Imagine taking leftover wheat straw and tree bark — stuff that normally gets burned or dumped — and cooking it down into the basic ingredients for construction materials. That's what REHAP did: they pulled out natural chemicals like lignin, tannins, and sugars from agricultural and forestry waste, then turned those into wood panel glues, insulation foams, and cement additives. Think of it like making useful building products from nature's leftovers instead of from oil. They even built a small green house demonstrator to prove it all works together in a real building.
By the numbers
80-100%
Reduction in fossil resource utilization
Above 30%
Reduction in energy use and CO2 emissions
EUR 6,743,545
EU funding invested
20
Consortium partners
7
Countries involved
75%
Industry partners in consortium
TRL6-7
Technology readiness level achieved at pilot scale
The business problem
What needed solving
The construction industry depends heavily on fossil-derived materials — petroleum-based adhesives for wood panels, isocyanate-containing foams for insulation, and synthetic additives for cement. These come with volatile pricing, supply chain risks, tightening environmental regulations, and growing carbon footprint liabilities. Meanwhile, millions of tonnes of agricultural and forestry waste (wheat straw, tree bark) go unused or undervalued across Europe.
The solution
What was built
REHAP produced bio-phenolic resins for wooden panels, isocyanate-free polyurethane insulating foams, biosuperplasticizers for cement, bio-based adhesives, and fire retardant additives — all derived from wheat straw and tree bark waste. These were integrated into a bench-scale green house demonstrator built at industrial partner FORESA's facilities, proving the materials work together in a real construction application.
Audience
Who needs this
Wood panel manufacturers (particleboard, MDF) looking to replace formaldehyde-based resinsInsulation foam producers seeking isocyanate-free alternativesCement and concrete admixture companies wanting bio-based superplasticizersGreen building developers needing certified bio-based construction materialsAgricultural and forestry waste processors seeking higher-value outlets for biomass residues
Business applications
Who can put this to work
Construction Materials & Wood Panels
mid-size
Target: Manufacturers of engineered wood products (particleboard, MDF, OSB panels)
If you are a wood panel manufacturer dealing with rising costs and regulatory pressure to replace formaldehyde-based and fossil-derived resins — REHAP developed bio-phenolic resins from forestry bark tannins that can substitute petroleum-based adhesives. The project demonstrated these in wooden boards at pilot scale (TRL6-7), targeting 80-100% reduction in fossil resource use. With 20 consortium partners including 15 industrial players, the supply chain from waste sourcing to product integration has been mapped.
Insulation & Building Envelope
mid-size
Target: Producers of insulation foams and thermal building products
If you are an insulation manufacturer looking to replace isocyanate-based polyurethane foams with safer, bio-based alternatives — REHAP developed isocyanate-free polyurethane insulating foams derived from forestry waste carbohydrates. These materials were integrated into a bench-scale green house demonstrator built at industrial partner FORESA's facilities. The project targets above 30% reduction in energy use and CO2 emissions across the production process.
Cement & Concrete Admixtures
enterprise
Target: Ready-mix concrete producers and cement additive suppliers
If you are a concrete producer or admixture company seeking bio-based alternatives to synthetic superplasticizers — REHAP developed biosuperplasticizers from agricultural wheat straw lignin that improve cement workability. The technology was optimized at pilot scale with a consortium of 20 partners across 7 countries, and the project conducted life cycle and cost assessments to validate commercial viability against fossil-based incumbents.
Frequently asked
Quick answers
What would it cost to adopt these bio-based materials compared to conventional alternatives?+
The project conducted Life Cycle Cost Assessment as part of its systemic evaluation. With EUR 6.7 million in EU funding and 20 partners focused on process optimization, the goal was to make bio-based products cost-competitive at scale. Based on available project data, specific per-unit pricing is not published, but the 80-100% fossil resource replacement suggests significant raw material cost shifts.
Can these bio-based materials be produced at industrial scale?+
REHAP specifically targeted pilot scale optimization at TRL6-7, meaning the processes were demonstrated in an industrially relevant environment. The bench-scale green house demonstrator was built at FORESA's industrial facilities, proving integration of multiple bio-based products in a real construction application. With 15 industrial partners in the consortium, scale-up pathways were a core focus.
How is the intellectual property structured — can I license these technologies?+
With 20 consortium partners across 7 countries including major research organization Tecnalia as coordinator, IP is likely distributed among partners. The project developed business plans and exploitation strategies. Based on available project data, licensing arrangements would need to be negotiated with specific technology holders within the consortium.
Do these bio-based materials meet construction building codes and standards?+
The project included measures for future standardization as part of its work plan. Fire retardant lignin and sugar-based additives were specifically developed to address fire safety requirements. Based on available project data, the demonstrator validated integration into green building applications, but full regulatory certification details would need to be confirmed with the consortium.
How long before these materials could be integrated into our production line?+
The project ran from 2016 to 2021 and achieved TRL6-7 pilot scale validation. As an Innovation Action (not basic research), it was designed for near-market results. Since the project closed in March 2021, some technologies may already be in commercial development by consortium partners. Integration timelines depend on which specific product (resins, foams, cement additives) and your existing production setup.
What feedstock do I need and where do I source it?+
REHAP used two feedstocks: wheat straw (agricultural waste) and tree bark (forestry waste). Both are abundant across Europe and do not compete with the food chain. The project developed isolation and processing technologies for extracting lignin, tannins, and carbohydrates from these waste streams, meaning sourcing connects to existing agricultural and forestry supply chains.
Consortium
Who built it
REHAP's consortium of 20 partners across 7 countries (Belgium, Germany, Spain, Finland, France, Italy, UK) is heavily industry-oriented at 75%, with 15 industrial partners, 3 research organizations, 1 university, and 1 other entity. This is a strong signal for business readiness — it means the technology was developed with manufacturing reality in mind, not just academic curiosity. The coordinator, Tecnalia (Spain), is one of Europe's largest applied research organizations with deep industry connections. Four SMEs participated, suggesting the supply chain includes agile companies that could bring niche products to market faster. The geographic spread covers major European construction markets, and the mix of feedstock suppliers, chemical processors, and end-use manufacturers indicates the full value chain from waste collection to finished building product was represented.
Want to explore licensing bio-based resins, foams, or cement additives from REHAP? SciTransfer can connect you with the right consortium partner for your specific application. Contact us for a tailored introduction.
