iBB is proud to announce its coordination of the innovative Polymers-5B project, aimed at synthesizing biobased and biodegradable polymers from renewable biowastes through biocatalysis and green chemistry. This ambitious project, funded under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE-JU), contributes towards advancing the European Circular Bioeconomy.
The project officially kicked off with a meeting in Lisbon on the 17th and 18th of June, bringing together all 13 partners to outline the roadmap for the next four years. During this period, the consortium will collaborate to develop novel alternative biobased polymers derived from bio-renewable monomers. These monomers will be sourced from underexploited biomass streams, including tomato and olive wastes, as well as lignin biomass. The project aims to transform these materials into valuable bio-composites and polymeric materials for use in various industries such as textiles, automotive, furniture, and polymeric resins.
The Polymers-5B project will use Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to optimize the developed technologies, ensuring minimal resource usage, zero waste, and zero pollution. By incorporating technological, economic, and environmental sustainability aspects early in the design phase through Sustainable by Design (SSbD) approaches, the project will enhance the availability of bio-renewable monomers and biobased polymers within the EU.
This sustainable strategy aligns with the European Green Deal targets, aiming to reduce the EU’s dependency on fossil-based raw materials and derivatives. The successful implementation of the Polymers-5B project will not only contribute to environmental sustainability but also bolster the EU’s position as a leader in the global shift towards a circular bioeconomy.