TUS receives €775k funding to develop biodegradable plastic alternative for MAGICBIOMAT Project

The Technological University of the Shannon has received €775,000 in European Funding for research to develop a biodegradable plastic alternative with the help of Artificial Intelligence.  

Addressing the urgent global challenge of plastic pollution, the MAGICBIOMAT project mission is to develop innovative, biodegradable alternatives to plastics that are not only environmentally friendly but also tailored for various applications. 

MAGICBIOMAT, is a Horizon Europe project funded by the European Union involving seven partner universities from across the continent.  

Co-ordinated by the Technological University of the Shannon, the project also involves collaboration with Universitá Degli Studi di Padova (Italy), Organik Kimya Sanayi ve Ticaret As (Turkey), DIGIOTOUCH OU (Estonia), Centre Technique Industriel de la Plasturgie et des Composites (France), Isotech Ltd (Cyprus) and The University of Sheffield (UK). 

Dr. Yuanyuan Chen of the Technological University of the Shannon (Ireland), coordinator of the project said: “Our goal is to develop bio-based materials with programmed biodegradability, offering sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics. This project holds significant potential to reduce plastic pollution, promote circularity, and support global efforts toward a greener and more sustainable future.” 

The EU Project Officer Stefania ROCCA highlighted the significance of the MAGICBIOMAT project, stating: “This initiative represents a significant step toward addressing plastic pollution through sustainable innovation. By developing bio-based materials with programmed biodegradability, the project supports the EU’s Green Deal objectives, promotes circular economy and bioeconomy, and contributes to reducing environmental impact while advancing scientific and industrial progress.” 

Biodegradable materials offer a solution to plastic pollution, as they break down naturally under specific environmental conditions. However, current biodegradable plastics often fall short, failing to fully degrade in real-world environments. For example, when a plastic designed to biodegrade in soil spills into the aquatic environment, it will most likely not biodegrade and will likely result in the release of microplastics and nano plastics in the environment. MAGICBIOMAT seeks to close this gap by creating a portfolio of bio-based materials with programmed biodegradability that perform effectively across various EU climates and open environmental conditions, including soil, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. To achieve this, the project will develop cutting-edge tools, including Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered software.  

The project will focus on two high-priority applications where waste littering is a significant concern: 

• Mulching Films: Widely used in agriculture, these films are either too degraded or too littered at the end of their useful life to be collected for recycling. As a result, they are either ploughed into the soil or improperly disposed of, spilling into nearby terrestrial and aquatic environments, and contributing to environmental plastic pollution. 

• Paper-Based Packaging Coated with Plastic Film: A common source of littering in urban and natural landscapes. Paper based packaging is often coated with non-biodegradable polymers, such as PE, fluorocarbons, and Polyolefins, and biodegradable materials with slow biodegradability such as PLA, PMAs. These coatings present a problem where, although the paper packaging decomposes, the non-biodegradable coating remains contributing to plastic pollution.  

MAGICBIOMAT will address not only the biodegradability of these two applications but it will also address the circularity of plastics by improving material durability to extend product lifespans and exploring mechanical recycling, remanufacturing, and reuse.  

Recognizing that technology alone cannot solve the issue of waste littering, MAGICBIOMAT will also focus on the human element. Behavioural studies will inform the development of interactive labelling and targeted strategies to promote consumer adoption and responsible disposal practices.  

By tackling the dual challenges of environmental degradation and waste mismanagement, MAGICBIOMAT is poised to make a lasting impact on the journey toward a circular and sustainable bioeconomy.  

The project officially began on January 1, 2025, under the HORIZON.2.6 – Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment programme. 

Further resources:  

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