POLYMEER

Brewers spent grain as main by-product for development of novel, highperformance bio-based polymers, polymer blends, and co-polymers

UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PERUGIA - Italia | UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI ROMA LA SAPIENZA - Italia | BIO BASE EUROPE PILOT PLANT VZW - Bélgica | NEXT TECHNOLOGY TECNOTESSILE SOCIETA NAZIONALE DI RICERCA R L - Italia | LOMARTOV SL - España | ZABALA BRUSSELS - Bélgica | AIMPLAS - ASOCIACION DE INVESTIGACION DE MATERIALES PLASTICOS Y CONEXAS - España | NORMEC OWS - Bélgica | BIO-MI DRUSTVO S OGRANICENOM ODGOVORNOSCU ZA PROIZVODNJU, ISTRAZIVANJEI RAZVOJ - Hungría | UNIVERSITEIT TWENTE - Países Bajos | BIRRA PERONI SRL - Italia | DUAL BORGSTENA TEXTILE PORTUGAL LDA - Portugal | FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV - Alemania | INVESTORNET-GATE2GROWTH APS - Dinamarca

Objectives

The main objective of POLYMEER is to create a new bio-based value chain to produce bioplastics from brewer’s spent grain (BSG), transforming it through sustainable processes into advanced materials capable of replacing fossil-based plastics in demanding applications such as agriculture, automotive and industrial packaging. The project seeks to demonstrate the technical, economic and environmental viability of these new bioplastics and prepare for their market launch within 3 to 5 years of completion.

Description

POLYMEER is a comprehensive project that aims to revolutionise the bioplastics industry by utilising brewer's grain (BSG), an abundant and currently underutilised by-product. Its approach is based on transforming this wet waste into high-performance bioplastics capable of competing with conventional plastics in applications where current bioplastics have limitations.
The project covers the entire production chain: it begins with the fractionation of BSG to obtain key biopolymers such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. These components are then converted into polymers and copolymers using green processes with minimal waste generation. Through mixing, formulation and processing, advanced bioplastics are developed for three strategic applications: agricultural mulch films, automotive textiles and recyclable and/or biodegradable tertiary packaging films.

The most promising materials obtained on a laboratory scale will be scaled up to assess their technical and economic viability, to facilitate their entry into the market within 3 to 5 years. In addition, the project includes a comprehensive assessment of the properties of the new bioplastics, considering environmental, social and economic impacts, as well as their safety, biodegradability and recycling options.
In essence, POLYMEER aims to redefine sustainability in the bioplastics sector through innovative and customised solutions derived from brewery bagasse.