21-25 June 2024, Marseille, France

Our project coordinator Alexander Wentzel from SINTEF in Norway presented the latest PERFECOAT results at this year’s European Biomass Conference in Marseille, France. At the same day our EC project officer Dr. Mónica Pérez-Cabero introduced the work of the CBE-JU. The event is must for the EU bioeconomy and showcases effective ways to utilise biomass for innovative solutions that can successfully replace fossil resources. 

27 August 2024, 13.00-15.00CET, online

The EU- & CBE JU funded research project PERFECOAT project aims to develope high-performance, bio-based industrial wood and decorative paints and coatings with a minimum of 25 % bio-based components. Successful solutions will support the shift towards sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives in the paint and coatings industry and thus the pursuit of a climate-neutral Europe.

On 27 August 2024, from 13:00 to 15:00 CEST, the PERFECOAT team will present its achievements and latest results in a final webinar, while also discussing the identified obstacles and challenges. This event will delve into various key accomplishments and present crucial results that will enable industry stakeholders to opt for greener solutions in their own formulations and applications.

• Development of Bio-Based Binders: Discover how alginates, xanthan, and xylan have been successfully utilized to create effective bio-based binders.
• Natural Pigment and Dye Innovations: Learn about the sustainable colorants produced from yeast and fungi, offering eco-friendly alternatives to traditional pigments.
• Enhanced Paint Properties: Explore the advancements in paint durability and performance through the integration of functional nano materials and fillers.
• Sustainability and Safety Assessment: Gain insights into comprehensive assessments comparing the sustainability, social sustainability, health and safety, toxicology and performance of these bio-based paint components with conventional fossil-based products.
• Formulation and Testing: Learn how the performance of the final formulations is tested and evaluated in different applications.

This online events offers the opportunity to meet the partners online, ask live questions and learn more about the bio-based solutions in the paint and coatings industry.

24 April 2024, Brüssel, in person

10 June 2024, 13.00-14.00CET, online

In the penultimate episode of the five-piece webinar series of the CBE JU funded research project PERFECOAT the experts will give insights about assessments and used methodology in regards to safety and sustainability of the developed bio-based compounds for sustainable paints and coatings.

When developing novel bio-based solutions, safety and sustainability of bio-based paint and coating products for users and environment mark a top priority. Within the last three years, the partners involved in the EU-funed PERFECOAT project successfully generated and examined a broad variety bio-based paint and coating ingredients. These include a selection of binders made from, e.g., modified alginates (SINTEF), xanthan (Technical University Munich), and xylan (Celignis) derived from different biomass resources like agricultural residues, e.g., poplar wood, beech wood, wheat straw, and late cut grass. Furthermore, the team developed different formulations for red pigments and dyes as well as other colours (e.g., green and purple) produced from yeast and fungi. To allow for the modification of specific properties like self-healing surfaces and fire resistance, fillers and functional nano materials were developed from microbial biomass.

All these ingredients were tested with regard to their performance, requirements and properties in formulations of three specific use-cases:

• High-volume UV-curable clear coatings
• Waterborne trim paints for industrial and DIY applications
• Waterborne wall paints optimized for residential and commercial use
  

All materials developed in PERFECOAT need to meet highest safety and sustainability standards for users nd environment. The project will therefore quantitatively demonstrate the sustainability improvements achieved with bio-based solutions compared to conventional fossil-based paints and coatings. This was done by establishing a framework for life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle costing (LCC), end-of-life strategy, and societal impact of the developed products and processes on specific communities and society at large. A social impact assessment and market study started early in the project and secure that all solutions match the criteria of economic feasibility and societal acceptance.

The assessment and methodology used are subjects to this webinar.
Learn more about the results by registering for the fourth webinar “Safety and Sustainability – Assessments and Used Methodology”.

To learn more, join three esteemed international experts:

• Andy Booth (SINTEF Ocean)
• Kamal Azrague (SINTEF)
• Assiya Kenzhegaliyeva (SINTEF)
  

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights into the safety and sustainability assessment in PERFECOAT.

13 May 2024, 13.00-14.00CET, online

PERFECOAT has successfully formulated innovative solutions tailored to meet industry standards and address sustainability challenges. Central to this endeavor is the meticulous testing of each ingredient in thei final application as well as in formulation. Comprehensive evaluation methods cover a broad range of criteria, including chemical resistance, moisture resilience, abrasion resistance, and aesthetic factors such as color intensity and UV resistance.

