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The calls for proposals published under the Belgium Builds Back Circular (BBBC) initiative aim to accelerate Belgium's transition towards a circular economy. They are part of the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience (NPRR) and are financed by a temporary European fund, NextGenerationEU.
The third call for proposals focuses on the substitution of chemical substances of concern. Managed by the FPS Economy, this call ran from 4 October to 31 December 2023.
Objectives of the Third Call for Proposals
This call is aimed at supporting innovation initiatives to bring to the market alternative chemicals, technologies, and/or products that eliminate the use of substances of concern or their presence in a product. It also targets research projects aimed at developing sufficient knowledge and transparency on the substitution of these substances of concern as well as on the origin of alternatives to chemical substances of concern and the potential risks throughout the life cycle.
Why Focus on Hazardous Substances?
The focus on the substitution of hazardous chemicals is no coincidence. Chemicals are used everywhere and by everyone. They are present in most of the products we use daily. However, the presence or use of hazardous chemicals carries risks. Not only for humans and the environment but also for our economy’s prosperity. The omnipresence of substances of concern means that many production chains and sectors encounter them. To accelerate the transition to a circular economy in Belgium, the introduction of sustainable chemistry in the production chain is an ideal opportunity. The chemical industry is a key driver of the transition to a healthy, resilient, and competitive economy. Investing in innovation and the circular economy allows Belgian companies not only to comply with stricter legislation but also to stay ahead of the curve in Europe’s circular transition.
Priority substances of concern
For this call for proposals, three groups of priority substances of concern have been identified for Belgium. The federal government wants to accelerate the elimination of these substances as much as possible.
Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
PFAS are used across various industries and are found in everyday consumer products. For example, PFAS are used in the coatings of waterproof clothing to make them water-resistant, in fire extinguisher foam, and in non-stick cookware.
Recognising the importance of phasing out PFAS, the federal government is seeking to support projects through this call that explore or develop safe and sustainable alternatives to PFAS. Given the problematic nature of all PFAS, as well as their many applications across a multitude of sectors, no specific priority areas are identified under this theme.
Endocrine Disruptors (EDs)
Endocrine disruptors (EDs) represent a major public health issue. These chemical substances, which are harmful to human health and the environment, are present everywhere, whether in the environment (water, soil, air) or our everyday consumer products (a.o., food, toys, building materials, cosmetics, textiles, electronic devices). To protect consumers, the future products entering the Belgian market must be free of as many endocrine disruptors as possible.
The implementation of risk management measures at the European level is expected to take several more years according to the European Commission's timetable. The implementation of complementary measures at the national level and support for research and businesses is therefore essential.
12 Priority Substances for Belgium and the Public
In addition to these two groups of substances, there is also a list of substances that will be treated as a priority due to their significance for Belgian industry and/or the public.
These substances are:
- Diazene-1,2-dicarboxamide (C, C'-azodi(formamide)) (ADCA)
- Phenol, dodecyl-, branched
- Alkanes, C14-17, chloro
- Dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane
- Methyloxirane (Propylene oxide)
- N, N- dimethylacetamide
- 2-methoxy ethanol
- Boric acid
- Tris(4-nonylphenol, branched) phosphite
- 4-tert-butyl-phenol
- Terphenyl, hydrogenated
- Dicyclohexyl phthalate
Target Group and Funding
This call for proposals was open to Belgian organisations, consortia or organisations active in Belgium, including companies (with a particular focus on SMEs), public or private research centres, research centres attached to universities, start-ups, NGOs, consultancy firms, and similar institutions. The funding awarded per project amounts to a minimum of 50,000 euros and a maximum of 2,000,000 euros per project.
Results of the Call for Proposals
After a thorough analysis of the applications, nine winning projects were selected to receive a financial grant. These projects are carried out by companies and/or consortia of research centres and companies. All winning projects will receive a grant totalling around 9 million euros. The implementation of projects started in the summer of 2024 and will end in July 2026.
Note: Due to the technical nature of the projects, all texts are only available in English.
