| Project Detail |
Recyclable wood and plant fibre-based materials
The building and construction sectors heavily rely on materials and synthetic ingredients that contribute to CO2 emissions. To meet sustainability goals, finding renewable alternatives is crucial. Natural fibres, such as wood and plant-based materials, can play a significant role. However, the use of fossil-based adhesives limits their potential in a circular economy. Integrating wood-derived waste streams, such as lignin, into product applications is important for the EU Bio-economy. Funded by the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions programme, the RE-Fibre project will train 11 doctoral candidates (DCs) in circular engineering, green/lignin chemistry, new bio-based materials, and environmental systems science. The project aims to develop fully recyclable, functional wood and plant fibre-based materials with enhanced capabilities and performance. These DCs will be prepared to work across both academic and industrial sectors.
The building and construction sector are material intensive and heavily dependent on fossil-based synthetic ingredients, therefore are strong contributors to CO2 emissions globally and EU-wide. These industries are under tremendous pressure to find fully renewable alternatives with competitive performance. Natural fibres will play a pivotal role in enhancing the sustainability and resiliency of these industries and help Europe deliver on defossilization and Green Deal goals. However, the widespread utilization of wood- and other plant-fibre-based materials is hampered by the inherent natural variability and inhomogeneity of biomass and requires the assembly of plant fibres with fossil-based synthetic adhesives, coatings and resins in order to achieve the required properties. These materials are partially bio-based which raises challenges with recyclability and hinders the full potential of fibrebased composites in the circular economy. There is a strong urge to integrate wood-derived waste-streams, in particular large amounts of lignin, produced on an industrial scale, into emerging product applications in the EU Bioeconomy. To tackle these challenges, RE-Fibre aims at training 11 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) with an entrepreneurial and sustainability-oriented mindset in the disciplines of circular engineering, green/ lignin chemistry, new biobased materials, environmental systems science, to generate fully recyclable functional wood and plant fibre-based materials with advanced capabilities and performance. The DCs will develop technical competencies, not only in a breakthrough scientific field but also in interpersonal and day-to-day skills, allowing them to work and collaborate across academic and industrial sectors. This training will significantly contribute to their employability as future leaders, in the fields of biorefining, chemical industry and sustainable manufacturing industry, supporting the green transition and a sustainable circular economy in Europe. |
