Be-UP

Boosting the Industrial Uptake of Biodegradable polymers for packaging applications by implementing digital tools and advanced techniques to achieve a holistic sustainability goal

Expected results:

Within this new project, novel synthesis and processing routes will be developed for novel aliphatic-aromatic biopolyesters with increased renewable content using biobased building blocks (e.g 1,4 bio-BDO), alongside innovative catalysts and additives. These components will be optimized for synthesis and polymerisation through advanced digital modelling tools, based on Kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) models. The biopolyesters will be blended with commercial biopolymers (e.g., PLA, PBAT, and PHA), biobased chain extenders, and mineral fillers to create bioplastic packaging materials. The design of these blends will employ advanced compounding modelling tools, supported by techniques like screw design and inline rheology measurements, to achieve the target technical performance, sustainability and biodegradation goals using multi-objective function evaluation. Processability will focus on the primary production techniques used in the packaging industry: blown film extrusion, injection moulding and thermoforming.

A set of packaging product prototypes (TRL7) will be manufactured to validate the developed materials. The biodegradability of these novel products will be assessed in different End-of-life (EoL) scenarios, including open environments and controlled conditions, thus making it possible to fill the gap between laboratory conditions and real end-of-life behaviour of these materials. Additionally, the recyclability of the new products will be evaluated. The data and conclusions of these assessments will be helpful for:

  • The development of guidelines and tools for circular design to facilitate the adoption of the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) Framework.
  • The improvement of the standardization framework for testing and labelling of materials and packaging products.

Active: Starting in Spring 2025, running for 48 months.

Funded by: Be-UP is funded by the Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101178689-2