Technological watch

CHAMPION – a Research and Innovation Action (RIA) aiming to replace conventional polymers with novel bio-based polymers for their application in coatings, textiles, home care uses and structural adhesives – has been awarded Horizon 2020 BBI JU funding. The CHAMPION project includes 14 partners from 6 European countries coordinated by the University of York.

“The current approaches to polymer production are not compatible with the EU’s circular economy and green ambitions; the CHAMPION project will develop suitable, even superior replacements.” (Prof. James Clark, coordinator)

The CHAMPION project is pleased to announce the launch of its 3.5-years activities, starting in June 2020. Polymer-based products are essential to our modern lifestyle. CHAMPION is geared towards making them better-suited to modern expectations in terms of their sustainability credentials.

The majority of conventional polymers are not fit for recycling and end up being incinerated or landfilled. Some of the chemicals used in their production may result in toxic emissions depending on the end of life process they go through. These characteristics stand in contrast to the EU’s green credentials and its ambitions to create a circular economy. Novel CHAMPION bio-based polymers result from the aza-Michael addition reaction and are expected to be suitable replacements for polymers used in resistant kitchen counter coatings, laundry detergents and other homecare products, car interior surfaces, and structural adhesives. Recovery, chemical recycling and organic recycling (with the option of controlled energy recovery) are the end-of-life options planned for the design of products using CHAMPION polymers.

The specific objectives of the CHAMPION project are:

• Produce a library of more than 50 novel bio-derivable materials using the aza-Michael addition reaction for chain extension, modification and curing.
• Increase the environmental and economic performance of the novel polymers by developing biodegradable alternatives and establishing an innovative testing strategy to rapidly evaluate toxicological safety issues of candidate products.
• Produce and submit to industrial partners for testing four novel bio-based polymer candidates with high performance for home caring formulation additives, structural adhesives, coatings and automotive interior surfaces.
• Increase the overall resource efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions for the targeted applications.
• Validate new and improved processing technologies and evaluate the most advanced bio-based polyester candidates in environmental, social and economic terms. Results will be benchmarked against the conventional petrochemical-based alternatives.
• Communicate with key audiences and stakeholders and gather feedback from policymakers and market actors along the entire value chain.

The CHAMPION consortium is integrated by:

University of York – United Kingdom

Wageningen Food & Biobased Research (WFBR) – The Netherlands

BioDetection Systems BV – The Netherlands

Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus VTT Oy – Finland

Process Design Center BV – The Netherlands

OWS NV – Belgium

Circa Sustainable Chemicals Ltd – United Kingdom

Unilever UK Central Resources Ltd – United Kingdom

nova-Institut für Politische und Ökologische Innovation GmbH – Germany

Ava Biochem BSL AG – Switzerland

Stahl International BV – The Netherlands

Orineo BV – Belgium

SQ Consult BV – The Netherlands

Scott Bader Co Ltd – United Kingdom

The CHAMPION project receives funding from the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 887398.

For more information about CHAMPION, contact the project manager directly on champion-project-admin@york.ac.uk.

Source: CHAMPION project, press release, 2020-06-26.