Emirates Biotech joins EU-funded CIRCLE consortium to convert food waste into PLA, advancing sustainable materials and supporting industrial-scale biopolymer production.
Emirates Biotech has joined the CIRCLE Consortium, a prominent research and innovation initiative funded by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking under the Horizon Europe Programme of the European Union. The collaboration marks a significant step toward advancing circular economy practices by converting food waste into sustainable bio-based materials.
The CIRCLE project is a four-year initiative backed by €27 million in funding and supported by 17 partners representing different segments of the value chain. These include companies involved in waste management, biotechnology, chemical processing, and consumer goods manufacturing. The primary objective of the project is to develop and demonstrate a first-of-its-kind industrial biorefinery capable of transforming organic food waste into valuable bio-based chemicals. One of the key products targeted through this process is polylactic acid (PLA), a biodegradable polymer increasingly used as an alternative to conventional fossil-based plastics.
Within the consortium, Emirates Biotech will play a critical role in the polymerisation stage of the process. The company will convert lactic acid—derived from food waste through upstream processing—into high-purity PLA. This PLA will then be distributed to other consortium members for testing, performance evaluation, and the development of potential applications. Through this collaboration, the project also aims to produce several grades of PLA tailored for different industries, including automotive manufacturing, cosmetics packaging, and food packaging solutions.
Another key objective of the initiative is to demonstrate that both lactic acid and PLA can be produced directly from food waste within an integrated waste management facility. By integrating waste conversion with chemical production, the project seeks to significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with traditional plastic manufacturing. This model could provide a scalable pathway for turning organic waste streams into valuable materials while minimizing environmental impact.
According to François de Bie, Chief Commercial Officer at Emirates Biotech, the project represents an important milestone in the development of sustainable materials. He noted that proving the ability to manufacture high-performance biopolymers directly from food waste would mark a major advancement for the industry. De Bie also emphasized that demand for environmentally friendly materials continues to grow rapidly in sectors such as automotive and cosmetics. Within the CIRCLE project, Emirates Biotech’s responsibility is to convert polymer-grade lactic acid produced by consortium partners into commercial-grade PLA that can meet industrial performance requirements and integrate seamlessly into existing manufacturing systems.
The consortium includes several well-known partners from across the value chain. The project is coordinated by TripleW and involves participants such as Volkswagen, FrieslandCampina, Davines, Sulzer, and Sulapac. Each partner contributes specialized expertise, ranging from feedstock supply and fermentation technology to polymer processing and end-product development.
The initiative has already achieved a notable milestone. In September 2025, researchers successfully produced the world’s first laboratory-scale PLA made entirely from food waste. With Emirates Biotech now contributing its polymerisation expertise, the project aims to transition this early breakthrough toward industrial-scale production and commercial deployment.
The collaboration also aligns with Emirates Biotech’s long-term growth strategy. The company is preparing to commission an 80-kilotonne-per-year PLA production facility by 2028. By participating in projects such as CIRCLE, the company aims to accelerate innovation and demonstrate that sustainable materials can become a practical and competitive alternative to traditional plastics. Ultimately, the initiative supports the broader vision of making environmentally responsible materials the preferred commercial option rather than a niche or compromise solution.
