experience in the use of enzymes and in the development of enzyme cocktails as well as in the lab-scale fermentation of the sugars liberated in biomass hydrolysis, allowing for the production of a wide range of value-added products. Within this topic we can explore such biotechnological approaches for the production of biobased polymers.
- Biodegradability testing of biopolymers - We can undertake a range of analysis methods to investigate the biodegradability of these bio-based materials. These tests can follow OECD guidelines (e.g. OECD301, 302, 306, 310 or equivalent methods) and determine both ready and inherent biodegradability.
- Compositional analysis of the bio-based materials - Our extensive experience in the compositional analysis of biomass and the products of biomass conversion can be applied to the analysis of the value-added products of the technologies being developed in this call. For instance, we can analyse for: nanocellulose content and properties; the monomer compositions of xylan-based polymers; hydrogels; seaweed-based polymers (e.g. based on alginates); and the composition of an array of bioplastics (e.g. PHAs, PHBs, and PLAs).
Specific Challenge of BBI2019.SO3.R8
Bio-based materials are promising alternatives to fossil-based plastic counterparts in several high-volume consumer applications: for example, they can be used for transparent films, in packaging and hygiene products, non-woven products, superabsorbent polymers and reinforced bio-composites. These bio-based materials can be made biocompostable, and/or biodegradable or recyclable if not degradable, lowering the environmental burden versus fossil-based alternatives.The specific challenge is to provide bio-based materials for high-volume consumer products with a lower environmental footprint at end of life than their fossil-based plastic counterparts.
Scope of BBI2019.SO3.R8
Develop bio-based materials with functional properties for high-volume consumer products, making them perform better than fossil-based plastics in comparable applications.Proposals should test the properties of the new bio-based materials against those of fossil-based counterparts, and prove that the end products meet market requirements and have a higher performance on relevant aspects as compared with fossil-based counterparts.
Proposals should include sustainable solutions for the end-of-life phase of the resultant new bio-based products, increasing their competitive advantage as compared with their fossil-based counterparts. To that end, proposals should measure their environmental footprint at end of life and compare this with the fossil-based plastic counterparts.
Proposals may cover physical, chemical or biotechnological routes (or combinations thereof). This topic includes any bio-based feedstock, provided it can be sourced in a way that is sustainable both from an environmental and an economic perspective.
Proposals should address all requirements for RIA as shown in Table 3 in the Introduction. The technology readiness level (TRL) at the end of the project should be 4-5 for the bio-based value chain in question. Proposals should clearly state the starting and end TRLs of the key technology or technologies targeted in the project.
Industry participation in the project would be considered as an added value because it can play a supportive role to demonstrate the potential for integrating the developed concepts and technologies into current industrial landscapes or existing plants so they can be deployed more quickly and scaled up to apply industry-wide.