HIBISCUS

HIgh-performance circular and BIo-baSed materials in the Construction and bUilding Sector

Project details

Type of project
Innovation Action - Demonstration
Project focus
Construction
Feedstock origin
Agri-food waste
Feedstock type
Crop residues
Dedicated crops
Lignin & wood residues
Project period
1 September 2025 - 31 August 2029
Status
Upcoming
CBE JU Contribution
€ 7 497 302,50
Call identifier
HORIZON-JU-CBE-2024

Summary

The construction industry is a significant source of pollution, greatly contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and waste. The environmental impact of traditional petroleum-based materials needs to be limited by accelerating the implementation of greener solutions. The HIBISCUS project aims to help greening the construction sector by replacing fossil-based materials with innovative bio-based alternatives.

The project focuses on developing and demonstrating five new bio-based construction materials, for waterproofing, insulation and carpentry. These materials will contain up to 80% bio-based components and improve environmental performance by 25%. To achieve this, the HIBISCUS project will use bio-based feedstocks, such as waste cooking oil, pine tree resin, carbohydrates, and lignin, as well as recycled product streams.

The new materials will be tested at a pilot scale to demonstrate their effectiveness and scalability, aiming to achieve a 10% European market share for bio-based materials within five years   . This will improve sustainability, environmental profiles, and regulatory compliance, while also supporting the EU's goals of reducing carbon emissions and promoting a circular economy in the construction sector.

  • Demonstrate the processing and manufacturing of bio-based products, focusing on waterproofing and insulation polymers, by 2028.
  • Develop bio-based construction solutions with better durability, mould prevention, and fire resistance within five years.
  • Test the durability, recyclability, and scalability of bio-based materials for commercial use, validating their performance in real-world projects and ensuring they integrate with fossil-based materials for building envelopes by 2028.
  • Ensure technical robustness, sustainability, and market adoption.
  • Guarantee that manufacturing costs are less than twice the cost of standard materials.
  • Show the scalability of bio-based solutions and phase out fossil-based materials by 2030.
  • Engage policymakers for legislative support.
  • Raise awareness of bio-based materials through education and surveys, engaging end-users, policymakers, and EU citizens.
     

  • Promote the uptake of circular bio-based solutions in construction, transport, and furniture industries by 2029, aiming for a 10% market share increase over the next five years.
  • Develop and deliver five bio-based products with a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions and 20% energy consumption savings, compared to the fossil-based benchmark.
  • Increase end-user awareness of bio-based solutions by 30% through media, campaigns, and surveys.
  • Drive bio-based material innovation, influencing five academic programmes, fostering ten collaborations, and publishing 200 scientific papers by 2035.
  • Generate €50 million in annual returns by 2039, creating 200 jobs and promoting innovation across manufacturing and construction sectors.
  • Reduce production and maintenance costs by 25% over the lifecycle of bio-based materials (up to 50 years), while increasing efficiency and cutting resource use by 15% by 2034.
  • Decrease dependency across the EU on material imports by sourcing bio-based materials locally across three EU regions, boosting local economies by €120 million.
  • Increase exports of European bio-based materials by 25%, consolidating the EU’s global leadership in sustainable construction.
  • Reduce carbon emissions in construction by 40% by 2039 and decrease reliance on fossil-based products by 15% across the EU.
  • Establish global standards for bio-based material production, influencing practices in 25 facilities across ten countries.
  • Improve building resilience and occupant health by using bio-based materials into 10,000 EU buildings.
     

Consortium map

Project coordination

  • SOPREMA STRASBOURG, France

Consortium

  • Kraton Chemical B.V. Almere, Netherlands
  • UNIVERSITE DE LIEGE Liege, Belgium
  • VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK N.V. Mol, Belgium
  • CELLMAT TECHNOLOGIES SL Valladolid, Spain
  • FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV Munchen, Germany
  • BIOECONOMY FOR CHANGE Barenton Bugny, France
  • UNIVERSITE DE STRASBOURG Strasbourg, France
  • IFEU - INSTITUT FUR ENERGIE- UND UMWELTFORSCHUNG HEIDELBERG GGMBH Heidelberg, Germany
  • CENTRE SCIENTIFIQUE ET TECHNIQUE DU BATIMENT Champs Sur Marne, France
  • ACONDICIONAMIENTO TARRASENSE ASSOCIACION Terrassa, Spain
  • INDRESMAT SL Barcelona, Spain
  • CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE CNRS Paris, France