Legacy
Organisation: VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research)
Project description:
The LEGACY project aims to replace fossil-based bisphenols in epoxy resins with biobased alternatives, addressing both the environmental and health impacts of bisphenol A (BPA), especially in heavy-duty construction applications. BPA is widely used in epoxy resins but poses risks due to its endocrine-disrupting properties. The project will develop novel BPA-free epoxy formulations that ensure high performance and minimal surface degradation. LEGACY will focus on producing biobased resins using lignin, which will be treated, depolymerised, and modified to create lignin-based coatings. The project will scale up lab production while ensuring sustainability through rigorous testing and a Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) approach. Biobased coating prototypes will be tested on various substrates, emphasising concrete, demonstrating strong adhesion and a protective barrier against external agents such as radiation, moisture, and chemicals. Finally, the biobased coatings will undergo industrial cleaning to verify that no BPA leaches from the surface.
SSbD4SME
Organisation: VITO (Flemish Institute for Technological Research)
Project description:
The SSbD4SME project aims to create an easy-to-use digital tool for SMEs to conduct Safety & Sustainability assessments throughout the product's life cycle. The tool will enable users to score new products based on SSbD principles (Safe and Sustainable by Design) and compare these scores with their existing products. The tool consists of several modules that evaluate the majority of safety and sustainable aspects as outlined in the JRC framework. It will connect with a proprietary database of sustainable alternatives, use a set of specific questions, employ smart web searching via RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation), and link with relevant databases. Tool modules are designed to assess the hazards of chemicals/materials, evaluate human health and environmental aspects, and conduct an environmental sustainability assessment. The outcome is a list of individual scores for each aspect in the value chain and a final SSbD class, to guide safe & sustainable innovation.
BIOSUPHYOL
Organisation: Celabor
Partner organisation: Sirris
Project description:
The project BIOSUPHYOL aims to develop non-toxic, BIO-based (> 80%) alternatives to PFAS for applications requiring both SUPerHYdrophobicity and OLephobicity. The primary focus will be on paper-based packaging and textile applications, as these are significant sources of PFAS release into the environment, but the technology could also be adapted for other applications. In order to achieve the desired performance levels, the coating will combine low-surface-energy bio-based compounds (e.g. fatty acids, hydrophobic proteins) with optimal microscale roughness, provided by cellulose microfibers. For applications requiring mechanical and chemical durability (e.g., high resistance to abrasion and/or washing), an additional cross-linking step will be implemented. The resulting materials will not only be safe and compliant with upcoming regulations, but they will also be more sustainable thanks to improved recyclability and reuse potential due to the absence of toxic compounds.
Cleanlube
Organisation: Sopura
Project description:
CLEANLUBE is our Kersia project to develop a range of conveyor lubricants without components that are harmful to the environment or that represent a serious long-term health hazard. This new range will have at least the same level of efficacy and if possible, allow us to realise even more water savings during their application compared to our current range of products. The products need to be safe to use in case of accidental food contact and not cause any corrosion to the conveyor installation. With the help of our partner universities, we will research the potential of locally sourced (European) raw materials to replace the harmful substances from our current formulations. We will look specifically for biobased, easily biodegradable substances without a negative impact on downstream water treatment plants which will also make wastewater more easily reusable within the industrial plants. Kersia, a pure player in food safety from farm to fork, provides added-value products and solutions to prevent diseases or contamination in both animals and humans at every stage of the food supply chain. Our mission: inventing a food-safe world. Conveyor lubrication is one of the key applications in the beverage industry. It allows smooth transport of beverage containers on the conveyor belts through the bottling hall without falling.
