AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, is spearheading a European initiative to transform agricultural and food industry residues into high-value bio-based materials, including biodegradable plastics and sustainable polyurethanes. The PROMOFER project, backed by the European Union’s CBE-JU funding programme, is tackling industrial challenges in the fermentation of PHBV and 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO) as part of efforts to advance the circular bioeconomy.
The project, which runs until June 2028, brings together 13 partners from seven European countries to valorise agri-food and lignocellulosic residues such as low-value starches, whey permeate, industrial wastewater, rice straw, wheat straw and pruning waste.
“In the face of growing environmental concerns and the urgent need to reduce dependence on fossil resources, the development of circular and bio-based solutions is becoming increasingly important,” AIMPLAS said in a statement. “These innovations not only help reduce waste and greenhouse gas emissions, but also support the transition toward a more resilient and resource-efficient European economy.”
Unlocking Bioplastics Potential
PROMOFER’s ambition lies in optimising fermentative processes to produce PHBV—a biodegradable and bio-based bioplastic—and 2,3-BDO, a key component in thermoplastic polyurethanes. According to AIMPLAS, yields from current fermentation methods are often too inefficient to compete with conventional chemical synthesis, making process improvement a priority.
The project has reported promising progress in enzymatic hydrolysis and microorganism characterisation during its first year. “Work is also advancing on scaling up the fermentation processes and designing the production systems for PHBV and 2,3-BDO,” the consortium noted following a recent meeting at University College Dublin.
Advancing Circular Bioeconomy Goals
By leveraging biobased waste from different industries in significant quantities, PROMOFER aims to establish a new value chain for biodegradable plastics and sustainable industrial materials. “The project will contribute to significant knowledge advancements in biobased waste treatments, improvements of strain capacities, use of biocatalysts, process design and downstream processes,” AIMPLAS explained.
In addition to technical objectives, PROMOFER is also working to analyse and promote social acceptance of circular bio-based products and engage stakeholders for knowledge-sharing across Europe.
