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Biodegradable alternatives offer a promising solution to plastic pollution and waste littering in certain contexts, as they break down naturally under specific environmental conditions. However, many biodegradable plastics do not fully degrade when they are disposed of or dispersed in the open environment. MAGICBIOMAT aims at developing a portfolio of circular bio-based materials with programmed biodegradability demonstrated through 2 product applications with highly concerning rates of littering: mulching films and paper-based packaging. The biodegradability of these two products will be tested in open environments conditions (soil, fresh water and marine) and different EU climates. To enable programming of biodegradability of the bio-based materials, MAGICBIOMAT will develop a trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (AI) powered software to guide the design and manufacturing of novel materials according to application requirements (properties, manufacturing) and end-of-life needs and conditions, exploiting data from the project material development and biodegradation tests, complemented with open access data. This tool will foster the adoption of novel bio-based biodegradable materials by the industry. Moreover, MAGICBIOMAT will address the circularity of plastics by improving the durability of the developed bio-based materials for extending the lifespan of products, as well as assessing mechanical recycling, remanufacturing, and reuse. Prevention of waste littering will also be tackled through behavioural studies that will explore consumers’ and end users’ perspectives, and will provide recommendations for labelling and behaviour change strategies to foster user acceptance and proper management of the novel biodegradable materials. |
