BioStyrene

The common challenges of the programme area, that we are jointly tackling, are: (i) 99% of the plastics raw material originates from non-renewable fossil fuels, which is not sustainable in the long term. A suitable alternative feedstock is needed. (ii) Plastics used in packages do not degrade and may persist for centuries. The situation around an enclosed Baltic Sea is especially alarming as marine animals and seabirds are widely known to ingest small pieces of plastic with dire consequences. Fully biodegradable plastic packages need to be developed. (iii) Most packages are composed of different types of non-degradable polymers making efficient recycling difficult. Also, due to the overall small volumes of waste in the Baltic region compared to the centre of Europe or Asia, there is not enough industry in the region for recycling to be competitive. Consequently, only a small fraction can be efficiently reused for new products in the programme region. (v) Energy recovery through incineration is an option to deal with non-degradable plastics; however, many harmful chemicals can be released during incineration together with CO2 of fossil origin. Through cross-border cooperation and interdiciplinary knowledge, the project objective is to develop a scalable process to replace fossil based non-biodegradable styrene used in polymer industry with a potentially biodegradable bio-based styrene counterpart from wood biomass and test the applications of this material in new products. Using local renewable feedstocks the Baltic plastics industry would decouple the industry from fossil fuel supply and strengthen the local wood processing industry by providing new applications for low-quality wood and pulp production byproducts. Furthermore, the biodegradability of the material would reduce the impact of plastics on the environment and relieve the region';s struggle to cope with non-biodegradable waste. Project outputs: 1) Validated step-by-step synthesis and processing method for producing novel styrene counterparts. 2) Formation of new cooperation connections between private companies and universities as well as between Estonia and Russia. The SMEs involved in the project will have new methods and products to support their continued growth and competitiveness. The first output will benefit the region as a whole by reducing the reliance on fossil fuels while strengthening the wood processing industry in the Baltic region, allowing low-quality wood to be converted into highly valued products. Using biodegradable materials will reduce the plastic waste generation in the region, thus reducing the pressure on local environment. The second output will benefit regional SME development by fostering cross-border business contacts and the development of new products (3 project partners are SMEs). The SMEs involved will gain a competitive advantage through cooperation between public R&D sector and cross-border businesses (2 project partners are universities). Future cooperation between the R&D and private sector is facilitated through the cooperation of universities and local SMEs within the scope of this project. The activities of the project are: 1) The development and the small-scale testing of various styrene-type monomers from lignin in a laboratory setting. The main outcome is a selection of stable monomers with polymerisation capabilities. 2) Scale-up and adjustment of the synthesis process to ensure high yield and cost-efficiency. The main outcome is a selection of styrene analogs that can be produced cost-efficiently along with the most efficient production methods. 3) Testing of the selected monomers in different plastics and coatings by SMEs. To reach the project objective and realise full impact, the project consortium includes the entire value chain from the raw material source and R&D institution to scale-up manufacturing and final product development and testing. This approach supports successful implementation and dissemination of project results after the project completion. The activities are set up to develop, test and demonstrate the new compounds to ensure the effective transfer of knowledge from the universities to production and provide feedback to the R&D institutions to inform new research and product development. Thus, the Estonian-Russian cooperation is significant to: 1) Bring together cross-border knowledge about organic synthesis and wood-based chemistry that is not available in a single country. 2) Facilitate the transfer of knowledge from R&D to practical use by bringing together the required partners of the value chain across the border, including lignin supplier, scale-up, manufacturing and end-users. As a result, novel styrene counterparts are created and innovative new products brought to market.