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ECOFUNCO

ECO sustainable multi FUNctional biobased COATings with enhanced performance and end of life options

Project details

Type of project
Research & Innovation Action
Project focus
Bio-based polymers & plastics
Feedstock origin
Agri-food waste
Feedstock type
Crop residues
Project period
1 May 2019 - 31 July 2022
Status
Completed
CBE JU Contribution
€ 4 613 778,25
Call identifier
H2020-BBI-JTI-2018

Summary

Cellulose is the most widely-available renewable material on Earth. Using cellulose-derived materials to replace fossil-based plastics in a range of consumer products, such as disposable food products or personal care items would make a considerable contribution to Europe’s environmental ambitions.

The challenge that needs to be overcome is the current limitations of cellulose in these roles. It tends to make a poor barrier and is hydrophilic. Currently, therefore, cellulose products are combined with polyethylene to provide properties more suited to these uses. However, the presence of polyethylene inevitably impacts product recyclability and therefore undermines the environmental benefits.

However, developing coatings for cellulose and bioplastics that help provide the required properties can overcome these current shortcomings. The ECOFUNCO project aims to identify and develop these coatings from readily-available, low-valorised biomass such as tomato processing residues, legumes and sunflower press cakes.

Consortium map

Project coordination

  • CONSORZIO INTERUNIVERSITARIO NAZIONALE PER LA SCIENZA E TECNOLOGIA DEI MATERIALI Firenze, Italy

Consortium

  • UNIVERSIDAD DE ALICANTE Alicante, Spain
  • THE UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD SHEFFIELD, United Kingdom
  • Condensia Quimica SA Barcelona, Spain
  • PLANET BIOPLASTICS SRL PISA (PI), Italy
  • FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV MUNCHEN, Germany
  • ORGANIK KIMYA SANAYI VE TICARET AS ISTANBUL, Türkiye
  • ARCHA SRL PISA PI, Italy
  • KNEIA SL BARCELONA, Spain
  • UNIVERSITA DI PISA PISA, Italy
  • CONSORZIO DEL PROSCIUTTO DI PARMA PARMA, Italy
  • STAZIONE SPERIMENTALE PER L'INDUSTRIA DELLE CONSERVE ALIMENTARI AZIENDA SPECIALE PARMA, Italy
  • HUHTAMAKI FLEXIBLE PACKAGING GERMANY GMBH & CO KG RONSBERG, Germany
  • TIPA CORP LTD Hod Hasharon, Israel
  • CELABOR SCRL HERVE CHAINEUX, Belgium
  • BIO-MI DRUSTVO S OGRANICENOM ODGOVORNOSCU ZA PROIZVODNJU, ISTRAZIVANJEI RAZVOJ MATULJI, Croatia
  • IRIS TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, SOCIEDAD LIMITADA CORNELLA DE LLOBREGAT, Spain
  • LUCCA-CENTRO SERVIZI PER L'ECONOMIA SOCIETA' CONSORTILE A RESPONSABILITA' LIMITATA LUCCA, Italy
Former member
  • THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER LBG LONDON, United Kingdom