SSUCHY-Next

Through a series of focused objectives, SSUCHY-Next aims to revolutionise material performance and manufacturing processes, by:

• Developing the hemp fibre supply chain to produce fibres with high mechanical potential, across regions with diverse climates.
• Advancing the development of bio-based and circular matrices, focusing on bio-based thermoset resins such as epoxy and benzoxazine, sourced from lignocellulosic biomass, while also enhancing bio-based thermoplastic resin Elium® for increased sustainability and recyclability.
• Evaluating and improving the quality, compatibility, and durability of newly developed hemp fibre preforms and bio-resins at the composite level.
• Optimising structural damping, understanding non-linear material behaviour, and enhancing the fire, smoke and toxicity performance of bio-composites for various applications.
• Producing 95% bio-based composite materials, with fibres and wood scaffolds being 100% bio-based and aiming for at least 90% bio-based resin. This includes creating a 12.6m long bio-based wind turbine blade, optimising manufacturing processes, and comparing performance and carbon footprint with traditional counterparts.
• Developing wood-based composites to optimise low-emission polymer modified wood composites and to replace glass-based, metal, and leather materials in the automotive and construction sectors.
• Demonstrating large-scale building and construction applications of circular bio-based composites, optimising manufacturing processes and reducing the environmental footprint.
• Proving improved life cycle assessment (LCA) and circularity of bio-composites, supported by demonstrated recycling options, employing prospective LCA for future scenarios and setting up recycling technologies without damaging natural fibre reinforcement.

Through rigorous monitoring and adherence to Open Science practices, SSUCHY-Next aims to maximise its impact and pave the way for a greener future in composite materials by:

• Advancing the sustainable and circular bio-based composites sector with fully circular hemp fibres and environmentally sound wood-based scaffolds in bio-resins.
• Facilitating market uptake of scalable bio-based solutions and allowing farmers, converters, and textile companies to enter the hemp fibre and bio-resins markets.
• Ensuring availability of bio-based fibres, resins, and additives at scale by demonstrating ingredient production. 
• Advancing the design for sustainability and circularity, showcasing the recyclability of all products through mainly mechanical recycling routes to preserve fibre reinforcing capacity.
• Addressing production issues across all applications to reduce the impact of manufacturing, particularly through modelling-supported strategies for wind turbine blade manufacture.
• Setting sustainable bio-based resins as the standard, replacing petro-based systems, and furthering the recyclability of circular bio-based composites to significantly reduce pollution on a large scale.