3D Printing with Bio-based Materials in a Circular Economy Context

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Northern Periphery and Arctic

Date of latest update: 2025-09-24

Description

Description (EN):

This preparatory project’s core objective is to establish the groundwork for a larger-scale initiative to promote circular economies in remote, sparsely populated regions within the NPA areas. The project strategy revolves around exploiting the transformative power of 3D printing technology and locally sourced bio-based materials to drive sustainable manufacturing. Creating circular economies in such unique and challenging regions presents formidable obstacles, predominantly from limited access to low-volume manufacturing technologies and the scarcity of secondary raw materials, which are pivotal for realizing circularity. However, these rural areas often possess underutilized reserves of bio-based resources, presenting an untapped potential for enhancing self-sufficiency and resilience. Within this context, 3D printing, specifically the material extrusion process, emerges as an exceptionally versatile and dynamic technology, excelling in crafting personalized products tailored to niche markets and low-volume plastic production. A pivotal aspect of 3D printing is its capacity to fabricate replacement parts, thereby extending the operational lifespan of products and cultivating a culture of repair and longevity. By strategically applying this technology locally, the project aspires to significantly boost the circularity of plastics and other resources in remote areas. This approach effectively mitigates the carbon footprint associated with the traditional linear production model. Moreover, creating new products from recycled or upcycled plastics, combined with bio-based materials such as fibers and fillers, opens up exciting possibilities for establishing entirely localized value chains. Furthermore, the project envisions establishing local closed-loop systems, where end-of-life 3D-printed products are systematically collected and recycled into fresh, functional prints representing circularity. Within the context of the bio-based industry, agriculture and forestry, side streams - often considered waste - can serve as valuable sources of replacement materials, replacing traditional synthetic or high-energy-embedding materials across a spectrum of applications. This innovative and sustainable approach strongly aligns with the core principles of sustainability, resource efficiency, and the circular economy. The preparatory project’s primary focus is on two critical aspects: firstly, the comprehensive assessment of locally available secondary bio-based raw materials in two specific regions, namely South-West in Ireland and Centria Ostrobothnia in Finland. Secondly, the project aims to scrutinize the quality and compatibility of these materials concerning their applicability in the 3D printing process, with a specific emphasis on the material extrusion method. Ultimately, the predominant goal is to lay down the foundational framework for the subsequent development of a main project that integrates 3D printing with locally sourced bio-based materials, creating the potential for a robust circular value chain across NPA countries. To actualize these objectives, the project will proactively identify and establish collaborative partnerships with stakeholders across the entire supply chain. These partnerships will encompass bio-based material providers and processors, 3D printing infrastructure owners, higher education institutes, and business support organizations. The aimed comprehensive main project will contain participants from at least three NPA countries. Recognizing that the value chains being created are inherently local, the project strategically leverages a transnational development team. This approach creates a diverse and expansive pool of resources, expertise, best practices, and cutting-edge technologies that collectively enhance the quality and impact of innovations within the local context.

Actual Achievements (EN):

