Bio-based material

A bio-based material is a material intentionally made, either wholly or partially, from substances derived from living (or once-living) <a href="/facts/Organism/j8JkL09u">organisms</a>, such as <a href="/facts/Plant/X5BMDMvS">plants</a>, <a href="/facts/Animal/4b8J33nd">animals</a>, <a href="/facts/Enzyme/DSI1Fh7y">enzymes</a>, and <a href="/facts/Microorganism/pysJYcE2">microorganisms</a>, including <a href="/facts/Bacteria/wC8xSCsU">bacteria</a>, <a href="/facts/Fungus/BHo5DP59">fungi</a> and <a href="/facts/Yeast/eGD24nfI">yeast</a>.
Due to their main characteristics of being renewable and to their ability to store carbon over their growth, recent years assisted to their upsurge as a valid alternative compared to more traditional materials in view of climate mitigation.
In European context, more specifically, <a href="/facts/European_Union/6GYcR8qM">European Union</a>, which has set 2050 as a target date to reach <a href="/facts/Net_zero_emissions/RQn7yNdI">climate neutrality</a>, is trying to implement, among other measures, the production and utilization of bio-based materials in many diverse sectors. Indeed, several European regulations, such as the European Industrial Strategy, the EU Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Initiative and the Circular Action Plan, emphasize bio-materials. These regulations aim to support <a href="/facts/Innovation/aa7hadLw">innovation</a>, investment, and market adoption of bio-materials while enhancing the transition towards a <a href="/facts/Circular_economy/13UFemv7">circular economy</a> where resources are used more efficiently. In this regard, the application of bio-based materials has been already tested on several market segments, ranging from the production of <a href="/facts/Chemical_substance/EWcXU41d">chemicals</a>, to <a href="/facts/Packaging/QGRXJLjq">packaging</a> and <a href="/facts/Textile/PJrVeM5S">textiles</a>, till the fabrication of full construction components.
Bio-based materials can differ depending on the origin of the <a href="/facts/Biomass/4VHjaya3">biomass</a> they're mostly constituted. Moreover, they can be differently manufactured, resulting in either simple or more complex engineered bio-products, which can be used for many applications. Among processed materials, it is possible to distinguish between bio-based <a href="/facts/Polymer/eF32E50K">polymers</a>, bio-based <a href="/facts/Plastic/Kla5QItn">plastics</a>, bio-based chemical <a href="/facts/Fiber/ttkxAFBu">fibres</a>, bio-based <a href="/facts/Leather/kvQtwHPH">leather</a>, bio-based <a href="/facts/Natural_rubber/CbsjJxhY">rubber</a>, bio-based <a href="/facts/Coating/fGt3R3VC">coatings</a>, bio-based material <a href="/facts/Additive_synthesis/N8bbwbEg">additives</a>, bio-based composites. Unprocessed materials, instead, may be called <a href="/facts/Biotic_material/nFGSbRRy">biotic material</a>.

Bio-based material open-in-new

Bio-based material