Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU)

🌍🍽️ Alternative #proteins are shaping Europe’s food future A new report from the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC) emphasises the importance of alternative proteins in achieving Europe’s climate, biodiversity and food security targets. Innovations such as plant-based proteins, fungi, algae, bacteria and insects are providing consumers with healthier and more sustainable choices. CBE JU-funded projects like MARMADE, Plenitude Project, ZEST project, PROTEUS CBE JU and others, demonstrate that alternative proteins can be produced at scale, showing how Europe can turn waste streams into valuable resources while cutting emissions and reliance on imports. 🤔 Do you see alternative proteins becoming part of your everyday diet?

We’re at the EU Research & Innovation Days showcasing two CBE JU-funded projects WASTE2FUNC Project and project EFFECTIVE! ♻️ Waste2FUNC turned food waste into functional molecules for bio-based products such as cleaning agents, cosmetics and personal care items, bringing circular solutions closer to our homes. 🧵 EFFECTIVE developed sustainable, bio-based textiles and coatings for the fashion and automotive sectors, paving the way for greener consumer products across Europe. Both projects are co-funded by CBE JU under #HorizonEU, proving how European innovation is driving the shift towards a sustainable, competitive bio-based economy. 🤝 Organised by EU Science, Research and Innovation, #RiDaysEU brings together researchers, innovators, and policymakers to discuss Europe’s green and digital future. Pass by The Square in Brussels projects and discover how CBE JU-funded projects are showcasing real impact. Esthèle Goure Mattia Comotto Sofie Lodens

Microalgae are tiny organisms with huge potential. One of our recent #CBEachievements is the CBE JU-funded MULTI-STR3AM project which scaled up a Lisbon biorefinery to turn microalgae into sustainable ingredients for food, feed and fragrance. The project tested both photobioreactors and fermentation systems, proving that flexible production is possible depending on the strain and ingredient targeted. It also showed how CO₂ from industry and recycled water streams can be turned into valuable inputs, making the whole process more sustainable. Over 40 different ingredient samples have already been developed and tested with industrial partners. Among the most promising are protein-rich feed additives, natural colourants like beta-carotene, and protein-based capsules that release fragrance in innovative ways. These results bring microalgae production closer to the market, paving the way for new supply chains that ease pressure on agricultural land and water while offering climate-friendly alternatives for multiple industries. https://lnkd.in/dYpYP2fJ

We’re pleased to share that our Executive Director, Nicoló Giacomuzzi-Moore will represent CBE JU at the International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology & Bioeconomy, taking place on 25-26 September 2025 in Turin, Italy. 📌 On Thursday, 25 September, Nicoló will: ▶️ 09:45 – 11:00 Deliver a keynote on 'Scaling up the European Circular Bioeconomy' ▶️ 14:45 – 16:15 Join the high-level roundtable 'Waiting for the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy: What is needed to deliver from Regions to the EU' This is a key moment to highlight how CBE JU is fostering sustainable innovation, competitiveness and resilience across Europe. 👉 Don’t miss the chance to connect with us in Turin. Registration is open now: https://www.ifib.bio/

🚨 New project alert! Agriculture increasingly relies on plastics like mulch films, tree shelters, and fertilisers, but these materials often end up as waste, polluting soils and threatening biodiversity. The CBE JU-funded #SOUL project will develop 11 new biodegradable-in-soil products made from sustainable, bio-based materials. These include mulch films, tree guards and sports field applications that safely break down in different environments, cutting plastic waste and microplastic pollution. What SOUL will deliver: ▶️ 11 biodegradable products for agriculture, gardening & sports ▶️ Production capacity above 250 tonnes per year ▶️ Thermostable enzymes for faster in-soil biodegradation ▶️ Demonstration at 5 real sites in Spain, Italy, Poland, Portugal & Ireland ▶️ 40% lower energy use and 50% fewer CO₂ emissions compared to fossil plastics ▶️ €7M projected revenues within 4 years post-project ▶️ 35 direct jobs created, with long-term potential up to 800,000 jobs in Europe The project is supported with €7.26 million in CBE JU funding and has 18 partners from 9 countries.

🔬 New #CBEresearch shows how machine learning can improve the way bio-based processes are developed and scaled. A study by the CBE JU-funded BIONEER Project highlights that better predictions and faster optimisation can make it easier to bring sustainable solutions to market. This is an important step in showing how digital tools support the growth of Europe’s circular bioeconomy. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/etjJzjyi

🚨 New project alert! The CBE JU-funded #SOLRESS project is developing an innovative biorefinery system that will turn coffee waste and plant biomass into safe, bio-based solvents such as ethyl acetate, ethyl lactate and butyl acetate. These greener alternatives will help industries reduce emissions and health risks without compromising performance. What SOLRESS will deliver: ▶️ Production of bio-based solvents from coffee grounds and wood waste ▶️ Conversion of CO₂ and biomass hydrolysates into lactic and acetic acids ▶️ Scale-up of bioethanol, biobutanol, and furfural for solvent synthesis ▶️ Demonstration of 400 litres of ester solvents and 50 litres of furfural solvents from 2 tonnes of biomass waste ▶️ Recycling of 100,000 tonnes of coffee and wood waste annually, producing up to 50,000 tonnes of solvents ▶️ More than €100 million in revenues and 300 new jobs in the EU bioeconomy The project is supported with €7.04 million in CBE JU funding and has 15 partners from 11 countries.

♻️ The CBE JU-funded Prosper Bioplastics project has reached an important milestone in making bio-based plastics more circular. In recent trials, the team managed to separate bio-based plastics from mixed packaging waste using near-infrared sorting, showing that dedicated recycling streams for these materials are within reach. This breakthrough brings us one step closer to large-scale recycling systems tailored to bio-based materials, supporting Europe’s transition to a sustainable circular economy. 🔗 Read more: https://lnkd.in/djsSFbWa

🚨 New project alert! Many everyday products still rely on animal-derived ingredients like collagen, chitin and squalene, including cosmetics and agrochemicals. This dependence raises ethical concerns and environmental impacts, with millions of sharks killed every year for squalene alone. The CBE JU-funded MYCOCIRCLE project will show how mushroom cultivation waste can be upcycled into sustainable compounds such as triglyceride oils, terpenoids, protein hydrolysates and chitin derivatives. These bio-based alternatives will provide the cosmetics and agrochemical industries with animal-free, circular, and scalable solutions. What MYCOCIRCLE will deliver: ▶️ Conversion of mushroom biomass into ingredients for cosmetics and agrochemicals ▶️ Bio-based terpenoids, triglyceride oils, protein hydrolysates and chitin polymers as animal-free alternatives ▶️ Reduced energy use compared to current lab-scale methods ▶️ More sustainable options for crop protection and cosmetic formulations The project is supported with €3.49 million in CBE JU funding and has partners from 7 countries.

📢 Register now for the European Research & Innovation Days 2025 (16–17 September, Brussels) to see how CBE JU-funded projects are driving Europe’s #biobased future! In the exhibition area, project EFFECTIVE will present sustainable materials from renewable feedstocks, while WASTE2FUNC Project will showcase new uses for food industry by-products. #RiDaysEU EU Science, Research and Innovation