On October 9th and 10th, 2024, in Katowice, Silesia, the GREEN-LOOP European consortium gathered for the project’s 4th General Meeting, where were presented and celebrated important key achievements across the three main value chains: bio-rubber, bioplastics, and wood composites.
In the bio-rubber value chain, ultrasound technology has significantly advanced the chemical devulcanization process, enabling better recycling of rubber particles. This innovation has led to the successful development of coated rubber materials using a biodegradable and non-toxic formulation, enhancing both environmental compatibility and product safety. Additionally, the bio-rubber panels demonstrated promising fire resistance properties, especially when lignin was incorporated into their composition.
For the bioplastics value chain, the team developed a novel bio-based compound, which was tested in injection moulding trials and resulted in successful prototypes of olive oil screw caps and dispensers. Furthermore, a prototype system based on microwave-assisted manufacturing was introduced to improve energy efficiency and enhance material properties during the production of bio-based injection-moulded products. The eco-design of new bio-based thermoplastics, using agricultural residues as fillers, has shown significant potential for applications in packaging, reinforcing the project’s commitment to sustainable materials.
The wood composites value chain also achieved major advancements. The project team developed an innovative biobased polymer blend for wood composites, primarily using renewable resources. Through a series of analytical techniques, the optimal composition for this blend was identified, and microwave enhancement technology was integrated into the manufacturing process, yielding substantial improvements in both efficiency and material quality. The project also achieved successful production of wood-composite materials, including flat panels specifically designed for tribological testing, marking an important step forward for the GREEN-LOOP initiative.
These achievements highlight the GREEN-LOOP project’s commitment to sustainable material innovation and demonstrate significant progress across its value chains, advancing the bioeconomy in Europe.
