SUPREME-PILOTS · SUstainable development of advanced coPolymers through Reactive Extrusion and Material Evaluation on industrial platforms

SUPREME-PILOTS aims at developing and demonstrating at TRL7 high-performance, biobased copolymers to overcome the limitations of standard PLA. The project aims to modify PLA with biobased precursors like biopolyester-polyols and bioPTMG using reactive extrusion (REX), a cost, energy and resources efficient continuous process, to create new copolymer grades with superior properties to their fossil-based counterparts or existing biobased alternatives. A core objective is to use an innovative, sustainable, and AI-driven design methodology to accelerate the R&D process, reduce costs, and facilitate upscaling.The project will validate these new copolymers as ""drop-in"" solutions at TRL6 across four key industrial platforms: Big Area Additive Manufacturing (BAAM), rotational molding, calendering, and blown film extrusion and lamination. These will be demonstrated through four product prototypes: lightweight foamed sports equipment, urban furniture, high-performance resilient flooring, and industrial signage tapes. SUPREME-PILOTS will also validate feasible end-of-life (EoL) strategies and recycling routes to design out downcycling and achieve a complete circular loop, opening up new high-value markets currently dominated by fossil-based plastics.The consortium comprises 14 partners from seven European countries, including large companies, SMEs, RTOs, and an association, with complementary expertise across the entire value chain. SUPREME-PILOTS will deploy the EU's Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework to improve sustainability, safety, and circularity, targeting a greater than 35% reduction in CO2eq emissions. With a total EU contribution of €6,822,071, the project's impacts include creating at least 4 new European bio-based value chain, unlocking multi-million euro markets within long-term future replication, building public trust and social acceptance and addressing standardization needs.""