BIO PLASTICS EU

Research: BIO-PLASTICS EUROPE

Developing and implementing sustainability based solutions for bio-based plastic production and use to preserve land and sea environmental quality in Europe.

Summary

Research summary

This €8.4m Horizon2020-funded project is exploring the potential role of bio-based and biodegradable plastics in supporting the EU Plastics Strategy and the transition to a circular economy.

As part of this project, Manchester Metropolitan University is leading the way with the development of a new ‘Safety Protocol’ for bioplastics, aimed at encouraging the responsible uptake and appropriate application of these innovative materials.

The project is comprised of partners from across Europe and Malaysia.

Statistic

+15%
The global bioplastics production capacity is set to increase from around 2.11 million tonnes in 2019 to approximately 2.43 million tonnes in 2024 - a rise of 15%.
European Bioplastic e.V. in cooperation with nova-Institute
+15%
The global bioplastics production capacity is set to increase from around 2.11 million tonnes in 2019 to approximately 2.43 million tonnes in 2024 - a rise of 15%.
European Bioplastic e.V. in cooperation with nova-Institute

Outputs

Research outputs

  • Defining, testing and deploying innovative product design strategies and pursuing innovative business models targeting efficient reuse and recycling of bio-based plastics.

  • Mapping current waste collection and management schemes. 

  • Investigating the potential impacts of bioplastics on terrestrial and aquatic environments, including on flora, fauna and human health. 

  • Building a biodegradable plastics sustainability framework, also by producing a “bioplastic safety protocol”.

  • Developing innovative business models facilitating efficient reuse and recycling strategies and solutions. 

  • Designing, testing and deploying a coordinated communication strategy and the related tools for cooperative knowledge sharing of best practices and lessons learned.

Team

Research team

Lead researchers

Collaborating with:

  • Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research (AWI)

  • Arctic Biomaterials OY (ABM)

  • Assobioplastiche Servizi Societá A Responsabilitá Limitata (ASSOBIOSERVIZI)

  • Ecoembalajes Espana, S.A. (ECOEMBES)

  • Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF (FRAUNHOFER LBF)

  • Hamburg Institute of International Economics (HWWI)

  • Hamburg University of Applied Sciences (HAW)

  • Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH)

  • Heng Hiap Industries (HHI)

  • Kaunas University of Technology (KUT)

  • Lodz University of Technology (TUL)

  • National Research Council (CNR)

  • Natureplast SAS (NP)

  • Prospex Institute (PI)

  • Swedish Environmental Research Institute (IVL)

  • Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech)

  • Technologie Innovative per il Controllo Ambientale e lo Sviluppo Sostenible scrl (TICASS)

  • The Austrian Centre of Industrial Biotechnology (Acib GmbH)

  • Turku University of Applied Sciences (TUAS)

  • Universidad Politecnica De Madrid (UPM)

  • University of Bologna (UNIBO)

Funding

With funding from

h2020

European Commission Horizon 2020

Contact

Contact us

For general enquiries about our Circular Economy Network you can contact its lead Prof. Craig Banks.

Project enquiries

Email Craig Email Carly