Safe and Circular Biobased Products
Climate change, depletion of fossil feedstocks, accumulation of (micro)plastics and persistent hazardous chemicals that pose a threat to human health, biodiversity and our environment: They all are huge challenges urging society to develop a more sustainable, safe and circular economy. Wageningen Food & Biobased Research helps industry with safe and circular biobased solutions.
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Biobased chemicals for a circular economy
Society should gradually phase out the current fossil feedstock based chemicals and materials, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change. Also hazardous and persistent chemicals are a current threat to our environment and human health. These chemicals like PFAS, BPA and others need to be replaced by safe biobased alternatives. It is our ambition to contribute to this by developing biobased chemicals that can replace fossil-based feedstock in products like laundry and personal care products, paints and coatings.
We are supporting industry in developing renewable products that are non-hazardous and mechanically or chemically recyclable to the highest content possible. In case of single use products that (un)intentionally end up in the environment; such products should be inherently biodegradable. In our vision by 2050 more than 80% of all materials should qualify these criteria.
Technology and integrated solutions
We focus on developing technology and integrated solutions for:
- Those products that are currently used in very difficult to recycle complex product;
- Formulations such as coatings, paints, adhesives and thermosetting composite materials;
- Products that cannot be recycled as such, like home and personal care products;
- Products that contain or dissipate substances of very high concern into the environment;
- Improving safety and circularity aspects of (food) packaging materials.
Working on solutions
Wageningen Food & Biobased Research is working on various solutions within this research programme:
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Safe and Sustainable Substitutes for Substances of very High Concern
The demand for safe, biobased and biodegradable alternatives to substances of very high concern (SVHC) is rapidly increasing. Wageningen Food & Biobased Research develops fully-fledged alternatives based on biomass that are harmless to humans and the environment.
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Biodegradable Alternatives to Products that end up in Sewage Water
Aqueous household and personal care (HPC) products like detergents, shampoos and moisturisers often contain non-degradable or petrochemical ingredients. This is problematic because these products usually end up in the sewer or the environment after use. Wageningen Food & Biobased Research is developing biobased and biodegradable alternatives to these ingredients that can significantly improve the sustainability of HPC products.
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Safe and Circular (Food) Packaging Materials
European and national governments aim for a circular economy of materials that is decoupled from fossil feedstocks. This is especially challenging for food packaging materials, which must meet the highest safety standards. Thanks to a multidisciplinary approach and unique knowledge of both packaging materials and food, Wageningen Food & Biobased Research supports companies that are seeking more circular solutions.
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Circular Design of Coatings and Composites
Coatings, resins and composites are often based on fossil raw materials and designed with durability in mind. Recycling is frequently no option as they consist of strong, cross-linked structures or are bonded in thin layers with other materials. Despite the demanding functional requirements, the desire exists to make these materials renewable. Wageningen Food & Biobased Research is developing new biobased materials that offer the same performance but are recyclable and even biodegradable.