PFAS-Free
Organisation: Centexbel
Partner organisations: UCLouvain, ULiège, Universiteit Gent
Project description:
PFAS-FREE aims to develop safe and sustainably performing textile water-repellent solutions that are superior to currently commercially available 'PFAS-free/fluorine-free' solutions. The focus on fluorine-free hydrophobic products is motivated by their lower impact on the environment (PFAS are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT)), lower impact on human health (e.g. cancer), and their economic importance (50-80 ktonne of PFAS are used annually in the EU for functional applications in the textile sector) and the lack of environmentally sustainable, performing and economically viable alternatives. To develop these solutions, Centexbel and UCLouvain will combine bio-based materials and substrate surface engineering. To select materials and application methods, an inclusive Safe and Sustainable by Design study will be conducted by ULiège and UGent.
BisGO
Organisation: Sciensano
Partner organisations: KU Leuven, Universiteit Gent
Project description:
Bisguaiacols are promising alternatives to Bisphenols in producing polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Three major advantages of bisguaiacol are reduced toxicity, renewable source production, and Zeolite catalysis-assisted synthesis. The development of bisguaiacol is testimony to Belgium’s commitment to a more circular economy. BisGO, a joint commitment of Sciensano, the University of Leuven, and Ghent University, will advance Safe and Sustainable by Design bisguaiacol-based alternatives through the lower TRLs. BisGO fills toxicological data gaps early in the development process by combining standardised tests and new approach methodologies with advanced omics. The bisguaiacol portfolio will be expanded, guided by machine learning. BisGO will assess the short and long-term impact of bisguaiacol on aquatic ecosystems. The generated technology will contribute to the rationalised development of chemicals to avoid regrettable substitution.
FONT: Flame Retardants from Natural Feedstocks for Textile
Organisation: Apeiron-Team
Partner organisations: KU Leuven, Centexbel, CTF2000
Project description:
The objective of the FONT project is to test the process of early-stage (TRL 1-3) development of a chemical as a sustainable alternative. This is based on a concrete case of an alternative flame retardant for textiles. The context within which safety and sustainability are assessed is the SSbD framework as developed by JRC. The alternative will be developed using the bio-based platform of chemical building blocks developed by KU Leuven. For the toxicological assessment, a new evaluation method is being developed also by KU Leuven. The technical requirements for the flame retardant are provided by the supply chain partner of the project CTF2000 (Flamaway Group). The formulation and technical testing of the flame retardant will be done by CENTEXBEL who will develop a test that allows evaluation with small volumes of samples. CENTEXBEL will also evaluate the impact on the recyclability of the textile product with the alternative flame retardant. Apeiron-Team will coordinate the project and the SSBD assessment itself. The feasibility of an SSBD assessment in this context of honest stage development will also be evaluated. As such, the project will provide input to JRC's evaluation of the SSbD framework.
Aquaveg
Organisation: Emulco
Project description:
Emulco’s project aims to replace harmful chemicals like PFAS and slack waxes in coatings that are still used for paper, cardboard, wood, and gypsum packaging or paneling with bio-based alternatives in a cost-efficient way. This innovation will significantly improve recyclability, helping reduce up to 120 million tons of waste annually in Europe and preventing 51 million tons of CO2 emissions by avoiding landfill and incineration. Additionally, by eliminating PFAS and other substances linked to cancer from consumer products, such as food packaging, the project enhances public health and workplace safety in Belgium and across Europe by reducing exposure to harmful chemicals and volatile organic compounds.
CIRCATEX
Organisation: Sirris
Partner organisations: Capilano, Demeyere, UGent
Project description:
The CIRCATEX project is developing a circular alternative to PFAS-based non-stick coatings and applying it to non-stick frying pans and the sliding side of ski slats. The project is exploring the potential of laser texturing and innovative blast treatments to create non-stick properties in stainless steel to eliminate the use of PFAS-based coatings and waxes. It examines how texturing affects adhesive behavior and the correlation between different parameters. This allows for the creation of the highest-performing textures and blast treatments. Neither process does not add material to the products. As a result, there is no risk of harmful effects on humans and the environment during the entire life cycle. Reapplication of the texture allows multiple reuses, and at the end of its life, the base materials can be recycled. The project is a collaboration between Sirris, Ghent University, Demeyere CommV. (producer of cookware) and Capilano bv (producer of circular ski slats).
