Circular-by-design fibre-based packaging with improved properties

This flagship innovation action aims to advance the circular bioeconomy by scaling up production technologies for fibre‑based packaging that incorporate improved or novel properties. Projects are expected to achieve technology readiness at TRL 8 and demonstrate full‑scale manufacturing along with complete value chains across primary, secondary, or tertiary packaging applications. The goal is to broaden the market availability of circular bio‑based packaging that matches or surpasses current fossil‑based and bio‑based benchmarks in terms of performance, cost, sustainability, safety, and end‑of‑life circularity. End‑user acceptance, recyclability, reuse, and remanufacturing must be considered throughout the product lifecycle. Successful proposals will support EU strategies such as the Bioeconomy Strategy, Circular Economy Action Plan, Zero Pollution ambitions, Biodiversity Strategy, proposed Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, and Eco‑design for Sustainable Products Regulation. The funding is expected to back one single flagship project with a budget around €20 million, and the call opened on 2 April 2025 with a deadline in mid‑September 2025.

• Scale up fibre‑based packaging production to TRL 8 with improved/novel properties

• Deploy full value‑chain solutions for primary, secondary, or tertiary packaging

• Integrate bio‑based or sustainable non‑bio additives/coatings/adhesives/films (while retaining fibre as main component)

• Apply the Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) framework, proposing thresholds and criteria improvements

• Address regulatory and safety aspects per the upcoming Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation

• Complement existing R&I projects and demonstrate clear synergies

• Personnel costs
• Subcontracting
• Travel and subsistence
• Equipment (depreciation or rental)
• Consumables and materials
• Dissemination and communication
• Access to research infrastructure
• IPR and certification
• Audit costs
• Indirect costs (25% flat rate)
• Internally invoiced services

• Budget for this Call: 172,137,258€
• Number of Grants attributed: 1
• Budget for this grant: 20,000,000€

• Must be legal entities from EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries
   
• Must meet the minimum consortium size (usually 3 independent entities from different eligible countries)
   
• Participants must show financial and operational capacity to carry out the project
   
• Gender Equality Plan required for public bodies, research orgs, and higher education institutions
   
• Proposals must follow formatting, length, and submission rules
   
• Costs must follow the financial rules of the Model Grant Agreement
   
• Additional rules may apply for sensitive topics (e.g. security, defense, ethics)
   
• Some calls may restrict participation to specific entity types or countries.