Nenu2PHAr – For a sustainable and European value chain of PHA-based materials for high-volume consumer products!
NENU2PHAR is a research and innovation project funded by the Joint Technology Initiative for Bio-based Industries (JTI BBI). The project brings together sixteen different institutions and companies from seven European countries France, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Poland and Croatia. The project began on 1 September 2020 and is expected to be completed on 29 February 2024.
Plastics have become ubiquitous and nearly indispensable, yet they are largely made from fossil fuel-derived compounds and are having increasingly detrimental effects on the environment. One important way to mitigate the negative impacts of the plastics industry while acknowledging its relevance and supporting its existence is to transition away from petroleum-based compounds to bio-derived polymers. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are among the most promising candidates. However, the EU is currently dependent on other countries for much of the PHA value chain. The EU-funded NENU2PHAR project is out to remedy that, taking a holistic approach that includes raw material production with microalgae and bacteria, the formulation and processing of biopolymers and the production of eight different PHA-based products.
By achieving its overall objectives, the NENU2PHAR project will help provide a much-needed alternative to petrochemical-based plastics. In addition, it will also make contributions to specific BBI JU KPIs through:
Establishing a range of cross-sectoral interconnections in the bio-based economy between the industrial partners within the project, covering biopolymer extraction, compounding, product plastic manufacturers, recycling and remanufacturing.
Creating a completely new bio-based value chain, covering PHA-based bioplastic products from a sustainable bio-source to plastic compounds with an acceptable end of life. Validating at least four new market sectors from the source material; use in bio-polymers (PHA, starch), master batch compounds as well as several bioplastic products.
This project has received funding from the Bio Based Industries Joint Undertaking (JU) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 887474. The JU received support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme and the Bio Based Industries Consortium.
