Bio2PEs is an EU-funded research and innovation project focused on creating sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics. It develops bio-based, biodegradable polyethylene (PE) and polyester using biomass waste, helping advance Europe’s circular plastics economy and support the European Circular Economy Action Plan.

The project is developing packaging prototypes for food and textiles, as well as agricultural mulch and crop-protection membranes. It assesses these materials across their full lifecycle, including environmental, economic and social impacts, and tests biodegradability and ecotoxicity in soil, freshwater and marine environments across four European climate zones.

To improve product longevity and circularity, Bio2PEs explores self-repairing coatings and fluorescence markers that can help products be sorted for recycling. It also promotes consumer understanding through interactive labelling and shares material data with AI-driven tools designed to recommend sustainable options. Through research, prototype development, testing and collaboration with other European initiatives, Bio2PEs works to reduce plastic waste, make better use of resources and encourage the adoption of biodegradable materials.