IMA is participating in the Bio-LUSH sustainability initiative, focusing on extracting high-quality fibers from overlooked European plant sources like forest residues, marine plants, and weeds. This addresses the increasing need to utilize underutilized biomass feedstocks for sustainable fiber extraction, which finds application in eco-friendly products such as textiles, food packaging, and reinforced composites.
The project aims to showcase biomass processing and manufacturing at TRL5 for bio-based products including edible packaging, antibacterial textiles, and 3D printable bio(nano)composite filaments for impact-resistant car interior components. This effort not only revitalizes rural areas but also promotes the European fibrous bio-economy while contributing to decarbonization and mitigating eutrophication.
Leveraging its OPENLab, a network of technological laboratories and testing areas dedicated to sustainable material research, IMA will assess newly developed edible packaging materials to support project industrialization. This enhances IMA's expertise in bio-based packaging materials for food applications, fostering partnerships, knowledge-sharing, and synergy with packaging manufacturers and customers.
