Glaukos · Project

Biodegradable Textiles That Stop Microplastic Pollution from Clothing and Fishing Gear

environmentTestedTRL 5

Every time you wash a synthetic jacket or a fishing net drags through the ocean, tiny plastic particles break off and end up polluting the water. Glaukos redesigned the materials that clothing and fishing gear are made from so they actually break down safely instead of lingering for centuries. They created fibres and coatings from bio-based ingredients with a built-in "self-destruct" trigger — so when the product reaches end of life, it biodegrades or can be bio-recycled. Think of it as making textiles that know when to disappear, instead of turning into permanent ocean litter.

By the numbers

consortium partners across the value chain

countries represented in the consortium

SMEs involved in development and testing

57%

industry partner ratio in the consortium

EUR 4,185,880

EU contribution to the project

physical prototypes delivered (clothing + fishing gear)

The business problem

What needed solving

The textile industry faces a mounting crisis: synthetic clothing sheds microplastics with every wash, and abandoned fishing gear accounts for a major share of ocean plastic pollution. Regulations like Extended Producer Responsibility are tightening, consumers are demanding sustainable alternatives, and companies that don't adapt risk both fines and lost market share. The core challenge is finding materials that biodegrade safely without sacrificing the durability and performance that textile products require.

The solution

What was built

The project delivered a clothing prototype and a fishing gear prototype made from biodegradable, bio-based textile fibres and coatings. It also scaled up production of the core polymer building block from bio-based feedstocks at pilot plant level, and developed new Life Cycle Assessment methods and biodegradability testing standards for marine environments.

Audience

Who needs this

Clothing brands looking for certified sustainable fabric alternativesFishing gear manufacturers facing EPR regulations on marine litterBio-based polymer companies seeking textile industry applicationsTextile coating suppliers wanting biodegradable product linesSustainability consultants advising fashion or marine industries

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Textile & Apparel Manufacturing

any

Target: Clothing brands and textile manufacturers producing synthetic garments

If you are a clothing manufacturer dealing with growing regulatory pressure on microplastic emissions and consumer demand for sustainable fabrics — this project developed biodegradable textile fibres and coatings with a clothing prototype already built. The bio-based materials match technical performance requirements while offering a clear sustainability advantage. With 7 SME partners already in the consortium, the supply chain integration path has been mapped.

Fishing & Marine Equipment

mid-size

Target: Fishing gear manufacturers and commercial fishing companies

If you are a fishing gear producer facing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations on fishing gear litter — this project developed a fishing gear prototype using triggerable biodegradable polymers designed specifically for marine environments. The materials were tested for biodegradability and ecotoxicity in seawater. With 14 partners across 9 countries involved, the solution was validated across multiple European markets.

Polymer & Chemical Manufacturing

mid-size

Target: Bio-based polymer producers and chemical companies supplying the textile industry

If you are a polymer producer looking to enter the sustainable textiles market — this project scaled up a new way of producing the main polymer building block from bio-based feedstocks, shortening the supply chain significantly. The fermentation and bio-recycling processes were developed at pilot plant scale at Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant. This gives you a production pathway for biodegradable polymer materials with proven textile applications.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to switch to these biodegradable textile materials?

The project does not publish specific per-unit material costs. However, the EUR 4,185,880 EU-funded project focused on scaling up bio-based polymer production and shortening supply chains, which typically aims to bring costs closer to conventional alternatives. Contact the coordinator for pricing data from the pilot plant trials.

Can these materials be produced at industrial scale?

The project scaled up polymer building block production from bio-based feedstocks at Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant, a dedicated industrial pilot facility in Belgium. With 8 industry partners and 7 SMEs in the consortium, the path from lab to production was a core focus. However, full commercial-scale production would still require further investment beyond the project.

What is the IP situation — can I license this technology?

As an EU-funded RIA project, IP is typically owned by the consortium partners who generated it. Licensing arrangements would need to be negotiated with the relevant partners. Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant coordinated the project and would be the first point of contact for licensing discussions.

Do these biodegradable textiles actually perform as well as conventional ones?

The project explicitly set out to match technical performance to end-user requirements, running engagement labs with clothing and fishing gear industry users. Both a clothing prototype and a fishing gear prototype were produced as deliverables, demonstrating that the materials meet real-world functional standards.

How does this help with upcoming EU regulations on microplastics?

The project directly addresses the EU push to reduce textile-based microplastic pollution. It developed new Life Cycle Assessment methods for measuring the plastic footprint of textile value chains, plus standardized tests for biodegradability and ecotoxicity of microplastics in marine environments. This gives companies both the materials and the measurement tools to demonstrate regulatory compliance.

What is the timeline to get this into my production line?

The project ran from 2020 to 2024 and is now closed, meaning the core R&D is complete and prototypes exist. Based on available project data, integrating these materials into an existing production line would require a technology transfer or licensing agreement, followed by adaptation to your specific manufacturing setup. The pilot plant infrastructure at Bio Base Europe is already in place.

Consortium

Who built it

The Glaukos consortium is heavily industry-oriented, with 8 out of 14 partners coming from industry and 7 being SMEs — that 57% industry ratio signals this was built for real-world application, not just academic publishing. The coordinator, Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant in Belgium, is itself an SME-classified organization specializing in scaling up bio-based processes, which means the project had access to production-grade infrastructure from day one. Spread across 9 countries (Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, and Turkey), the consortium covers major European textile markets. With only 2 universities and 1 research organization, the balance tips decisively toward commercialization over pure science.

BIO BASE EUROPE PILOT PLANT VZWCoordinator · BE
FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM JULICH GMBHparticipant · DE
NOVOZYMES A/Sparticipant · DK
UNIVERSITEIT MAASTRICHTparticipant · NL
FVA SAS DI LOUIS FERRINI & Cparticipant · IT
B4PLASTICSparticipant · BE
Quantis Sarlparticipant · CH
UNIVERSIDAD DE VIGOparticipant · ES

How to reach the team

Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (Belgium) coordinated Glaukos. SciTransfer can facilitate a direct introduction to discuss licensing, technology transfer, or pilot collaboration.

Order a report on this consortium See BIO BASE EUROPE PILOT PLANT VZW profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore how Glaukos biodegradable textile technology fits your product line? SciTransfer connects businesses with EU research teams — we handle the matchmaking so you get straight to the technical conversation.

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