Biobased building blocks and polyester-polyols for coating
Advanced coatings
from renewable sources
Innovative biobased solutions for extreme-performance applications
Modern coatings are essential across multiple industries due to their protective, functional, and aesthetic properties. However, many of these coatings rely on fossil-based chemicals, which present challenges in sustainability, toxicity, and end-of-life management. To align with circular economy goals and reduce environmental impact, it is crucial to replace these materials with safe and renewable alternatives.
BIO4COAT addresses this challenge by developing biobased coating solutions derived from renewable building blocks. These include 1,4-biobutanediol (1,4-bioBDO) and long-chain dicarboxylic acids (lcDCA) for the formulation of polyurethane coatings.
The coatings will be applied and validated across eight sectors: plastics, hygiene, textiles, agriculture, horticulture, furniture, energy and construction ensuring high durability, safety, and performance in extreme and demanding conditions.
BIO4COAT will deliver safe, sustainable, and scalable coatings by leveraging existing biorefinery infrastructure and green chemistry approaches, while applying the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) principles.
Research approaches
BIO4COAT aims to develop two innovative coating value chains:
1 Biobased 1K and 2K polyurethane (bioPU) coatings derived from 1,4-bioBDO and lcDCA.
2 New sustainable coatings using materials from biorefinery waste streams.
The project focuses on scaling up these solutions to Technology Readiness Level 5 (TRL5), validating both their functionality and environmental performance. Coatings will be tested under realistic industrial conditions across multiple use cases, including high wear, chemical exposure, and outdoor applications.
BIO4COAT also promotes a circular approach, ensuring that end-of-life solutions such as recyclability and reuse are considered from the design phase, while making the most of available biorefinery by-products.
Biobased
Coatings Goals
- Validate the use of 1,4-biobutanediol (1,4-bioBDO), long-chain dicarboxylic acids (lcDCA), and material sourced from biorefineries for advanced biocoating solutions.
- Replace fossil-based inputs by integrating biobased materials into established coating technologies currently dominated by fossil-derived products.
- Develop and validate biopolyurethane (bioPU) coatings, including 1K PUD and 2K PUR, at TRL5 under demanding and extreme conditions of use, while assessing different end-of-life scenarios.
- Validate surface coatings produced through physical vapor deposition (PVD) at TRL5, with a focus on extreme-use applications in plastics processing.
- Ensure improved safety and sustainability of all biobased coating solutions by applying the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework and conducting impact assessments.
- Engage stakeholders through a multi-actor approach and define clear pathways for upscaling and replication within existing biorefinery infrastructures.
Project Overview
Functional industrial coatings
BIO4COAT develops coatings that provide resistance to mechanical stress, chemical exposure, humidity, and environmental wear. These will be validated on plastics, wood, textiles, and metals, targeting applications across eight sectors: plastics, hygiene, textiles, agriculture, horticulture, furniture, energy, and construction.
High-performance bioPUs
Polyurethane coatings derived from renewable building blocks combine robustness, flexibility, and improved sustainability. BIO4COAT focuses on applications like floor painting, textile, and furniture, where both durability and safety are critical.
Eco-friendly PVD coatings
Using upgraded materials from biorefinery processes, PVD coatings will be deposited on metal surfaces, replacing fossil-based gases such as methane and ethylene. These coatings deliver superior resistance in high-friction and corrosive environments, supporting circular and sustainable solutions.
Numbers
48
Months
3,4
Millions €
6
Countries
10
Partners
Sustainable-by-Design
Approach
BIO4COAT fully integrates the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework established by the European Commission, ensuring that safety, performance, sustainability, and circularity are embedded into biobased coatings from the earliest stages of development.
By combining life cycle assessments (LCA), impact evaluations, and the use of renewable feedstocks, BIO4COAT reduces reliance on fossil resources and contributes to lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
The project also reinforces industrial symbiosis by integrating its value chains into the upgraded Bottrighe biorefinery (Italy), providing a replicable model for future biobased production systems.
