BioComposites for Active Meeting Places

Purpose and goal

The overall objective of the sub-project was to develop a new value chain from agricultural by-products to advanced interior design products for future active meeting and workplaces, in order to create opportunities for commercialization of new sustainable and bio-based products as substitutes for products that are currently made of fossil-based materials. The project has reached its goal and led to prototypes for compression molded bio-based products from oat husks, which can be the first step in commercializing the products.

Expected results and effects

The project has provided a concrete new area of use for oat husks and other cereal by-products. Technical advances in the sub-project have also led to a general increase in knowledge about the production of biocomposites that can be used for compression molding. Collaboration along the value chain for sustainably produced interior products that can be used in public environments has further strengthened the position that Swedish companies have when it comes to interior design products.

Planned approach and implementation

The organization of the project into four work packages (Raw material, Process, Product and prototype, Value chain) made it possible to clearly divide responsibility between the parties and still create a dynamic in the joint development of materials, process, design and products that could meet the user requirements. It was a good idea to focus on applications early to sort out the most important technical requirements and at the same time be able to compare estimated costs for the new product.