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 sustainable bio-based fibres and plastics from renewable feedstocks, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and supporting the transition towards a circular economy. 
• Improved the entire bio-based polymer value chain, from sustainable feedstock production to end-of-life management, ensuring lower environmental impact across all stages. 
• Leveraged innovative biotechnological processes to convert sustainable sugars and vegetable oils into bio-based building blocks, which were further processed into high-performance polymers. 
• Optimised production processes up to TRL 7/8, successfully producing large-scale samples of renewable polymers suitable for industrial applications. 
• Demonstrated the use of bio-based nylons in multiple sectors, including textiles (fabrics, sportswear, carpets), engineering plastics and packaging, confirming their commercial feasibility. 
• Implemented circular end-of-life solutions, including chemical depolymerisation, mechanical recycling, and composting technologies, ensuring materials remain within sustainable loops. 
• Confirmed through sustainability assessments that bio-based polymers significantly reduce environmental footprint compared to fossil-based equivalents.
• Prepared pathways for market entry by aligning product performance with industrial and consumer requirements through ongoing R&D. 

• 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.