Many applications can be found thanks to the rapidly-expanding technological development of biosourced materials, particularly in the field of plastics processing industry & materials: building, automobile, medical, catering, hygiene, cosmetics, and so on.
The Nord-Pas de Calais Region places itself at the 3rd national rank regards to employment in the field of plastics processing industry. Moreover a study of the European Commission (made in 2005) about the technical/economic feasibility of a high-scale production of polymers in Europe has also shown polymers that come from renewable materials derived from starch & sugar would represent 60% of the biosourced products market in 2010, even 70% up to 80% in 2020.
Since September 2009 the MAUD cluster governance, in keeping with its members (Roquette, Plage, CVP, Sical, Mécaplast, Malengé Graphic, ...) and its partners (INRA, CNRS, Institut Chevreul, Mines de Douai, APAF, CREPIM, ENSCL, USTL…), integrates and contributes to the rapid expansion of an emerging market “Plastics processing and applications of biosourced products”.
To date the MAUD cluster is a key player of the “plant-derived plastics” market while working for the development of biosourced products, at all stages of the product life cycle, of the chemical synthesis, from raw material functionalization to conversion & formulation of new polymers up to the end of life, i.e. a compatible approach with a willingness to “eco-design”.
Concerning this vision, the MAUD cluster chose 3 priority development axes :
- to ease the bioplastics penetration thanks to the supply of biosourced materials & intovative features,
- to improve conversion & implementation of these materials,
- to bring answers to the questioning of recyclability.
In practical terms, the MAUD cluster undertakes to give support to collaborative R&D projects whose subjects will be similar to a set of research themes relating to the “master of synthesis & conversion of materials, stemmed from renewable resources”.
The covered technological fields are:
- New biosourced materials:
. Functionalized natural polymers, bioplastics, new composites
. Manufacturing new plasticizers & additives
- Formulation & layout of new materials:
. Compounds, films and 3D parts, technical products
- Eco-design and recyclability studies of new bio-sourced materials:
. Industrial design, recycling, biodegrability, recovering, re-use
(Photo copyright LSPES Université Lille 1)
