19 January 2025, 13:02

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Cypriot researchers in European research for the development of bio-materials

Cypriot researchers in European research for the development of bio-materials
Cypriot researchers in European research for the development of bio-materials

Addressing the urgent global challenge of plastic pollution, the European research project MAGICBIOMAT has been officially launched in Ireland, with the participation of Cypriot researchers, with the aim of developing innovative bio-materials with a tailored biodegradation process.

Dr. Xenia I. Loizidou, Director of Isotech Ltd, from Ireland where she is working on the project told KYPE that "the MAGICBIOMAT research project is a game changer in the journey towards a sustainable bioeconomy. Our research concerns the development of biomaterials, such as agricultural substrates and paper packaging, whose biodegradation can be programmed and adapted so that it functions properly and efficiently under various environmental conditions."

We are, he continued, "laying the foundations for the creation of 'personalised' materials, with better environmental behavior, aiming for a cleaner, more sustainable future and for a planet free from plastic pollution".

According to a statement from Isotech Ltd, the project is funded by the European program HORIZON Europe under Cluster 6 – Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment and seven research groups are participating in it.

It is coordinated by Shannon University of Technology, Ireland, in collaboration with the University of Padua, the Cypriot research company ISOTECH, the French Plastics Research Center Center Technique Industriel de la Plasturgie et des Composites, Organik Kimya Sanayi ve Ticaret As of Turkey, DIGIOTOUCH OU from Estonia and the University of Sheffield from the United Kingdom.

The Project Manager on behalf of the European Commission, Stefania Rocca, emphasized the importance of the MAGICBIOMAT project, stating, as stated in the announcement, that "this initiative is a crucially important step towards tackling plastic pollution through sustainable innovation. By developing bio-materials with tailored biodegradation rates, the project supports the objectives of the EU Green Deal, promotes the circular and bioeconomy and helps reduce environmental impacts while promoting scientific and industrial progress,” an;efere.

Project coordinator Dr Yuanyuan Chen from Shannon University of Technology, Ireland, said: "Our aim is to develop bio-materials with tailored biodegradability, offering sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics. The project is expected to make a significant contribution to reducing plastic pollution, promoting the circular economy and supporting global efforts for a greener and more sustainable future."

As mentioned, biodegradable materials are a good solution for plastic pollution, as they break down naturally under specific environmental conditions. However, current bioplastics do not fully degrade under all conditions.

For example, the statement added, a plastic that is designed to biodegrade in soil, when in the aquatic environment will likely not biodegrade in a similar way, its biodegradation may not be complete, in which case it will release microplastics and nanoplastics into the environment.

It is also pointed out that MAGICBIOMAT seeks to fill this gap by creating a portfolio of bio-materials with an adapted biodegradation process depending on the environmental and climatic conditions in which each material will be used. To achieve this, the announcement continues, the project will use Artificial Intelligence and develop state-of-the-art tools and software.

The project will reportedly focus on two high-priority applications.

First is the plastic soil membrane that is widely used in agriculture. These membranes at the end of their useful life are either too damaged or too dirty so they are unsuitable for recycling. As a result, they are either plowed into the ground or disposed of improperly resulting in plastic pollution of the soil and the environment in general.

Second is paper-based packaging with a plastic film coating which is a common source of litter. As mentioned, paper-based packaging is often coated with non-biodegradable polymers, such as polyethylene, fluorocarbons and polyolefins, and biodegradable materials with slow biodegradability, eg PLA, PMA. So even though paper packaging decomposes, the non-biodegradable coating still contributes to plastic pollution.

Recognizing that technology alone cannot solve the problem of waste management, the MAGICBIOMAT project includes consumer behavior studies that will form the basis for product labeling and the development of targeted strategies to promote biomaterials and the implementation of responsible management practices, the announcement concludes.

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