The overall objective of this preparatory project was to lay a strong foundation for a main project aimed at building sustainable circular economies in remote and sparsely populated NPA regions. The project sought to refine the main project objectives, engage key stakeholders, and evaluate the feasibility of conducting 3D printing trials using locally available bio-based materials. The project successfully identified and established collaborative partnerships with stakeholders for both the preparatory phase and the main proposal. During the preparatory project, underutilized natural fibers such as wool industry rejects, seaweed, and tree bark from the bio-based industry were identified within the region. MTU collaborated with Allihies Seafood Ltd and Dooley Wool to source samples of seaweed and Irish wool, which were packaged and sent to CENTRIA in Finland for compounding. MTU also engaged with WAZP, a 3D printing company, a potential end-user of the compounded materials, to better understand their filament requirements and assess their ongoing interest in a scale-up project. Centria held discussions with Innomost Oy, a bio-based company specializing in tree bark utilization for producing bio-based chemicals. These discussions facilitated the supply of inner and outer bark samples for feasibility tests planned as part of the BIOPRINT project. For the main project proposal, Centria and MTU collaborated to identify suitable stakeholders across the value chain, from suppliers to end-users. This effort resulted in the formation of a strong consortium comprising six core partners: four research organizations, one NGO, and one SME. To further strengthen the project activities, 13 additional organizations joined the consortium, including 10 businesses, two cooperatives, and one business support organization. Among the three underutilized fibers identified: inner bark, outer bark, and seaweed, each was processed with polylactic acid (PLA) and polypropylene (PP) to produce corresponding bio-composite granules. Granules made from inner bark and PP were selected for 3D printing using the fused granular fabrication method, and tests were conducted to evaluate the properties of the printed samples. Similarly, PLA- and PP-based granules incorporating seaweed, inner bark, and outer bark as fillers were converted into 3D printing filaments, which were then printed to assess the properties of the resulting parts. The findings revealed that composites made from outer bark and PLA demonstrated the best tensile performance among all the tested materials. In contrast, seaweed and inner bark require further investigation to enhance the properties of printed products. While seaweed-based filaments passed the handling tests, they exhibited brittleness, indicating the need for additional research to fully unlock the potential of seaweed fillers in bio-based composites. During the project, wool was mechanically size-reduced; however, further material modifications are necessary to make it suitable for producing composite granules. Initial observations highlight the critical role of precise temperature control in improving material properties and ensuring successful outcomes with these biopolymer composite filaments. The results of the feasibility study underscore the need for modifications to the fillers to make them more suitable as raw materials for 3D printing. These findings pave the way for refining material formulations and enhancing their performance in additive manufacturing applications. Following extensive stakeholder discussions and an evaluation of the feasibility test results, the objective of the main project was refined and expanded to include concrete 3D printing alongside polymer-based 3D printing. The project also aims to develop additives for polymer composites to address the challenges identified in the pre-study. Additionally, agricultural waste and byproducts from bio-based industries were incorporated as new material sources, broadening the project's scope and sustainability focus. Finally, the collective efforts of the BIOPRINT project partners, along with valuable insights from other project partners and associated partners, led to the development and submission of the main project proposal for funding.

Website: https://net.centria.fi/en/project/bioprint/

Thematic information

Green technologies

Priority: (VI-B_NPaA_2) Strengthening the capacity for climate change adaptation, and resource sufficiency in NPA communities

Priority specific objective: RSO2.6. Promoting the transition to a circular and resource efficient economy

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 072 Use of recycled materials as raw materials compliant with the efficiency criteria

Partners (2)

Lead Partner: Centria-ammattikorkeakoulu Oy

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FI10978053

Department: Research and Development / Chemistry and Bioeconomy Team

Address: Talonpojankatu , 67100 Kokkola, Finland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.centria.fi

Total budget: EUR 59 098.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 38 413.70

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 65.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 20 684.30

Munster Technological University

Name: Munster Technological University

Department: Circular Bioeconomy Cluster/CircBio Research Group at MTU. The Circular Bioeconomy Research Group is a multi-disciplinary team with expertise in bioresources, sustainability, green chemistry, biotechnology, low emission agriculture and biorefining.

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IE 3714786EH

Address: North Campus, Dromtacker , V92 HD4V Tralee, Ireland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.mtu.ie

Total budget: EUR 39 052.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 25 383.80

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 65.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 13 668.20

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Munster Technological University

3D Printing with Bio-based Materials in a Circular Economy Context

Partners and Projects info

Centria University of Applied Sciences

3D Printing with Bio-based Materials in a Circular Economy Context

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): 3D Printing with Bio-based Materials in a Circular Economy Context

Project acronym: BIOPRINT

Project ID: NPA0600153

Project start date: 2023-12-01

Project end date: 2024-11-30

Project status: closed

Relevant linked projects:

ECOLABNET- RDI Network for Sustainable Value Chain of Developing and Manufacturing Industrial Products, lnterreg BSR. (EN) | The implementation of the preparatory project will make use of the existing knowledge base on 3D printing using locally sourced bio-based materials, such as wood. (EN), VENEPRINT - Additive manufacturing in the boat industry-ERDF (EN) | The latest developments in the field of additive manufacturing of bio-based polymer composites will be used to implement the project. (EN), SMART WPC-Development of Multi-functional Hi-tech Cellulose Based Composites for Smart Products -Interreg IV Nord (EN) | The implementation of the project will utilize the knowledge gained on the production of bio-composite materials (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 98 150.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 63 797.50

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 65.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 63 797.50. Co-financing rate, 65.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

A review on current state of circular economy practices on 3D printing using bio-based materials
Stakeholder engagement strategy and communication plan
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for supply chain collaboration
Feasibility test report on bio-based materials and 3D printing
Project findings and refinement of objectives
Main project proposal

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Northern Periphery and Arctic

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-09-24

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

65 / 65 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

310 / 310 (100%)

Notes on the data

Languages

Contact Form

3D Printing with Bio-based Materials in a Circular Economy Context

Description

Thematic information

Partners (2)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Disclaimer