InnoRenew CoE
ICP is a partner in project of development of the Renewable Materials and Healthy Environments Research and Innovation Centre of Excellence, which is chosen as one of nine projects in the Teaming call of the European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Research and Innovation Programme. The project with eight slovenian partners and the advanced partner Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research WKI Germany is lead by the University of Primorska. For more information visit web page www.innorenew.eu.
SuperBark
The SuperBark project, a collaboration of 12 partners from 8 countries, aims to develop more than 95% bio-based adhesives and coatings using bark components (nanocellulose and polyphenols). The developed adhesives and coatings will replace current fossil-based solutions used in consumer products in the furniture, construction, transport, and packaging sectors. To accomplish this, the SuperBark project will use polyphenols extracted from tree bark using a new alkaline fractionation technology and cellulose nanofibrils derived from cellulose-rich bark residues. The Pulp and Paper Institute will be mainly involved in the development of barrier coatings for fibrous materials or packaging incorporating bark-derived nanocellulose.
The project is supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking and its members.
More: https://superbark.eu/
DECIDE
The DECIDE project - "Digital Services for the Circular Economy - a toolbox for regional developers, SMEs" - will be funded with almost €3 million until mid-2026. During this period, 16 partners from 10 countries (Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Moldova) will fight the battle for a greener and digital European economy. One of the objectives is to provide methods and tools to develop business models for a circular economy, primarily targeting SMEs, start-ups and business developers in the Danube region. These models are key to achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal.
The project's lead partner is the Digitalisation Centre (ZD.BB), which is considered the central advice centre for companies and start-ups in the Böblingen district and Stuttgart region in the field of digitalisation and also supports SMEs in managing digital transformation. The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism also supports ZD. BB as a regional digital hub.
Effects of lignin degradation on paper-based materials in extreme conditions
In this project, we will explore the effect of lignin degradation on cellulose-based materials listed above in two “extreme” contexts: during long-term environmental degradation and during composting. The results will enable an understanding of the impact of lignin on long-term degradation of lignin-rich paper in heritage collections and a better design of parameters affecting biodegradability of lignin-rich materials. Participating in the project: Heritage Science Laboratory Ljubljana at UL Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Pulp and Paper Institute, Ljubljana and Institute for the Protection of Cultural Heritage of Slovenia.
The project J4-385 is funded by ARRS (Slovenian Research Agency).
Funding period: 1. 10. 2021 – 30. 9. 2024
Targeted research project - Economic, environmental and social aspects of wood processing and use and bound carbon
Innorenew CoE, the Forestry Institute of Slovenia and ICP will upgrade the required data collection system in Slovenia and prepare a model that will enable more criteria (potential sales revenues, potential GHG emission savings, necessary investments, etc.) optimization of wood quantities for processing throughout forestry, timber and paper sector. The general goal of the project is to create a model that will enable a comprehensive evaluation of various scenarios for the development of production, processing and use of wood in Slovenia. The model will be based on data on material flows in the extraction, processing (primary and secondary) and use of round wood, wood residues and waste. The model will enable the evaluation mainly from the economic and environmental (especially the balance of greenhouse gas emissions) point of view, where it is sensible and possibly also social. The ICP in the project covers the paper chain and takes care of promotional activities.
LEAP Project
LEarning and demonstration Alliance for designing and manufacturing sustainable industrial Packaging from alternative lignocellulosic biomass.
The aim of the LEAP project is to develop the next generation of advanced functional packaging that incorporates the biomass of
non-native invasive plants and enables the production of new high- performance packaging solutions. The project focuses on the problem of industrial packaging of heavier industrial products, for which there are currently no alternatives to EPS packaging.
The participating partners demonstrate a diversified structure, so that the strategic development-innovation partnership within the project will covers all sides of the knowledge triangle: UL, FS as an educational and research institution, ICP and SINTEF as a top research institution and GORENJE with SUROVINA as a representative of industry.
More info at the project website.
Circular technological concepts and business models in Slovenian agriculture
The general goal of the project is to demonstrate circular system solutions for the use of side streams of biomass from the primary agricultural production to set up convenient and accessible circular business models in tight cooperation and coordination with farms and industry associations involved in project activities. The project's focus on the development of system solutions will connect agricultural holdings with others actors in supply chains into an innovative circular model for the valorization of biomass side streams on agricultural properties. The model will address the main challenges of the circular use of biomass streams and will continuous dialogue with policy makers and decision-makers developed proposals for systemic cross-sectoral solution, with a high potential for reproducibility and scalability.
The project is financed by the Public Research Agency of the Republic of Slovenia and lasts 36 months.
Knauf Insulation d.o.o., Škofja Loka, Slovenia
In cooperation with world-renowned manufacturer of insulation materials Knauf Insulation d.o.o. (www.knaufinsulation.si), we are developing special purpose insulation materials. In our laboratories various prototypes are being the developed and most promising among them are being tested in the pilot production.
Nestlé
The collaboration with Nestle, one of the largest companies in the food industry, took place as a research collaboration with Nestle York’s development department. As part of the cooperation, ICP explored the possibilities of using industrial waste biomass from the production chain (cocoa husk pods) as a raw material for paper production. The research followed the principles of the circular economy and the search for the usefulness of waste materials from all stages of the product production chain. The ICP tested different types of biomass where analyzes of its composition were performed, suitability for fibre production was assessed, and cellulose fibre obtained from this biomass was used as a basis for paper production and packaging prototyping, including verification of final properties.
Metgen
With our partner MetGen (www.metgen.com) we are developing lignin based coatings applications for paper and board. While being applied with different techniques on the lab and pilot scale, these coatings can improve mechanical and surface properties of paper. They can represent a sustainable alternative to current non-biobased, non-biodegradable solutions.