BLUECOAT

BIO-BASED LONG LASTING SAFE AND SUSTAINABLE BY DESIGN SURFACE COATINGS FOR DEMANDING AND EXTREME CONDITIONS

Project details

Type of project
Research & Innovation Action
Project focus
Construction
Feedstock origin
Agri-food waste
Forestry waste
Other and new
Feedstock type
Bioplastics
Cellulose
Food industry sidestreams
Lignin & wood residues
Project period
1 October 2025 - 30 September 2029
Status
Upcoming
CBE JU Contribution
€ 3 503 122,50
Call identifier
HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024

Summary

Surface coatings are vital for improving the sustainability, safety, and performance of materials. However, approximately 80% of paints and coatings are produced using compounds derived from fossil fuels, resulting in high energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.  Some coating technologies have been banned due to health and environmental concerns, underscoring the need for eco-friendly alternatives.

BLUECOAT aims to tackle these challenges by developing safe and sustainable coatings from renewable sources such as biopolymers, natural fibres, bio-based plastics, and plant-based proteins from waste. The goal is to develop six high-performance coatings for industries, including maritime, textile, and construction. 

  • Implement the latest safe-and-sustainable-by-design approach to develop a comprehensive and reliable profile of surface coatings.
  • Develop 12 low-carbon, bio-based coating formulas from four types of bio-based feedstocks.
  • Demonstrate three innovative and efficient processes for using bio-based coatings in marine, textile, and construction industries under tough conditions.
  • Create a platform of bio-based formulations tailored to meet specific application needs and perform in real-world conditions.
  • Ensure bio-based formulations perform well for selected applications and can be scaled up.
  • Prove the life cycle sustainability and circularity of the six SSbD coatings, ensuring they can be recycled or biodegraded responsibly.
  • Increase acceptance of bio-based coatings, raise their visibility, and meet standardisation requirements. 

  • Reduce GHG emissions by 45%.
  • Cut environmental impact in the marine, construction, and textile sectors by 20% within 3 years after implementation.
  • Double recyclability and reduce costs by 10% in eight use cases, while updating six coating design techniques based on environmental assessments.
  • Reduce overall coating toxicity by 20%, production process toxicity by 50%, and toxicity for maritime fauna by 70%, while updating six safety standards.
  • Standardise bio-based coating production processes for consistency.
  • Improve energy and resource efficiency in industrial processes with advanced technologies.
  • Increase market resilience by reducing costs and fossil fuel dependence in coating markets. 

Consortium map

Project coordination

  • THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM Birmingham, United Kingdom

Consortium

  • KONLECHNER DAVID Austria
  • Skultuna Flexible Aktiebolag Skultuna, Sweden
  • NEXT TECHNOLOGY TECNOTESSILE SOCIETA NAZIONALE DI RICERCA R L Prato, Italy
  • FIBERLEAN TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED Par Cornwall, United Kingdom
  • ZIRKULU LIMITED CORK, Ireland
  • STIFTELSEN NILU Kjeller, Norway
  • ADVANCED MINERALS AND RECYCLING INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS IKE IRAKLEIO ATTIKIS, Greece
  • THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA Edmonton, Canada
  • SVERIGES LANTBRUKSUNIVERSITET Uppsala, Sweden
  • INNOVATION IN DISSEMINATING MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES LTD Birmingham, United Kingdom
  • SOPREMA STRASBOURG, France
  • KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN Leuven, Belgium
Partners
  • TEMAS SOLUTIONS GMBH Hausen, Switzerland
  • PROCTER & GAMBLE TECHNICAL CENTRES LIMITED Weybridge, United Kingdom
  • ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE Lausanne, Switzerland
  • INTERNATIONAL PAINT LIMITED SLOUGH, United Kingdom