2026
Collaborative R&D
Lead participant
BioActivewear: Feasibility of Bio-Based PET Alternatives for the Next Generation of Performance Apparel
1 Feb 2026 to 31 Mar 2026
Awarded
£24,736
Total cost £24,736
The BioActivewear project will develop new bio-based, renewable polymers designed to reduce the environmental impact of high-performance textiles. Today's activewear and technical fabrics rely heavily on fossil-derived polyester (PET), a durable and versatile material that also carries a significant carbon footprint and contributes to long-term microplast...
2025
Department for Science, Innovation & Technology
Lead participant
BioPolyAce: Defossilisation – Final Step Process Validation and Pilot Production of Next-Generation UK Bio-Based Compostable Polymers
1 Nov 2025 to 28 Feb 2026
Awarded
£126,378
Total cost £126,378
The chemical and materials sectors are under urgent pressure to decarbonise. In the coming years, "defossilisation" --- replacing fossil carbon with renewable sources --- will be both an environmental imperative and a major economic opportunity. The UK has a chance to lead this transition, but the challenge is significant: today's global oil-based supply ...
2024
Feasibility Studies
Lead participant
Determining the efficacy and market potential of an underrated bio-based platform chemical (BioPlatScope)
1 Oct 2024 to 31 Mar 2025
Awarded
£32,404
Total cost £46,292
The use of bio-based cyclic dicarboxylic acids (DCAs) as replacements for fossil-derived terephthalic acid (TA) has gathered increasing interest over the last decade due to their more sustainable production, enhanced biodegradation, and differentiated properties compared to widely used fossil-based TA. The pioneering DCA, 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA)...
2024
Collaborative R&D
Lead participant
Process and product optimisation through to scale-up and customer validation of a novel bio-based and compostable polymer(BioPolySummit)
1 Sep 2024 to 28 Feb 2026
Awarded
£213,149
Total cost £304,498
An estimated 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic waste have been generated globally since the 1950s (Statista, 2022) of which over 50% remains in landfill or loose in the environment. Global greenhouse gas emissions from the production, recycling, and disposal of plastics are more than double that of air travel (Nature Climate Change,2019). In line with current...
2024
Collaborative R&D
Lead participant
Predicting process behaviour of bio based compostables (Procomp)
1 Mar 2024 to 31 May 2024
Awarded
£18,249
Total cost £18,249
A long-established barrier to growth for the global biopolymer industry has been producing a grade of material that is bio-based, low cost and home compostable. Biome Bioplastics have determined a potential method to produce a material that can be successfully composted at lower temperatures (~25oC), rather than the industry standard temperature (~55oC). ...
2023
Collaborative R&D
Lead participant
Feasibility study into the production of Bio-based monomers by fermentation at scale (Feasi-Ferm)
1 Jul 2023 to 31 Dec 2023
Awarded
£29,349
Total cost £41,927
An estimated 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste has been generated globally since the 1950s (Science, 2017) of which approximately 80% remains in landfill or loose in the environment. Global greenhouse gas emissions from the production and disposal of plastics is more than double that of air travel (Nature Climate Change, 2019). In line with current dema...
2023
Collaborative R&D
Lead participant
Surprisingly good behaviour of bio based compostable packaging (Sugobio)
1 Mar 2023 to 31 May 2023
Awarded
£17,782
Total cost £17,782
A long established barrier to growth for the global biopolymer industry has been producing a grade of material that is bio based, low cost and home compostable. Biome Bioplastics have determined a potential method to produce a material that can be successfully composted at lower temperatures (~25oC), rather than the industry standard temperature (~55oC). ...
2023
Collaborative R&D
Lead participant
Fermentation and strain development for the manufacturing of novel, high-performance, compostable and recyclable hetero-aromatic bioplastic monomers for the packaging industry (BioMonoMet)
1 Jan 2023 to 30 Jun 2024
Awarded
£243,295
Total cost £347,564
An estimated 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste has been generated globally since the 1950s (Science, 2017) of which approximately 80% remains in landfill or looose in the environment. An estimated 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste has been generated globally since the 1950s (Science, 2017) of which approximately 80% remains in landfill or loose in the...
2022
Collaborative R&D
Lead participant
Development of High Barrier, bio-based and compostable flexible films using nanocellulose for the food packaging market (BarBi project)
1 Nov 2022 to 31 Oct 2024
Awarded
£243,916
Total cost £348,452
Plastics are an essential part of life as we know it. However, their sourcing from fossil-based raw materials and end-of-life issues have contributed to the scrutiny and desire for change at governmental, industrial and societal levels. Biome's novel packaging impacts both issues - sourced from renewable bio-based origins and compostable. An estimated 9.2...
2022
Collaborative R&D
Lead participant
Industrial scale-up and functionality extension of novel compostable (and bio-based) hetero-aromatic biopolymers for the flexible packaging and coatings industries (BioPolyScaleUp)
1 Oct 2022 to 31 Mar 2024
Awarded
£197,577
Total cost £282,253
Plastics are an essential part of life as we know it. However, their sourcing from fossil-based raw materials and end-of-life issues have contributed to the scrutiny and desire for change at governmental, industrial and societal levels. Biome's novel packaging impacts both issues - sourced from renewable bio-based origins and compostable. An estimated 9.2...
2022
Collaborative R&D
Capturing and Processing Compostable Packaging - Behaviour Change Interventions and Infrastructure Considerations
1 May 2022 to 30 Apr 2024
Awarded
£67,908
Total cost £97,011
Compostable plastic packaging is increasingly prevalent in both the retail (physical and online) and catering sectors. Predominantly it comes in the form of food service-ware and bags (carrier and those for loose fresh produce), but increasingly it is used for flexible packaging for fresh produce, small format such as twist wraps, crisp bags and non-packa...
2021
Collaborative R&D
Lead participant
Polymerisation method development for the manufacturing of novel, high-performance, compostable and recyclable hetero-aromatic bioplastics for the packaging industry (BioPolyMet) - Resilience fund
1 Dec 2021 to 31 Jan 2022
Awarded
£66,101
Total cost £66,101
An estimated 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste has been generated globally since the 1950s (Science, 2017) of which approximately 80% remains in landfill or loose in the environment. Global greenhouse gas emissions from the production and disposal of plastics is more than double that of air travel (Nature Climate Change, 2019). In line with current dema...
