Innovative breakthrough in the field of R&D for biobased materials at the event of the Effective Project

On 16 February 2023, at the EU House in Ljubljana, 12 companies from seven European countries celebrated the end of “Project Effective”, a consortium established to demonstrate that it’s possible to produce bio-based nylon from sugar. During the event have been presented prototypes of products from new biomaterials, such as swimwear, bike pants, carpets, and food packaging from bio-based polyamides and bio-polyesters. All products have been developed within the companies of the consortium, which included Aquafil as the leading partner, Bio-Mi, Sudzucker, LCE, Circe, Carvico, Balsan, VAude, H&M and Novamont, manufactured by H&M, Vaude, Balsan, Carvico and Novamont, and Circular Change as the communication project partner.

The new biomaterials are the result of years of cooperation between the companies of the Consortium and the external partner Genomatica from the USA. The result obtained by this very important project of Research and Development represents a great innovation based on the principles of the circular and bio-economy.

Giulio Bonazzi, CEO of Aquafil S.p.A., announced the next steps at Aquafil: the focus will be on improving the efficiency of bio-based nylon production to reach the proper quality of the material. The “End-in-mind” concept as the most important planning phase is crucial, as the value chain cannot be circular and sustainable without the right approach to design.

Credits Tamara Vidmar

At the closing event in Ljubljana, the interlocutors highlighted the value of a European project such as Effective and stressed that, in the final phase, it is particularly important how the results can be upgraded and transformed into concrete solutions for different industries. They listed some key conditions for this kind of breakthrough – from the support environment to adequate funding.

Credits Tamara Vidmar