ECOFUNC

Eco-Friendly Circular and Functional Building Materials for Sustainable Construction

Project details

Type of project
Innovation Action - Demonstration
Project focus
Construction
Feedstock origin
Agri-food waste
Biogenic gaseous carbon
Forestry waste
Feedstock type
Bioplastics
Crop residues
Lignin & wood residues
Project period
1 June 2025 - 31 May 2029
Status
In progress
CBE JU Contribution
€ 7 154 694,50
Call identifier
HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024

Summary

The building and construction sector, valued IN €14.9 trillion in 2021 , is one of the largest industries worldwide. However, it is also a major contributor to environmental impact, responsible for 35% of global energy consumption, 37% of carbon emissions, and up to 50% of natural resource use. With current practices, the industry is not on track to meet its 2050 decarbonisation targets, highlighting an urgent need for sustainable solutions.

ECOFUNC seeks to address these challenges by creating sustainable construction materials based on polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), which are made by microorganisms using CO2. The project will create recyclable PHA-based panels for walls, ceilings, facades, and tiles, reducing carbon emissions and costs. It will also develop recycling methods to reuse materials in the furniture and automotive industries.  

ECOFUNC unites industry leaders and researchers to showcase PHAs as a sustainable alternative in construction. Through real-world demonstrations and stakeholder engagement, it aims to drive market adoption and mainstream bio-based materials. 

  • Show that polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) can make construction greener by replacing traditional, non-biodegradable materials.
  • Create the first EU-based system for producing sustainable cladding, ceiling tiles, and partition walls, from biomass to final products.
  • Ensure that 85% of materials are bio-based or recyclable and cut carbon emissions.
  • Develop and refine PHA-based materials, including foams, fibres, and flame-resistant additives for sustainable construction panels.
  • Use new materials to produce strong, multi-layered panels, thereby optimising their design for construction use.
  • Manufacture large-scale versions of the best panel designs and test them in real construction settings.
  • Adapt panels for automotive and furniture applications while developing mechanical and chemical recycling methods.
  • Evaluate sustainability, costs, and regulations to ensure feasibility and market readiness.
  • Share results, engage stakeholders, and encourage the construction industry to embrace these sustainable solutions. 

  • Reduce reliance on non-EU biomass by advancing local production of 10 new value chains for bio-based products.
  • Support the EU’s transition toward sustainable materials by promoting bio-based alternatives to fossil-based plastics and composites.
  • Achieve 0.5% market penetration, with annual revenues of €61.35 million, in less than five years, and 5% in less than ten years, generating €613.5 million.
  • Reach a cost of €5-6 per square meter for bio-based insulation panels by 2028, making them as affordable as fossil-based alternatives.
  • Reduce total life cycle costs by up to 20%, with 90% of savings coming from operational and maintenance cost reductions.
  • Support SMEs and create green jobs across Europe.
  • Reduce the total life-cycle carbon footprint by over 60% during production compared to conventional insulation panels.
  • Prevent 20.8 million tonnes of CO₂ per year within ten years post-project.
  • Ensure at least 90% of processes comply with EU environmental safety criteria, resulting in low environmental impact.
  • Develop 11 technologies in areas like PHA production, continuous fibres for woven textiles, short fibres for nonwoven textiles, SRC panels, biocomposites and nonwoven core boards, and foamed core boards.
  • Train researchers, workers, and policymakers on sustainable material production, recycling, and regulation compliance. 

Consortium map

Project coordination

  • TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY Espoo, Finland

Consortium

  • HELIAN POLYMERS B.V BELFELD, Netherlands
  • CO2BIOCLEAN GMBH ESCHBORN, Germany
  • CENTRE SCIENTIFIQUE & TECHNIQUE DEL'INDUSTRIE TEXTILE BELGE ASBL BRUXELLES, Belgium
  • CORMATEX SRL-MACCHINARIO TESSILE EIMPIANTI Montemurlo Po, Italy
  • CENTRO RICERCHE FIAT SCPA Orbassano, Italy
  • VESTAECO NONWOVENS SPOLKA Z OGRANICZONA ODPOWIEDZIALNOSCIA LODZ, Poland
  • FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV Munchen, Germany
  • FUNDACION TECNALIA RESEARCH & INNOVATION DONOSTIA-SAN SEBASTIAN (GIPUZKOA), Spain
  • NEXT TECHNOLOGY TECNOTESSILE SOCIETA NAZIONALE DI RICERCA R L Prato, Italy
  • THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM Birmingham, United Kingdom
  • Volar Plastic Oy Lahti, Finland
  • AVIENT COLORANTS GERMANY GMBH Lahnstein, Germany
  • FUNDACJA UNIMOS Warszawa, Poland
  • MTU CIVITTA FOUNDATION TARTU, Estonia
  • ACCIONA CONSTRUCCION SA MADRID, Spain
  • KASTAMONU ENTEGRE AGAC SANAYI VE TICARET ANONIM SIRKETI Istanbul, Turkey