Successful conclusion of SUSBIND EU Project on bio-based binders for the furniture sector

The SUSBIND European Project on “SUStainable bio BINDers”, with the participation of the CIB Group of Biotechnology for Lignocellulosic Biomass, was successfully finished on 31 August 2022, after four years of collaborative work between partners from both research and industry. The aim of the project was to develop, produce and test bio-based binders as an alternative to formaldehyde binders currently used for wood-based panel boards in furniture mass products.

The scientific objectives focused on developing an enzymatic technology for epoxidizing complex mixtures of fatty acids obtained from vegetable oils and a carbohydrate-based pathway for binder production. The role of the CIB group, in collaboration with the Plant Biomass Group of IRNAS-CSIC, focused on the investigation and application of the so-called unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs), a new type of oxidative biocatalyst with high biotechnological potential, to form reactive epoxides by the enzymatic oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids of vegetable oils. This work has resulted in eleven scientific publications in high-quality journals and one patent application.

At the end of the four years of the project, SUSBIND partners could develop a formaldehyde-free bio-based binder made of 80% renewable materials to manufacture interior particleboards and medium-density fibreboard. The obtained boards, characterized by better sustainability and health impact properties, could be validated at IKEA by producing a prototype furniture box.

This SUSBIND initiative has been funded by the Biobased Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI-JU) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Programme.

More information:

Official press release: link.

SUSBIND EU website: link.