CUBIC

CUBIC aims to increase the sustainability of complex products made from advanced composite thermoset plastic and thermoplastic structures by developing new circular bio-based materials. Its specific objectives are to: 

• develop and validate three 100% bio-based materials and at least seven circular intermediate products and combine the intermediate products into two end-products that meet all technical and environmental requirements; 

• demonstrate a circular and sustainable production system in two value chains – thermoplastic and thermoset plastic products; 

• explore the potential of the intermediate products in at least three other sectors, such as sports equipment, aeronautics and railway transport, and for other automotive products; 

• validate processes for disassembly, recycling and recovery of the products to highlight their circularity; 

• assess the environmental, social and ethical impacts of the products and develop chemical safety assessments and toxicology profiles for them; 

• apply artificial intelligence tools to improve the performance of the materials; 

• communicate project outputs to 300 researchers, 100 industrial representatives, 50 policymakers and 2 500 citizens; 

• create two training programmes – one for scientists and engineers, one for industrial workers – on the circular economy and smart, green manufacturing practices. 

CUBIC is expected to contribute to the green and digital transformation of European manufacturing by: 

• increasing the availability of circular bio-based materials for intermediate products and of renewable carbon sources for more sustainable production and consumption, especially in the chemical and plastics sectors; 

• diversifying the bio-based material and intermediate product portfolios and widening the scope of their applications to support the creation of innovative bio-based end-products in a range of sectors; 

• helping to reduce soil and water contamination caused by waste generation; 

• developing a sustainable, circular production model for bio-based industry built on flexible (using prefabricated or modular parts), decentralised, customised and low-cost manufacturing.