A natural and biodegradable nanocellulose alternative to plastic barrier coatings: EcoFLEXY

Programme(s): H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges
H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs
H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies

Topic(s): H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2020-4 - H2020-EIC Accelerator pilot –SME Instrument - Green Deal

Call for proposal: H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020-4

Funding Scheme: SME-2b - SME Instrument (grant only and blended finance)

Grant agreement ID: 101010323

Project description:

Objective: Plastic pollution is a dramatic problem of our times. A large percentage of plastic production is destined to packaging, which is designed for single use but at the same time can stay in the environment for thousands of years. Efforts to replace conventional, oil-based plastics with more environmentally friendly materials have so far failed due to their reliance on food crops and end-of-life challenges. Cellugy has designed EcoFLEXY, a biomaterial able to replace plastics in several packaging applications, which is completely harmless to the environment. EcoFLEXY is produced by bacteria and yeast starting from sugar or agro-industrial waste, in low-energy conditions. Being made of nanocellulose, EcoFLEXY can be either recycled in the paperboard stream or home composted, whereas if leaking into the environment it safely biodegrades in a short time, leaving no toxic residues behind. EcoFLEXY production emit 94% less CO2 emissions compared to conventional plastics and at the same time enables a circular economy by making use of second-generation feedstocks. Cellugy will first sell EcoFLEXY to packaging companies and chemical companies serving them. It will start marketing Cellugy in Northern Europe where consumer and customer demand for sustainable products is highest. EcoFLEXY will be sold at a price competitive to that of bioplastics, leveraging on important collaborations within the chemical and packaging industry. To reach market launch, Cellugy will expand its production from the laboratory to a full industrial volume scale in a stepwise manner, with considerable interest from prospective investors in the biotech sector to follow product development. Cellugy’s team is well-rounded and led by award-winning entrepreneur Dr Isabel Alvarez Martos.