Biomatters cluster
We are stronger together
AMBIANCE, BIO-UPTAKE, GREEN-LOOP, NEW WAVE, VITAL and Waste2BioComp have united under the common aim of making sustainable processes and products a norm in the EU. To achieve this, they have formed the BIOMATTERS Cluster. All projects receive funding under the Horizon Europe Programme and share a vision of providing a viable alternative to conventional materials by introducing novel materials and cutting-edge manufacturing techniques.
Teaming up their resources and expertise, these projects form an awareness powerhouse, engaging stakeholders and the broader public in the journey toward sustainable manufacturing. As a collective, this cluster aims to spotlight and address today’s pressing challenges, utilising bio-based materials to generate innovative solutions.
This collaborative endeavour boosts the visibility of each project’s significant research outcomes and strengthens the ties and cooperation among various EU-funded research initiatives. Beyond individual achievements, the BIOMATTERS Cluster becomes a driving force that will propel us toward a more sustainable and innovative future.
6 PROJECTS 1 GOAL
VITAL will develop innovative thermoplastic processing solutions for foamed thermoplastics based on three b-bTP processing value chains: a 3D printing process based on granulated feedstocks, a Bead foaming process and a Foam Injection Moulding (FIM) process. For foamed thermoplastic processing value chains to make the transition to a sustainable, circular economy based on bio-based solutions, it is imperative that the critical limitations are overcome. VITAL is an important step on this journey as it will (for the first time) create innovative high-efficiency, low-cost processing solutions and key enabling knowledge to achieve commercially viable “Sustainable by Design “approaches based on b-bTPs. Adoption of the VITAL outputs across the polymer processing sector, along with the vocational training programme, will, therefore, make it easier for manufacturers to adopt b-bTPs commercially, achieving a paradigm shift towards bio-based alternatives for cleaner, more climate-neutral industrial value chains. VITAL will stimulate the uptake of sustainable-by-design advanced materials and processes, not just by overcoming technical limitations but by achieving “buy-in” from processors, OEMs and customers, all of whom are represented in the consortium.
The general objective of the Bio-Uptake project is to ensure a sustainable uptake of bioplastic composites through boosting a twin green and digital transformation in the European manufacturing industry. In particular, Bio-Uptake solution will focus scientific and technology efforts on developing flexible manufacturing processes to produce biobased end-products for the construction, medical and packaging sectors based on the combination of intermediate formats made of natural and/or biobased synthetic fibres reinforced with biopolymers, which are easily adaptable to new market demands.
The objective of NewWave is to transform existing fossil-based manufacturing lines into new biobased manufacturing lines. The bio-based products must exhibit similar, or better, mechanical, physical, and chemical properties compared to the existing products and must be non-toxic and recyclable. The Manufacturing Lines developed in the NewWave project will ensure these qualities.
Waste2BioComp aims to demonstrate relevant scale production of bio-based products and materials using innovative manufacturing technologies. It integrates all stages in the bio-based products’ life cycle – sourcing of feedstocks to develop bio-based precursors and intermediate materials, smart inkjet printing techniques, and smart manufacturing technologies for final products and demonstrators: shoe sole materials with different hardness; shoe insoles; plastic films/packaging with different flexibilities; technical nonwoven fibres; fashion garments, leather and textile shoes, and packaging paper printed with bio-based inks. Waste2BioComp will assess the sustainability and toxicity of the developed materials, considering re-manufacturing and recycling approaches to ensure a closed loop. The project will develop training activities to support the creation of a skilled workforce in biomaterial-based manufacturing sectors.
GREEN-LOOP’s primary objective is to develop and showcase a range of innovative, cost-effective, and eco-friendly bio-based products as alternatives to traditional materials. The project focuses on three value chains: bio-rubber for construction with fire-resistant and vibrational properties, bioplastics for bottle closures in the packaging and food industries, and wood composites for sliding bearings used in appliances and tools. These bio-based products aim to outperform conventional materials in terms of mechanical, physical, and chemical properties. At the same time, it ensures a substantially lower environmental footprint, being non-toxic and demonstrating its recyclability/ reusability/refurbishability.
AMBIANCE will develop novel bio-based products for urban outdoor applications through innovative characterisation, digital technologies, and circular approach. The higher aim of AMBIANCE is to reduce the environmental impact and make sustainable and recyclable products a norm in European cities, by promoting sustainable manufacturing models, optimizing the manufacturing processes in the above applications, and ensuring the replicability of the results.
The project will focus on 3 manufacturing value chains: sports facilities, outdoor furniture as well as construction bricks and decorative panels.
