By Abbas Nazil
A new European initiative is set to transform plant by-products into sustainable plastics, aiming to replace petroleum-based materials with biodegradable and recyclable alternatives.
The project, known as the Better BioBased Polymer (B3PO) network, is led by Graz University of Technology (TU Graz) and will officially begin in January 2026.
It is funded with €4.3 million under the EU’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks programme and involves 15 doctoral projects across nine research institutions in Europe.
Each project will focus on developing high-performance polymers from lignin—a natural compound found in wood and a major by-product of the paper and timber industries.
Lignin, which provides structural support in plant cells, is produced in millions of tonnes annually but remains largely underused.
According to project coordinator Robert Kourist of TU Graz’s Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, the goal is to create plant-based polymers that are both high-quality and environmentally sustainable.
Researchers will employ a three-stage innovation strategy—sustainable disassembly, bio-assembly, and re-assembly—to convert woody biomass into valuable materials for coatings, packaging, adhesives, and 3D printing.
The team will use biotechnological methods and machine learning to transform lignin into chemical building blocks for bio-based materials with superior performance compared to oil-based plastics.
The initiative also incorporates an innovative educational model combining biotechnology, chemistry, polymer science, and materials engineering.
Each doctoral researcher will complete long-term supervised stays at two partner universities, earning a double doctorate and gaining experience in industrial applications.
Partners include universities from Vienna, Berlin, Aachen, Marseille, Aveiro, Madrid, Hannover, and Zagreb, as well as industrial collaborators such as HELIOS and Enzymicals.
The project’s broader aim is to build a new generation of scientists capable of advancing the bio-based materials value chain while promoting environmental sustainability and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
