Turning agri-food waste & biomass into sustainable polymers
Developing novel alternative of bio-based polymers synthesised from bio-renewable monomers.
Project Specificity
POLYMERS-5B aims to create a bio-based alternative
Given that 97% of plastics are currently derived from fossil-based feedstock (data from 2023 Plastics Europe AISBL), POLYMERS-5B aims to create a bio-based alternative to the production of plastics through underused agri-food and wood biowastes.
The main applications are:
Project Goals
Novel alternative bio-based polymers
Novel alternative bio-based polymers synthesized from bio-based monomers sourced from underexploited 2G feedstock, using Machine Learning (ML) tools and Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) approaches.
Project Impact
We will refer to the benefits to society and the environment:
- Recyclability of new bio-based products
- Biodegradability, lower carbon footprint of the new products
- Fair transition towards sustainability for all EU’s citizens
- Boosting the demand for new bio-polymers, products & bioactive compounds and creating the conditions for a spin-off
What's going on
News and Events
Explore insightful content that keeps you ahead of the curve to the pulse of what's happening.
POLYMERS-5B develops Heat-Recyclable Resins from Pulp Mill Byproducts
Every year, millions of tons of wood-based biomass go underutilized across Europe. The POLYMERS-5B project is working to change that — transforming an overlooked wood-processing byproduct into high-performance, recyclable materials. In a new video, Miķelis Kirpļuks, Senior Researcher at the Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, walks through the project’s approach and its most promising results […]
Enzyme Immobilization: development of Sustainable Carrier Materials | Join us: 17 September 2026
On Thursday, September 17, scientist Dr. Hessel van Dijk, by Chiralvision will represent POLYMERS-5B as an expert speaker at the workshop “Designing the Next Generation of Sustainable Polymers,” organized by the POLYMEER project. His talk will focus on “Enzyme Immobilization: Development of Sustainable Carrier Materials.” Let’s get to know him and his work a […]
From Insight to Application: a journey inside the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research
“Insights must precede application”: this is the philosophy that guides the Max Planck Society, and it’s also the spirit behind our new video, filmed at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz, Germany, a partner of the POLYMERS-5B consortium. A hub of excellence in polymer research In the video, we take you inside […]
Consortium
Innovation and Impact Partnership
POLYMERS-5B brings together experts from academia, research institutions, and industry, representing Portugal, Latvia, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Germany and Serbia.
This collaboration brings together cutting-edge technologies and expertise to develop and drive innovation in Biocatalysis and Green Chemistry processes.
POLYMERS-5B
Fair transition towards sustainability
for all EU’s citizens
A fair transition towards sustainability for all EU citizens involves ensuring that the shift to a green economy is inclusive, equitable, and just. This process should not only focus on environmental goals but also consider social and economic dimensions to ensure that no one is left behind.