Join us as we unveil the results of our testing methodologies and showcase demonstrator paints tailored for industrial use-cases:

• High-volume UV-curable clear coatings
• Waterborne trim paints for industrial and DIY applications
• Waterborne wall paints optimized for residential and commercial use
  

To learn more, join three esteemed international experts:

• Christine Louis (Evonik Coating Additives)
• Eren Elik (Organik Kimya)
• Roland Steinrücken (Remmers Group)
  

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights into the formulation and testing of greener ingredients. Register now and be part of the conversation driving sustainable innovation in the paint and coatings industry!

8 Aril 2024, 13.00-14.00CET, online

Inviting young researchers and PhD candidates to broaden their horizon with our upcoming webinar series on bio-based paint and coatings.

In the second webinar of its webinar series the PERFECOAT project examines the potential of replacing fossil based ingredients of paint and coating formulations with bio-based and more sustainable alternatives. The presentations will address availability, economic feasibility and performance of bio-based raw materials.

Curious? Register for the first webinar with speakers:

• Amelie Skopp (Technical University Munich)
• Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro (Imperial College London)
• Srdjan Gavrilovic (Tallinn Technical University)

5 March 2024, 13.00-14.00CET, online

Inviting young researchers and PhD candidates to broaden their horizon with our upcoming webinar series on bio-based paint and coatings.

At this project stage, the PERFECOAT partners successfully developed bio-based polymers and lipids, binders, fillers, fungal pigments and dyes, as well as different additives like functional nanomaterials. These cover a variety of performance requirements like paint texture and grip, clarity, flexibility, UV resistance (no yellowing) as well as drying and curing time.

In the first webinar “Towards bio-based paints and coatings – Fundamentals and an introduction to the PERFECOAT project” international experts will introduce the basics of paint and coatings formulation and address the potential of bio-based solutions in this field. A historic overview will address paint and coating applications and discuss the performance requirements for newly developed solutions and challenges in novel applications.

Curious? Register for the first webinar with speakers:

• Alexander Wetzel (SINTEF), PERFECOAT project-coordinator
• Christine Louis (Evonik Coating Additives)
• Ilker Kocabiyik (Organik Kimya)

7 February 2024, online

On 7 February 2024 the PERFECOAT consortium successfully presented its latest results and finding to the CBE-JU. Thanks to our kind reviewers Monica Perez-Cabero and Matthias Jobbagy who treated us very kindly.

Andrew Booth, Chief Scientist and Research Manager, Observation and Ecosystem group at SINTEF Ocean, Norway was in Thiruvananthapuram last week to direct a workshop on ‘Marine Debris And Microplastics Pollution: Assessment And Characterisation’. Dr. Booth, whose research areas cover environmental toxicology, marine pollution, and microplastics and nanoplastics, urged communities to develop localised strategies to tackle the plastics question, as effective and environment-friendly recycling processes could take time. Discussion health and sustainability impacts, the group further investigated greener bio-based solutions such as the components developed in PERFECOAT.

24 April 2024, 9:00-17:00 CET, Brussels, Belgium

Explore the latest bio-based solutions for a variety of applications. The event combines presentations, a poster exhibition and plenty of opportunities for networking. Speakers will include researchers involved in the development of new bio-based materials and representatives from industry and the European Commission.

The organisers of the event, the BBI JU projects CHAMPION and PERFECOAT, aim to replace conventional fossil-based materials with novel bio-based ones. The CHAMPION project focuses on bio-based thermoset coatings, structural adhesives, automotive interior surfaces and home care additives, while the PERFECOAT project is all about new bio-based ingredients for paints and coatings for wood and decorative applications. Four other thematically related European projects will also present their experiences in the quest for innovative and sustainable bio-based materials and products.

BIP Meeting Center
Rue Royale 2-4
B-1000 Brussels
Belgium

The PERFECOAT team is happy to present the new project video. Find out how bio-based solutions can contribute to a greener coating and paint industry.

long version

short version

On June 18th the Technical University Munich presented a broad range of bio-based solutions at its open house day. There, Dr. Amelie Skopp and her team of young researchers presented the PERFECOAT project and discussed the potential for bio-based coatings in the industry.

