EFFECTIVE

The overarching objective of the EFFECTIVE project was to demonstrate innovative and economically viable routes to produce bio-based polyamides and polyesters from renewable feedstocks.

Key scientific and technological, scale-up and product objectives included:

• Validate the production of sustainable feedstock for the subsequent conversion processes.
• Demonstrate innovative and sustainable processes to produce bio-based building blocks for the synthesis of bio-based polyamides and polyesters.
• Demonstrate the production of recyclable bio-based nylons.
• Demonstrate the production of bio-based and biodegradable polyesters.
• Validate the demonstrated bio-based nylons into fibres for garment and carpet products, and into films for primary packaging applications.
• Validate the demonstrated bio-based polyesters into films for secondary food applications.

Specific environmental objectives included:

• Eco-design of a new enhanced structure of products to enable the recycling of the different polymers at the end of the product’s life.
• Demonstrate the recyclability of bio-based nylons.
• Valorise the biodegradable plastic products at the end of their life through the production of compost and energy. Improve the environmental profile of the targeted biopolymers.
• Define a strategy and measures for standardising and certifying the developed bio-based processes and products.
• Assess the environmental and economic impacts of the whole process. 

• Developed a process for producing 1st and 2nd generation sugars via sugar beet liquefaction.
• Developed 100% bio-based nylon 6, which was successfully produced at a pre-industrial scale.
• Produced yarns from bio-based polyamides and validated them in fabrics, garments, carpet prototypes, and films for both food and non-food applications.
• Two new bio-based value chains were created to produce polyamides for garment, carpet, and primary packaging products, and polyesters for secondary packaging products, from sustainable feedstock.
• Four new consumer products were created based on bio-based polymers.
• Established eco-design guidelines for manufacturing more recyclable garment and carpet products.
• Knowledge about the bio-based production processes was shared in 12 training sessions, on the project website, social media channels and at events. 

• Achieved high replicability of materials and tested additional applications for the demonstrated bio-based materials.
• Novel bio-based materials with better performance and improved sustainability are brought to the market.
• Eco-design measures made more efficient through recycling trials, advancing sustainability practices.