EURECAT showcases sustainable bio-based innovations for POLYMERS-5B at EUBCE 2025 | 09.06.2025

On June 9th, Jose Jorge Espí Gallart from EURECAT presented a poster on behalf of the POLYMERS-5B project, titled: Safe and Sustainable Biobased Eco-design and Circularity Methodology: The POLYMERS-5B Approach.

The presentation introduced a cutting-edge methodology developed within the POLYMERS-5B project, aimed at driving innovation in the design and circular use of biobased polymers. This holistic and iterative approach is built on EURECAT’s proven eco-design methodology and takes inspiration from the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle. It integrates Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) principles and is fully aligned with the 9R circular economy framework.

What sets this approach apart is the integration of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to support objective decision-making at every project stage. The methodology is designed to:

• • Reduce material and resource consumption

• • Minimize the use of substances of concern

• • Enhance safety and risk profiles

• • Improve technical functionality and environmental performance

• • Promote easier depolymerization

• • Increase the renewable use of biobased monomers and polymers

… all while maintaining high technical performance.

This milestone marks a significant step forward in the development of safe, sustainable, and circular bio-based materials, and demonstrates the project’s commitment to aligning innovation with environmental responsibility.

Congratulations to Jose Jorge Espí Gallart and the co-authors L. Mayor, D. Sánchez Domene, and V. Vargas Parra from FUNDACIÓ EURECAT – Manresa, Spain, for their outstanding contribution to the POLYMERS-5B mission!

Poster Presentation:

Safe and Sustainable Biobased Eco-design and Circularity Methodology. The POLYMERS-5B Approach

Main authors: Jose Jorge ESPI GALLART

Co-authors: L. Mayor – FUNDACIO EURECAT – Manresa – SPAIN D Sánchez Domene – FUNDACIO EURECAT – Manresa – SPAIN V. Vargas Parra – FUNDACIO EURECAT – Manresa – SPAIN J.J. Espí Gallart – FUNDACIO EURECAT – Manresa – SPAIN

Summary

The Safe and Sustainable Biobased Eco-design methodology implemented in the POLYMERS-5B project is designed as a holistic and iterative process, based on EURECAT’s previously developed eco-design methodology. It is inspired by the iterative Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle, coupled with the SSbD principles, and aligned with the 9R concept for circular economy. Additionally, it incorporates objective decision-making through the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) at all stages of the project. This methodology focuses on reducing material and resource consumption, minimizing the use of substances of concern, enhancing safety and risk profiles, improving functionality, boosting environmental performance, promoting easier depolymerization, and increasing the potential for renewable use of biobased monomers and polymers—all without compromising technical performance.