Further information is available at https://www.konaro.de/konaro-tag-der-offenen-tuer/

23-25 May 2023 in Siegburg, near Cologne, Germany, and online

Meet PERFECOAT at this year’s Renewable Materials Conference in Siegburg near Cologne, Germany. We will bring plenty of samples for example of one of our binders called Exilva, created by our partner Borregaard. The Binder is available in different textures and can modified according to your property requirements.

Find our more about the conference and where you can find us at https://renewable-materials.eu

17-19 April 2023 in Essen, Germany

The PERFECOAT team gathered for a 3-days meeting in Essen, Germany.

The consortium enjoyed a very fruitful and intense project and general assembly meeting. We discussed the most promising paths towards our bio-based paint and coating ingredients. Especially the development of binders shows various promising paths like alginate and POSS. Other ingredients have turned out to be more challenging.

Still, the project is already able to celebrate success stories like the innovative fungal red pigments developed by Chromologics.

Besides a workshop on binder design at the Remmers facility, the partners also had the opportunity to see how their ingredients perform in formulations and how the final paint and coating applications are tested.

Thanks to our project partners Evonik and Remmers for hosting the meeting and sharing the lab experience!

Chromologics red fungal pigment

Last week the NORCE Norwegian Research Centre and PERFECOAT coordinator SINTEF both participated in the International Conference on Marine Biotechnology (Bioprospecting 2023), at the UiT – The Arctic University of Norway, which took place from 14-16 March 2023.

🌿There, NORCE representatives met Alexander Wentzel, Coordinator of the #PERFECOATProject. Both our projects focus on the development of sustainable coating and paint formulations and are former @BBI-JU now better known as Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) sibling projects. We are exited to launch some joint collaboration soon. Stay updated for more news.

…at the following events this fall:

SLF Congress

21–22 September 2022, Drammen, Norway

Dr Francesca Di Bartolomeo, PERFECOAT project coordinator, working at SINTEF Industry, will hold a presentation on PERFECOAT at the 23^th SLF (Scandinavian Coating Technicians Association) Congress:

https://www.slfpaint.org/

Key Technologies in the Bioeconomy

27–29 September 2022, Straubing, Germany

Dr Amélie Skopp, TUM, will present a PERFECOAT poster at the Global Bioeconomy Alliance Conference in September:

https://www.bioeconomy.world/ktb2022/

Industria Biotec

7 October 2022, Berlin, Germany

Dušica Banduka and Freya Sautner from the nova-Institute will present PERFECOAT at their booth at the Industria Biotech Congress in Berlin:

https://industria-biotec.com

EC Conference Bio-based & Water-based Coatings

22–23 November 2022, Berlin, Germany

Enjoy the talk of the PERFECOAT project coordinator Dr Alexander Wentzel (SINFEF Industry) at the EC Conference on Bio-based and Water-based Coatings in November.

https://www.european-coatings.com/events/2022/ec-conference-bio-based_water-based-2022

We hope to meet you there!

The PERFECOAT project started a social media campaign on LinkedIn and Twitter that will inform you weekly about the project’s goals and progress. Stay tuned for more informative postings which can be found on the nova-Institute’s LinkedIn and Twitter channels. Find the first posting from 8 September under the following links.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6973527272293076992

Twitter: https://twitter.com/novaInstitut/status/1567763171108069376

We are happy to announce the first PERFECOAT related publication “Development of a dedicated Golden Gate Assembly Platform (RtGGA) for Rhodotorula toruloides”

Abstract
Rhodotorula toruloides is a potential chassis for microbial cell factories as this yeast can metabolise different substrates into a diverse range of natural products, but the lack of efficient synthetic biology tools hinders its applicability. In this study, the modular, versatile and efficient Golden Gate DNA assembly system (RtGGA) was adapted to the first basidiomycete, an oleaginous yeast R. toruloides. R. toruloides CCT 0783 was sequenced, and used for the GGA design. The DNA fragments were assembled with predesigned 4-nt overhangs and a library of standardized parts was created containing promoters, genes, terminators, insertional regions, and resistance genes. The library was combined to create cassettes for the characterization of promoters strength and to overexpress the carotenoid production pathway. A variety of reagents, plasmids, and strategies were used and the RtGGA proved to be robust. The RtGGA was used to build three versions of the carotenoid overexpression cassette by using different promoter combinations. The cassettes were transformed into R. toruloides and the three new strains were characterized. Total carotenoid concentration increased by 41%. The dedicated GGA platform fills a gap in the advanced genome engineering toolkit for R. toruloides, enabling the efficient design of complex metabolic pathways.
Read the full publication here.

