EU-Project r-LightBioCom’s Post

EV Gyan #7: Sustainable battery materials for cleaner future .... Sustainable Battery Materials: Paving the Way for a Greener Future Here’s how this transformative shift is unfolding: Eco-Friendly Raw Materials: Traditional battery manufacturing relies heavily on materials like cobalt and lithium, which have significant environmental and ethical concerns. Innovative research is focusing on alternative, eco-friendly materials such as manganese, iron, and even organic compounds, reducing the reliance on rare and potentially harmful elements. Recycling and Reuse: Advancements in battery recycling technologies are playing a crucial role in sustainability. Efficient recycling processes are being developed to reclaim valuable materials from used batteries, minimizing waste and reducing the need for new raw materials. This circular economy approach ensures that batteries can be a part of a sustainable lifecycle. Reduced Environmental Impact: The mining and extraction processes for traditional battery materials can be environmentally damaging. Sustainable battery materials aim to reduce this impact by utilizing less harmful extraction methods and sourcing materials from regions with stringent environmental regulations. This shift not only preserves natural habitats but also promotes ethical practices. Biodegradable Materials: Researchers are exploring the use of biodegradable materials in battery production. These materials can decompose naturally without leaving harmful residues, significantly reducing the long-term environmental impact of discarded batteries. Innovative Chemistry: New battery chemistries, such as lithium-sulfur and sodium-ion, are being developed to replace traditional lithium-ion batteries. These chemistries often use more abundant and less harmful materials, aligning with sustainability goals while maintaining or even enhancing battery performance. Green Manufacturing Processes: Beyond the materials themselves, the manufacturing processes are being optimized for sustainability. This includes using renewable energy sources, reducing water consumption, and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions during production. These green practices ensure that the entire battery production lifecycle is eco-friendly. Enhanced Supply Chain Transparency: Sustainable battery materials also mean greater transparency in the supply chain. Companies are implementing traceability measures to ensure that the materials used in their batteries are sourced responsibly and ethically, promoting fair labor practices and reducing environmental harm. Transitioning to sustainable battery materials is not just an option; it's a necessity for the future of electric vehicles and our planet. These advancements are paving the way for a cleaner, greener transportation ecosystem. #PREM #SustainableMaterials #BatteryTechnology #ElectricVehicles #GreenInnovation #CleanEnergy #SustainableMobility #GREEN

What if your packaging was grown, not made? That’s exactly what Ecovative Design is doing with mycelium-based packaging. Made from the root structure of mushrooms, this packaging is: • Biodegradable: Breaks down in weeks, not centuries. • Renewable: Grown from agricultural waste, not petrochemicals. • Low carbon footprint: Its production emits far fewer greenhouse gases than plastics. It’s not just eco-friendly—it’s a game-changer for sustainable packaging. Ecovative is showing us that the future isn’t plastic. It’s natural, renewable, and biodegradable. What packaging solution are you excited about?

Stylus' latest report, Sustainable Materials for a Resilient Future, by Lauren Chiu explores high-performance, circular and versatile future material applications for the consumer goods industry. By focusing on renewable naturals and bio-based composites, we highlight practical solutions for low-impact, future-proof products, with case studies to inspire innovation. Moving away from scarce, contentious, and unsustainable materials towards accessible, ethical alternatives is now critical. Here are a few reasons why: 🌿 The global eco fibre market is projected to reach $74.65bn by 2025. 🌿 Although the average lifespan of a plastic product is around 10 years, it can take up to 500 years to decompose, depending on composition and method of disposal. 🌿 By 2030, 40% of the global population – three billion people – will lack adequate housing. 🌿 By 2040, 40% of global cotton-growing regions are projected to experience a decrease in growing season as temperatures increase beyond the optimum range for cotton growing. Not yet a Stylus Member and want to learn more? Comment below or email me directly Nicola.agresti@stylus.com

🎉 Tomorrow marks the third anniversary of the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU), and we at BeonNAT project are excited to commemorate this milestone! CBE JU has been pivotal in advancing Europe’s bioeconomy, enabling the development of sustainable, bio-based alternatives to fossil-based products. 🌳BeonNAT is proud to be part of this journey, with our focus on exploring the potential of tree and shrub species grown on marginal lands in Europe. Our mission is to help replace fossil-based products by developing biodegradable bio-based products and bioactive compounds, contributing to a greener, more circular economy. 💡The project is moving into its final phase, scaling up production tests and assessing the raw materials from these selected species for larger-scale production, aiming for commercial viability by 2025. https://lnkd.in/dQYfWGCq

Final Year Project Completion Our research focused on sustainability and circularity, titled 'To recycle the post-consumer waste generates from used cigarette filter fibers'. Transforming discarded cigarette filter fibers into a valuable and environmental friendly product has been a rewarding experience filled with innovation and new discoveries. Here are some of our key achievements: ●Sustainable Approach: Assessed the adverse environmental impact from cigarette butts, and to reduce it, showcased the potential of our project to contribute to a greener and sustainable future by minimizing the waste and recycling them into a source for thermal insulation in walls. ●Detailed analysis: Conducted detailed analysis and testing to evaluate the mechanical and physical properties of our filter fibers to select the suitable application. ●Creative and Innovative Development: Based on the testing and evaluation, transformed cigarette filter fibers into thermal insulation samples. I would like to thank our supervisor, Dr. shenela naqvi and Co- supervisor Dr.Farhana Naeem as this project couldn't be accomplished without their immense support and guidance, and also the efforts of dedicated team members Hiba Sajid, Hafsa Muhammad and Irha Khan. We are enthusiastic about the potential positive impact of our research and aspire to advance the field of sustainable materials.

