PLANETS is the acronym for ‘Plasticizers, fLame-retardants and surfactANts: new alternatives validating the safE and susTainable by deSign approach’, a project under the umbrella of HORIZON-CL4-2024-RESILIENCE-01-24.
Greenchemicals is part of the scientific committee that aims to demonstrate the applicability of the SSbD framework for chemicals and materials, published by the Joint Research Centre, which wants to drive innovation toward a sustainable industrial transition, focusing on the entire life cycle of materials and products. A project for which the consortium will receive EUR 14.5 million from the European Union’s research and innovation programme.
Concretely, the 18 project partners will work on the technical development of alternatives to the three main classes of molecules used in the chemical industry: plasticizers, flame retardants and surfactants. The new molecules developed by the PLANETS team will be safer for workers and consumers, and have a lower environmental impact.
‘As specialists in additives and flame retardants, we put a lot of energy and resources into R&D to ensure that our customers receive products that are safer and have less and less impact on the environment.’ says Greenchemicals CEO Micaela Lorenzi. ‘We are proud to be part of the ambitious and innovative PLANETS project and to have been chosen to make our contribution to the achievement of common goals in the field of economic, social and environmental sustainability. In particular, the study will focus on the development of halogen-free or low-halogen solutions for styrenic polymers used mainly in the construction, electrical and electronics industries. The support of the European Union will be crucial to achieving the goal’.
A project with European appeal
Horizon Europe is the European Union’s framework programme for research and innovation for the period 2021-2027, successor to Horizon 2020, and funds research and innovation activities as well as R&I support initiatives, mainly through open and competitive calls for proposals.
Coordinating the PLANETS project will be the Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA), which hosted the first meeting of all partners in Grenoble at the end of November. Seven industrial companies are involved (in addition to Greenchemicals Srl, we find BASF, Chemische Fabrik Budenheim KG, ELKEM Silicones, Steinbacher Dämmstoff GmbH, SYENSQO, Wacker Chemie AG); 3 small and medium- sized enterprises (RINA Consulting, STERNA, QSAR Lab), 5 technology companies (AIMEN Technology Center, CEA, TNO, IPC, Fraunhofer ICT) and 3 non-profit organizations (BioNanoNet Forschungsgesellschaft mbH, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg, Radboud University).
Together, these partners will utilise their respective expertise throughout the project’s development, including: developing safer and more sustainable alternatives through SSbD assessments, integrating new molecules for the manufacture of products in various application areas (coatings, insulating foams and childcare articles), incorporating social sciences and humanities, as well as business plans and market uptake approach.