The very first CBE JU Info Day and networking event will feature speakers from the CBE JU Programme Office, BIC and the European Commission who will present the new partnership, its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda, as well as the call topics and how to apply for the call.

The info day will be streamed online, and participants will have the opportunity to ask questions before and throughout the event during the dedicated Q&A sessions. A recording of the info day will be available after the event on this page and CBE JU’s YouTube channel.

The second part of the info day will be dedicated to networking. Registered participants can arrange meetings on the CBE JU networking platform from 7 June in the afternoon up until the call closure.

Join the CBE JU networking platform to pitch your project idea, look for partners and offer your services, and, more importantly, get in touch with other CBE JU community members!

For more information click here.

New BBI JU and EU Horizon 2020 Project PERFECOAT – High Performance Bio-based Functional Coatings for Wood and Decorative Applications

Project aims to develop and validate wood and decorative coatings with more than 25 % bio-based components

Achieving a climate-neutral Europe by 2050 requires the replacement of fossil-based material with bio-based material on a broad basis. Today, almost 1 million tonnes of paints and coatings are produced in Europe each year, with more than 80 % still being from fossil resources. Even those coatings that do rely on bio-based compounds often have CO₂ footprints little different from the existing coatings. Reducing the impact of these coatings would represent a major advance in Europe’s climate ambitions. To address this challenge the PERFECOAT project will develop and validate a new generation of industrial wood and decorative coatings with significantly more than 25 % bio-based components that meet and even surpass the current quality and sustainability standards. 

Three major coating markets will be addressed: high-volume ultraviolet (UV)-curable clearcoats, do-it-yourself (DIY) waterborne trim paints, and DIY waterborne wall paints. 

The overarching objective of the PERFECOAT project is to develop novel sustainable coatings that will ultimately be available to the public, through their application on high-volume production home and office furniture and as DIY paints. Within this, the project will pursue the following specific objectives: 

• From an environmental perspective, the PERFECOAT project will contribute to reducing Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions by developing a new generation of industrial bio-based coatings for wood with more than 25 % of bio-based components produced from climate neutral sources and processes. This will be in addition to its contribution to replacing fossil-based material with bio-based, renewable material. 

• From an economic perspective, the project will help prepare the market for new coating formulations that will be at least equal to existing fossil-based products. 

• From a social perspective, the project will demonstrate the potential for creating new job opportunities in the bio-based sector in rural and coastal areas, where urban migration remains a challenge. In addition, the project will enhance European leadership in the biotechnology sector and strengthen the EU’s leadership in adopting renewables.

PERFECOAT is aimed at having relevant impacts at different levels. The project aims at creating a new cross-sectoral connection in the bioeconomy, linking the industrial biotechnology sector and the wood and decorative coatings sector. It pursues to establish a new value chain platform, integrating several value chains that deliver more-sustainable ingredients for bio-based coatings. This will bring together several economic sectors and bio-based economy actors – the biomass refinery sector, the chemical industry sector, the coating industry sector, the research and consultancy sector, and innovative biotechnology and nanotechnology companies. 

Demonstrating new consumer products based on bio-based chemicals is another target. These will be in the form of binder and additive materials as well as innovative bio-based coatings – at pilot scale – for three different applications in large consumer markets. Furthermore, validating new and improved processing technology reflecting a ‘technology readiness level’ gain in a range of products, from level 2 to level 4 at the start of the project, to level 4 to level 5 at its end.

When successful, the PERFECOAT project will be able to offer bio-based coating ingredients from climate neutral sources and processes. This will help encourage the uptake of sustainable coatings, with a positive impact for the environment and helping mitigate climate change.

PERFECOAT is implemented by a multidisciplinary consortium of experts from four universities and research institutes and eight commercial project partners, including four SMEs, in seven member countries. 

nova-Institute, 2021-08-31

www.bbi.europa.eu/projects/perfecoat

www.nova-institute.eu/press/?id=286