EU project partnerships
BIO-UPTAKE is joining forces with European projects as part of promising partnerships.
The European BioStruct project is dedicated to optimising manufacturing processes for bio-based fibre-reinforced composites in order to promote their widespread structural use. The scientific approach is based on three pillars: controlling fibre orientation through high-precision draping, managing the intrinsic variability of materials using dedicated digital models, and structural monitoring using integrated nanostructured sensors. Supported by the European Union, this industrial and academic consortium brings together ten strategic partners from six countries (Austria, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Poland and France) and aims to demonstrate these technologies on large-scale components, such as a rotor blade and a ship's hull with its frames.
The INCIRCULAR project (INtegrating Cybernated Innovation to Raise the Scale of Circular Units Looping Allied Regions) aims to transform regional circular economies through the systematic integration of cybernated innovation. The approach is based on implementing advanced digital technologies to optimize resource recovery cycles and synchronize flows between allied production units. By leveraging intelligent control tools and interconnected data models, the project seeks to overcome the logistical and technical barriers currently hindering the scaling of circular loops. This strategic initiative fosters enhanced territorial resilience, converting waste into critical resources while ensuring maximum traceability and efficiency within the partner industrial ecosystems.
The CUBIC project aims to enhance the circularity of complex multi-material composites by developing high-performance bio-based intermediates, such as lignin-derived carbon fibers and bio-polyamides. By focusing on "circularity-by-design," the project tackles the challenge of recycling thermoplastic and thermoset structures through modular manufacturing processes. Co-funded by the European Union (CBE JU), the initiative demonstrates these sustainable solutions through two high-demand applications: a Type IV hydrogen storage tank and an automotive seat. This 13-partner consortium across 8 countries ensures a full-cycle approach, from bio-based feedstock to end-of-life chemical recovery.
The SALIENT project revolutionizes automotive engineering by developing advanced front-end structures that prioritize passenger safety and sustainability. By combining "circular-by-design" principles with lightweight hybrid materials such as aluminum and carbon fiber reinforced polymers the project targets a 54% weight reduction while enhancing crash energy absorption. This Horizon Europe initiative integrates smart sensing and modular manufacturing to ensure vehicle structures are both safer and fully recyclable. Validated by a 12-partner consortium through prototyping and simulation, SALIENT sets a new benchmark for the next generation of high-performance green vehicles.
The BIOntier project aims to bridge the gap between bio-based raw materials and high-performance structural applications by developing a standardized "materials-by-design" framework. The project focuses on creating a digital platform that integrates multi-scale modeling, characterization, and lifecycle assessment to accelerate the market uptake of sustainable composites. By optimizing the interaction between bio-resins and natural fibers, BIOntier seeks to deliver eco-friendly solutions that meet rigorous industrial standards for the aerospace, automotive, and construction sectors. This Horizon Europe initiative promotes a circular bioeconomy by ensuring that new materials are not only high-performing but also fully recyclable and competitively priced.
The THERMOFIRE project develops a new generation of reinforced thermoplastic composites combining mechanical performance, recyclability, and flame retardancy. By utilizing bio-based resins and natural or recycled fibers, the project aims to replace petroleum-based thermosets in the automotive, aerospace, and construction sectors. The core innovation lies in reversible covalent chemistry (vitrimers), allowing materials to be reshaped, repaired, and recycled via pultrusion and injection molding. This EU-funded consortium demonstrates that bio-composites can meet stringent safety standards while significantly reducing the carbon footprint of structural components.
The AlChemiSSts project accelerates the transition to a toxic-free circular economy by developing sustainable alternative chemicals and materials. Rooted in the "Safety-and-Sustainability-by-Design" (SSbD) framework, the project evaluates environmental, health, and socio-economic impacts from the earliest stages of development. By combining advanced production technologies with data modeling and risk assessment, AlChemiSSts replaces hazardous substances in industrial value chains while maintaining high performance. This EU-funded initiative bridges the gap between lab research and market readiness, supporting the European Green Deal and the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability.
The FURIOUS project develops high-performance, bio-based polymers from 2,5-FDCA to replace fossil-based plastics in medical packaging, automotive, and underwater sectors. Using a "Safety-and-Sustainability-by-Design" approach, the initiative scales green synthetic processes and diverse manufacturing from injection molding to 3D printing to ensure cost-effective, mono-material solutions. By prioritizing circularity through mechanical recycling, compostability, and marine biodegradability, FURIOUS directly supports the EU’s transition to a toxic-free circular economy.