Bio-LUSH

In terms of objectives, Bio-LUSH aims to:

• develop a flexible, green process to refine biomass from sources such as agricultural by-products, weeds, aquatic plants and forestry residues;
• elaborate a low-cost process for small-scale production so that the method will be suited to process locally collected material, thereby reducing transport costs and related greenhouse gas emissions;
• develop and upscale fibres that meet processing and performance needs in the manufacturing sector;
• demonstrate the conversion of the fibres into high-value materials with the potential for rapid market entry;
• quantify the potential impact of bio-based fibres in terms of reduction in reliance on fossil fuels in European manufacturing;
• shorten the time needed to market bio-based fibrous products to 2-4 years by accelerating the development of products with a low environmental footprint, thereby reducing the risk level for future investments in bio-based manufacturing;
• establish an open dataset of European feedstock and sustainable fibres;
• engage citizens, primary producers, industry and the scientific community in the transition to a biofibre-based economy.
   

As regards impact, the Bio-LUSH partners expect to:

• increase understanding of the cell wall composition, hierarchy and cellulose liberation of underutilised plant resources; 
• compare the impact of different refining processes on fibre performance and scalability;
• formulate a proof of principle for a machine learning methodology linking fibre properties with product performance;
• develop a new life cycle assessment covering toxicity data of processes and products, effluent streams and CO₂ emissions;
• modify the genetic cell walls of plants to optimise fibre extraction and fibre properties for use in high-performance composites for the automotive sector;
• support biodiversity, soil remediation and pest control through the use of nettles;
• increase the competitiveness of the European bio-based sector through the commercialisation of cost-effective products and processes that will increase profits and support decision-making in the industry;
• reduce CO₂ emissions and eutrophication.