Projects Driving the Portfolio

Sustainable production methods are essential to achieving a circular economy. In this context, the EIC-funded ECOSYSTEM project will develop multifunctional biopolyesters and bio-based ingredients using sustainable technologies for mulching films, and food and pharmaceutical packaging. This project will promote eco-friendly solutions and provide end-of-life strategies for these products. By using agrifood waste, such as berries and pruning, the project will produce cellulose, furfural, and lignin through an integrated biorefinery process. These raw materials will then be synthesised into aromatic and aliphatic monomers using mechanochemistry and white biotechnology. The project will also develop active ingredients with bacterial and ethylene inhibition properties, and create soil sensors. The resulting bioplastic films and packaging will be tested in relevant environments.

Conventional, fossil fuel-based plastics have a high carbon footprint and degrade poorly, causing significant environmental harm. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are a biodegradable and renewable alternative, but their high cost and processing challenges hinder widespread use. To address these limitations, the EIC-funded SATISPHACTION project seeks the development of groundbreaking chemical and biotic upcycling processes. The project will leverage the use of computer-aided development processes to obtain PHAs with enhanced properties, leading to formulations less reliant on additivation and blending to meet the processability requirements. Such developments will be validated by the elaboration of three food packaging prototypes: thermoformed trays, flexible thermosealable sachets and bioadhesives. This novel upcycling approach will enable the development of PHA plastic packaging fully biodegradable in natural soil and aquatic environments.

The BIO4PAK project aims to replace traditional fossil-based plastics in food packaging with materials inspired by nature — fully biodegradable, safe, and as functional as conventional solutions. Its focus is on delivering the phage-based antimicrobial PhagTec system linked to PHBHHx polymers of microbial origin to reduce food waste, increase food safety and replace plastics with biodegradable packaging. The technology is optimised on a Salmonella model to enable transfer to other pathogens and applications. BIO4PAK introduces a smart bio-based packaging material created from a microbial polymer that naturally biodegrades and is safe for both consumers and the environment. What distinguishes the solution is the integration of PhagTec, an innovative delivery system containing bacteriophages that selectively attack bacteria. In this design, phages remain inactive until activated by Salmonella, which triggers their release. By combining biodegradable materials with targeted phage activity, BIO4PAK extends poultry shelf life, reduces the need for antibiotics and prevents spoilage. The packaging is fully compostable, fitting circular-economy goals and supporting the EU’s ambition to reduce fossil-carbon plastics by 2030.

BORN is a bio-based low-cost polymer formulation that can be used to fabricate biodegradable thermal-resistant food packaging, as well as a variety of products that require resistance to high temperatures. This is a groundbreaking innovation for biodegradable and bio-based polymers, which generally withstand temperatures no higher than 50–55 °C. BORN material is produced via safe and sustainable-by-design approaches, using nature-inspired polymers and additives. These mainly consist of novel and patentable crystal nucleating agents whose inclusion allows crystallisation upon industrial processing of otherwise amorphous polymers. This improves resistance to high temperatures up to 100 °C and opens a wide portfolio of applications, from compostable microwavable containers for ready-to-eat meals to low-cost cups for hot beverages. BORN may also be used in agriculture, reusable consumer goods and other applications where high thermal resistance is required. The material is designed to be circular, bio-based, biodegradable, compostable, suitable for food contact, recyclable and cost-effective.

The plastics sector must adopt circular approaches with scalable solutions that diminish plastic waste and pollution, while enhancing resource efficiency in line with the European Circular Economy Action Plan. In this context, the EIC-funded Bio2PEs project produces bio-based and biodegradable polyethylene and polyester from biomass waste in an effort to reduce plastic pollution. The project will create prototypes in varying packaging sizes and conduct lifecycle assessments, including biodegradability tests across several EU climates. It will enhance circularity by incorporating a self-repairing coating to increase longevity and using fluorescence technology to make products more recyclable. Synergies with other projects will support consumer take-up of biodegradable materials through interactive labelling, while feeding data into an AI tool to provide more accurate material recommendations.

The EIC-funded CELLAGRI project is developing cellulose-based mulch films with passive water management for agriculture and horticulture. It combines plant-based, regenerated and bacterial cellulose with tailored biodegradable coatings that partially impregnate the film to boost tear resistance, stretchability and penetration stability, while suppressing mould. Nature-inspired microfluidic surface structures, such as leaf-like patterns, are created via nano/micro-imprint and validated as low-cost solutions using high-speed electron-beam curing. Atmospheric plasma tuning optimises hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions, improving water control and influencing biodegradability. A modular toolbox will enable adaptation to diverse climates and applications. The project targets TRL 5 through real field tests and ensures scalability via roll-to-roll production, paving the way for broadly available, bio-based, biodegradable and cost-effective films.