SEABIOMAT

The purpose of the SeaBioMat project is to assist businesses in the maritime sector with their transition from oil to bio-based and/or biodegradable products, in order to reduce their environmental impact. This will involve developing materials, characterizing their properties, and analyzing their sustainability and impact.

In connection with this project, this challenge will be tackled by studying bio-based and/or biodegradable polymer and/or composite materials that can be used to partially replace the current nets and cages of active (net towed by a ship) and passive fisheries (nets and cages set up for subsequent pick-up). On a previous project, SeaBioCOmp (Interreg2Mers, 2019 – 2023), initial promising results were recorded on a laboratory scale (TRL 4). It was demonstrated that bio-based polylactic acid (PLA) combined with flax fibers, could be transformed into composite materials and that PLA formed fewer microplastics than oil-based polypropylene (PP). Based on these results, an increase in TRL is being considered (TRL-7). Other bio-based and/or biodegradable polymers will also be studied, both for composite applications and for textile products such as nets and bottom trawling net protectors (dolly ropes). The objective in this case is to demonstrate that bio-based and/or biodegradable polymers and fibers are suitable for marine applications and have a lesser impact on the marine environment and the environment in general compared with current oil-based materials. This will be verified by testing the materials in appropriate environments and exposing them to conditions typical of marine environments, such as aging tests in sea water, exposure to UV light, formation of microplastics, the effect of materials on marine organisms, degradation, etc. Finally, recycling tests and life cycle assessment (LCA) will also be carried out to calculate environmental impact and compare it with current products.