Project

Biobased building-blocks for fighting the fossil-based blanket

The transformation of the current linear (mainly fossil based) chemical and materials production chains to a sustainable renewable circular system requires a radical rethinking and redesign of feedstock production, (bio)chemical conversion, materials and chemicals production, as well as integrated reuse and recycling strategies.

In the KB project ‘Biobased materials and chemicals for relieving and replacing the fossil feedstock system’ a model was developed that shows which chemicals and plastics derived from glucose building blocks could play a crucial role in a circular economy. To complete this picture it is necessary that a feedstock strategy is drafted for the building blocks that can be derived from other plant based sources. Explicit attention is required for the development of biobased building blocks that prevent the accumulation of chemicals and materials in nature. To position these chemicals and materials in a circular economy, new routes to obtain their building blocks from plants need to be explored.

Furthermore, modelling strategies are required to assess the impact of these building blocks on the existing value chains and economical aspects. The main objective of this project is to develop an integrated vision and strategy towards the replacement of the fossil-based products that have the largest accumulation potential. An overview of products that have a high accumulation potential will be prepared and, when needed, biobased and biodegradable alternatives will be proposed. In parallel, the building blocks of these ‘high accumulation risk‘ products will be identified and potential valorisation of these building blocks by plant (metabol)omics technologies will be explored.

Subsequently, using existing WUR developed models (including but not limited to material flow analysis, LCA and/or the MAGNET model) the impact of the material transition on external factors and stakeholders will be quantified. Finally, all findings will be combined into an integrated vision and vision strategy that will be made available to both the scientific community and the general public. In doing so this project contributes to the fight against the still increasing fossil-based blanket.

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