Funded by the Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking HORIZON programme under Grant Agreement nº 101157411, POLYMEER will run for 48 months starting 1st September 2024. The project has received 4.9M€ in funding and involves 14 partners from 8 countries, coordinated by Università degli Studi di Perugia (UNIPG).
Currently, bioplastics represent only 1.5% of global plastic production, with projected growth insufficient to meet market needs. BSG, which is rich in fiber and protein, is mostly used as low-value animal feed or discarded in landfills, contributing to environmental issues. BSG has potential as feedstock for bioplastics; however, current applications are limited by poor mechanical properties and lack of scalability. POLYMEER seeks to address these challenges by developing high-value uses for BSG in bioplastics to replace fossil-based feedstocks. POLYMEER will develop new bio-based polymers, copolymers, and polymer blends based on BSG, exploiting green, waste-minimised processes, expanding innovative alternatives to traditional plastics. The materials will undergo precise chemical design to meet a specific set of properties for three targeted applications: mulch films suitable for agricultural use, textiles for the automotive industry, and tertiary packaging films for industrial purposes.
All products will be designed to be recycled and/or biodegraded in specific environments. Over its 48 months, the project will focus on optimising the conversion of BSG into bio-based building blocks, creating high-performance bioplastics that can compete with conventional materials. It will also assess the life cycle sustainability, cost-effectiveness, and scalability of these solutions, while engaging key stakeholders to ensure market readiness and regulatory compliance. To achieve the ambitious goals of POLYMEER over the next four years, UNIPG will work with an international consortium including academic institutions, research centres, and companies from 8 countries: Italy (Università degli Studi di Perugia, Università degli Studi di Roma La Sapienza, Next Technology Tecnotessile –NTT, Birra Peroni), Belgium (Bio-Base Europe Pilot Plant, Zabala Brussels, Normec OWS), Spain (Lomartov, Aimplas), Croatia (Bio-Mi), Netherlands (Universiteit Twente), Portugal (Borgstena), and Denmark (Gate2Growth).
The project is supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking and its members. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CBE JU. Neither the European Union nor the CBE JU can be held responsible for them.
