This project aims to develop new technology for UV-light triggered (bio)degradation of biobased polymers, such as polylactic acid (PLA), at their end-of-life (EoL) by utilising the recently reported UV susceptibility of furans. When applied to agricultural mulching films or coatings it is expected to increase the rate of degradation by exposure to sunlight. By using agro residues as feedstocks, it will be possible to develop novel renewable, biodegradable materials with a true circular potential.

The first aim of this project is to improve the biodegradability of well-established biobased polymers that are currently not readily biodegradable (e.g. PLA, PBS), by introducing biobased photo-labile groups in the polymer. Here, the focus will be on application in agricultural films, such as mulching films.
A second aim of the project is to apply a comparable methodology to currently used, and increasingly more biobased, acrylic-type water borne coating resins in order to make these materials biodegradable.
In ULTRA-DREAM the photo-labile groups to be investigated will be based on carbohydrate derived furans which can be prepared from low value, non-food agro-residues. Subsequently, these materials will be processed into films and coatings and exposed to UV-light. Afterwards, the biodegradability will be tested and compared to that of the corresponding unexposed products to evaluate the improvement of biodegradability.
Overall, this project aims to deliver fully biobased polymers, based upon agro-residues, with improved biodegradability after exposure to UV-light (either natural sun-light or artificial lighting). This contributes to the total use concept, and prevents the accumulation of non-degradable persistent (micro)plastics in the environment.

This project connects to Mission B (Klimaatneutrale landbouw en voedselproductie), and in particular to MMIP B6, “Productie en gebruik van biomassa”. By increasing the (bio)degradability of existing and emerging biobased materials (such as PLA and PBS) their application scope, and therefore their commercial potential can increase multifold, and by that the use of agricultural feedstocks for the production of these materials. This will allow primary agricultural producers to diversify their portfolio, and in the meantime, it will also contribute to the reducing the carbon footprint of the (chemical) industry. Next to the increased use of bio-renewable feedstocks (and hence renewable carbon), also the growing societal and environmental problem of accumulating persistent materials in the environment will be addressed.
Secondary MMIP: A3 Hergebruik zij- en reststromen. The polymers and furanic building blocks used in this project will be derived from non-edible carbohydrate side-streams stemming from food productions, such as industrial starches and glucose syrups (e.g. from increasing production of plant derived protein) contributing to the total use concept.

Deliverable Partners Timeline Status
D1.1 Annual TKI report- WP1 WFBR Q1 2024 Done
D1.2 Annual TKI report- WP1 WFBR Q1 2025 Done
D1.3 Annual TKI report- WP1 WFBR Q1 2026 To be delivered
D1.4 Final TKI report- WP1 WFBR Q4 2026 To be delivered
D2.1 Intermediate report- WP2 WFBR, ADM, OER Q4 2024 Done
D2.2 Final report- WP2 WFBR, ADM, OER Q4 2025 To be delivered
D3.1 Intermediate report- WP3 WFBR, ADM, OER Q4 2024 Done
D3.2 Final report- WP3 WFBR, ADM, OER Q4 2025 To be delivered
D4.1 Intermediate report- WP4 WFBR, ADM, OER Q4 2024 Done
D4.2 Final report- WP4 WFBR, ADM, OER Q4 2025 To be delivered
D5.1 Intermediate report- WP5 WFBR, ADM, AN Q4 2024 Done
D5.2 Final report- WP5 WFBR, ADM, AN Q4 2025 To be delivered
D6.1 Intermediate report- WP6 All Q1 2025 To be delivered
D6.2 Final report- WP6 All Q4 2025 To be delivered
D7.1 selection of biodegradation criteria and testing- WP7 All Q4 2023 Done
D7.2 evaluation of fast in-vitro test- WP7 All Q4 2024 To be delivered
D7.3 intermediate report on biodegradation- WP7 All Q4 2025 To be delivered
D7.4 final report on biodegradation- WP7 All Q4 2026 To be delivered
D8.1 TEE report- WP8 All Q4 2026 To be delivered
D8.2 Basic LCA report- WP8 All Q4 2026 To be delivered