H2020
Europeo
ExpectedOutcome:The successful proposal will enable the bio-based industries in the Union to contribute to the enhancement of European bio-based industrial sustainability and to the development of innovative and sustainable value-chains in the bio-based sectors. Project results will contribute to deliver bio-based solutions which are biodegradable either in controlled or in open environments, with reduced environmental impacts on soil, water and air quality, biodiversity and climate, in line with the EGD objectives, the EU circular economy and the EU zero pollution action plans.
Project results should contribute to the following expected outcomes:
Development and validation of the methodology to test the safe biodegradation of bio-based materials and products both in controlled and in open environments Support to the development of standard(s) for biodegradability in controlled/open environments and clear labelling for end consumers and customersSocietal acceptance of bio-based circular bio-based solutions and productsMore responsible and informed choices in consumptionSignificant improvement in environmental sustainability and safety across the bio-based...
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ExpectedOutcome:The successful proposal will enable the bio-based industries in the Union to contribute to the enhancement of European bio-based industrial sustainability and to the development of innovative and sustainable value-chains in the bio-based sectors. Project results will contribute to deliver bio-based solutions which are biodegradable either in controlled or in open environments, with reduced environmental impacts on soil, water and air quality, biodiversity and climate, in line with the EGD objectives, the EU circular economy and the EU zero pollution action plans.
Project results should contribute to the following expected outcomes:
Development and validation of the methodology to test the safe biodegradation of bio-based materials and products both in controlled and in open environments Support to the development of standard(s) for biodegradability in controlled/open environments and clear labelling for end consumers and customersSocietal acceptance of bio-based circular bio-based solutions and productsMore responsible and informed choices in consumptionSignificant improvement in environmental sustainability and safety across the bio-based value chainsSignificant contribution to the objectives of the R&I missions ‘A soil deal for Europe’ and ‘Restore our oceans and waters’
Scope:The amount of waste littered in the open environment and causing pollution from harmful substances released from such waste streams, e.g., from plastic littering, has reached the level of a global emergency, especially affecting soil and water quality and biodiversity in land and marine environments. The overall low level of recycling of many waste streams, including collected plastic waste, is also part of such global pollution challenge. Biodegradability of materials and products for targeted applications may offer viable end-of-life solutions in case of safe and sustainable biodegradation either under controlled conditions, i.e., in composting plants and anaerobic digestors, or in open environments. However, there is still a need for clarity on how to label biodegradable products and a lack of standards covering the range of conditions under which a (claimed) biodegradable material actually biodegrade to the desired extent and in the desired time frame to ensure a safe end-of-life.
Proposals under this topic should:
Select applications for biodegradable bio-based materials and products. Such applications should include materials and products which show environmental benefits from being biodegradable in one (or more) of the following cases: i) controlled environments (if separately collected after their use), such as industrial composting plants, anaerobic digesters and home-composting, for example in cases where products and materials are contaminated from food or from other organic substances during their use[1]; ii) open environments, for example in those cases of uncontrolled waste littering[2], or in those cases where the products are used already in the open environment and their biodegradation ‘in situ’ is the expected end-of-life[3].Identify gaps and needs of existing methods and standards to test the biodegradability of materials and certification schemes applicable to the bio-based material and products selected.Select a set of combinations of bio-based products and end-of-life environments. The set of combinations should cover all of the following end-of-life pathways in: industrial composting plants, anaerobic digesters and home-composting, as controlled environments, and soil and water, as open environments. The choice of products and applications should be based on the review of existing standards and gaps and on the indications from the current legislative framework[4], as well on current market volume, projected market volume (to capture emerging materials) and, in the case of end-of-life in open environments, the likelihood of the product being released (fully or partially) to the environment during its use of afterwards.Design new/improve existing tests of biodegradability in the specific environments for the selected set of combinations, under representative ranges of physical/chemical conditions. The tests should include the monitoring of all relevant environmental impacts, including, but not limited to, emissions, eco-toxicity and any impacts on natural ecosystems, from biodegraded materials, including from micro-plastics, and from their additives during the biodegradation process. The tests should include, as a parameter of biodegradation process, the time-frame of partial up to full biodegradation. A risk assessment should be planned as well, based on the monitored parameters.Validate the tests of biodegradability of the selected set of combinations and develop protocols for their replication. The trials of biodegradation of bio-based materials in different environments should be performed and monitored under representative ranges of physical/chemical conditions.Develop a proposal for the development and/or the update of standards for tests of biodegradability for the selected applications.Perform a survey among the concerned consumers and end-of-life stakeholders to get insights on the information necessary on the correct use and end-of-life disposal options of the selected bio-based products. This includes information about the specific conditions/environments for use and end-of-life (e.g., recycling, composting, anaerobic digestion, home-composting, ‘in situ’ biodegradation, etc.) and recommendations on the integration of such information in the existing labelling systems.Design measures to deliver transparent communication, aiming at improved societal acceptance of bio-based innovation and at supporting consumers, public procurers and the business-to-business market in making responsible and informed choices. It should include the information about the environmental impacts, including on ecosystems, of uncontrolled disposal and of uncontrolled littering into the open environments and of the consequent risks. In order to achieve the expected outcomes, the consortium should include a standardisation body, to monitor and be consulted on the development of the tests, to the development of the standers proposal, to participate in the consultations on the labelling systems. Suggested members of the consortium are researchers in the bio-based technologies, bio-based industries, trade bodies, consumers’ associations and any relevant stakeholder along the value chain of industrial bio-based systems, as well as waste management companies and facilities.
An advisory board shall be established by the project. The Bio-Based Industries Consortium and a representative from the European Commission should be part of this advisory board to provide expertise in the implementation and follow up of the different tasks.
Proposals should also describe their contribution to the Specific CBE JU requirements, presented in section 2.2.3.1, and the Cross-cutting elements, highlighted in section 2.2.3.2 of the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2023[5].
Where relevant, proposals should seek links with and capitalise on the results of past and ongoing EU funded projects[6] [7].
[1]E.g., coffee/tea bags, food carrier bags, food packaging, etc.
[2]E.g., micro particles/fibrils leaking from textiles during their use/washing, microplastics coming from fragmentation of macro-plastic used in open environments, etc.
[3]e.g., agricultural mulching films, fishing gears, etc.
[4]For example, Regulation on alternative fertilising products, REACH regulation, Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles , Directive on single-use plastics
[5]CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2023 (https://www.cbe.europa.eu/reference-documents)
[6]Especially the FP7 Open-BIO project https://www.biobasedeconomy.eu/projects/open-bio/
[7]For example HORIZON-CL6-2022-CIRCBIO-02-03-two-stage: Sustainable biodegradable novel bio-based plastics: innovation for sustainability and end-of-life options of plastic; HORIZON-CL6-2024-CircBio-01-5: Programmed biodegradation capability of bio-based materials and products, validated in specific environments. Also, topics from the Processes 4 Planet partnership and other European partnerships of Horizon Europe, the Horizon Europe Missions, especially ‘A soil deal for Europe’ and ‘Restore our Ocean and Waters’ and their work programmes should be considered.
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