Under the EU-funded project REMIX, researchers from Europe and Asia have joined forces to turn natural textile and food fibres, including silk and shells, into cutting-edge medical applications such as prosthetics and human tissue repair.
The problem of plastic waste and its impact on the environment needs to be urgently addressed. EU-funded research is looking at ways of creating a more sustainable plastic packaging life cycle to reduce the impact of plastic waste.
An EU and industry-funded project is converting extracts of lemon rinds, almond husks and corn by-products into sustainably sourced car parts and building components, replacing fossil-based plastics, protecting the environment and growing the circular economy.
The EU generates more than 600 million tonnes of plant-based waste every year, containing valuable compounds that could be used to produce chemicals which are currently derived from oil. EU-funded researchers have now designed a safe soil bacterium that could convert waste into useful products in a single step.
EU-funded researchers have discovered new families of proteins and enzymes that will enable the development of novel plant-based biomaterials, potentially providing viable sustainable and renewable alternatives to plastics and other fossil-fuel-derived materials and chemicals.
Electrical and electronic equipment is a growing source of waste in Europe and is difficult to recycle. Now EU-funded researchers have found a cheaper way to sort and reuse such waste. Their results could help close the loop in a circular plastics economy and power a more sustainable European future.
Failing to keep frozen or chilled food cold during transport to consumers causes it to deteriorate, potentially leading to food poisoning or waste. An EU-funded project developed an environmentally friendly, flexible and low-cost solution - which could also save retailers and consumers money.
An EU-funded project aims to boost resource efficiency in the electrical and electronic sector by developing, testing and transferring new circular economy business models based on systemic eco-innovative services. This should save money, create jobs and cut emissions.
The problem of plastic pollution has grown to devastating proportions. EU-funded research is supporting the development and large-scale production of an eco-friendly replacement for plastic bags that should help significantly reduce plastic waste.
An EU-funded project aims to tackle the mountain of plastic waste clogging up our seas by licensing its biodegradable, microplastic-free material to manufacturers around the world.