Bioplastics – More Than You Think!   Many people think bioplastics are easy to tell apart from conventional plastics. But the opposite is true – modern bioplastics are almost indistinguishable from fossil-based plastics! The differences are in the details: bio-based bioplastics are made from renewable resources like sugarcane, making them far more sustainable than petroleum-based plastics. At the same time, they offer the same technical properties and manufacturing possibilities. ⚙️   Ever wondered where bioplastics are used? Check out our case studies! We show how our customers use bioplastics in a wide range of products – from sturdy steam inhalers, to durable toys, to high-performance outdoor shoes.👟 The variety of applications is greater than you might think! 💡 Get inspired by the possibilities and discover how you can use bioplastics in your products. Sustainability doesn't have to compromise on quality or design. 🌍   #BioplasticsWeek #Bioplastics #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #CaseStudies #Inspiration https://lnkd.in/esVa_ScM

What does Sappi have to do with building a circular economy? Everything, says Misa Bursac, VP Innovation and R&D at Sappi Europe. It may sound surprising, but many of our manufacturing processes are already circular, with closed-loop systems for water usage and energy recovery. We also transform former waste streams into innovative bio-based products – Sappi repurposes Lignin, traditionally an undervalued byproduct of pulp production, into a range of industrial and agricultural applications. And we are innovating to replace fossil-based food packaging with woodfibre-based alternatives, too. We've already invested more than EUR 60m in new technology to scale up these renewable, recyclable packaging solutions. Read more about how businesses can seize the sustainable opportunities presented by the circular economy in Misa’s latest article on the Sappi website – link in the comments ⬇.

Following our post last week differentiating downcycling vs recycling, we wanted to share the terrific graphic that The European Composites Industry Association; EuCIA has developed. This visual clearly illustrates a related concept: the difference between Open and #ClosedLoop recycling. We were inspired to see this image, because at Composite Recycling, we are committed to 🔄 closing the loop 🔄 in the #composites industry. Our goal is to divert composite waste away from unsustainable practices like landfilling and incineration, and instead channel it into making new composites, decarbonized plastics and resins. Check out the full article in which the EuCIA explores future of composites circularity here: https://lnkd.in/ezw7caSf Looking to create a more circular future for your company? 🌿🌍 Reach out to us to test the #recyclability potential of your composite waste. #ZeroLandfill #CleanTech #Sustainability #CircularEconomy #WasteManagement #GreenTech

🌱 Shifting towards sustainable packaging solutions is paramount in today's world. The widespread use of polyethylene (PE) in packaging poses significant environmental challenges, from hindering recycling efforts to its slow decomposition rate. But there's hope! Discover innovative solutions driving change in the packaging industry: ✅ Exploring bio-based and compostable coatings derived from renewable sources. ✅ Advancements in material science enabling superior barrier coatings without relying on petroleum-based plastics. ✅ Designing inherently recyclable or reusable packaging to minimize waste. ✅ Commitment from businesses to phase out PE and invest in eco-friendly alternatives. Let's work together to create a greener, more sustainable future! #SustainablePackaging #EnvironmentallyFriendly #Innovation #CircularEconomy 🌍💚

📣HAVE YOU SUBMITTED YOUR PAPER - DEADLINE SOON 📣 RECOMP 2024 is THE major UK event focussed on the reuse and recycling of composite materials and this year RECOMP has been expanded to a full 2-day event on November 27th & 28th to allow us to include as many contributions as possible from all points of the value chain and all levels of Technology Readiness. ♻️ So, if you are working in the field of reuse and recycling of composite materials, we would like to hear from you so that we can consider including your contribution in the programme for RECOMP 2024. In particular, we would welcome abstracts on the following topics: ✔️ Examples of commercial products utilising recovered or recycled glass and carbon fibre materials ✔️ Examples of commercial products made by mechanical recycling of composite waste materials ✔️ Examples of development concept products made with or from composite waste materials ✔️ Examples of sector circularity showing how composite waste (production waste or end of life waste) can be collected and recycled into new product forms for use in that sector or other sectors ✔️ The development, scale up or commercialisation of processes enabling the reuse, recovery or recycling of composite waste materials ✔️ The development, scale up or commercialisation of processes enabling the repair and life extension of composite materials ✔️ Examples of organisations who are recovering and recycling their own production waste for use in their own commercial products ✔️ Examples of organisations who are collecting end-of-life composite waste from users for reuse, recovery and recycling of composite materials 👍 If you think you’ve made an important development that will help increase the circularity of fibre-reinforced composite materials, then we would like to hear from you! Please submit an abstract (maximum 150 words) describing your product, process or activity and its contribution to the increased circularity of composite materials, to events@compositesuk.co.uk by Friday July 26th latest*. Submissions should be case study focussed, Sales pitches will be rejected. More details: https://lnkd.in/ePuqAHy5