BioColEol
A greener Europe
This project is funded by Interreg Vlaanderen-Nederland and is co-financed by the Province of Limburg and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy.
Objectives
BioColEol aims to develop and apply bio-based colorants and polymers.
The main goals are:
- Development of Bio-based Colorants: The project focuses on colorants such as curcumine, pelargonidin, purpurine, and alizarine, which are environmentally friendly and stable.
- Improving Color Stability: By applying industrial methods and integrating the colorants into bio-based matrices.
- End-of-Life Strategies: Evaluating mechanical recycling, decolorization, and biodegradation of bio-based polymers.
- Cytotoxicity and Environmental Impact: Comparing bio-based colorants with synthetic alternatives to ensure their safety and environmental friendliness.
Expected Outcomes
The project aims to stimulate the bio-polymer market, enhance collaboration with SMEs, and achieve synergies in the triple helix (academia, industry, government). Additionally, new circular strategies for bio-based products will be developed.
Artikel
- 11/02/2026
First newsletter BioColEol project
The very first BioColEol newsletter is a fact!
We are proud to share an overview of the project’s initial steps, insights, and ambitions. BioColEol brings together partners from different domains around one clear mission: developing sustainable, bio‑based colorants that are both ecologically and economically attractive, and exploring their use in various types of plastics as well as the recycling of these colored plastics.
In this first edition, you will discover how the project was structured, which technical challenges we are addressing, and which early results are already taking shape. We also introduce the research teams and industrial partners involved, each contributing their expertise to help achieve the project’s objectives. In addition, we highlight how BioColEol supports a circular future, with renewable raw materials and smart processing technologies at its core.
We look forward to informing, inspiring, and engaging you through this newsletter on a regular basis. So be sure to dive into this first edition and explore how the BioColEol project is taking form. Enjoy reading, and welcome as we move forward together toward innovation, sustainability, and collaboration!
Artikel
- 29/01/2026
UGent presents an innovative installation in Kortrijk to recycle plastic films in a high‑quality way.
🚀 Breakthrough in Plastic Recycling in Kortrijk!UGent Campus Kortrijk recently unveiled the Clarify pilot installation, a system that enables the removal of inks from complex plastic films, producing high‑quality, food‑safe recyclate. This is the first process worldwide capable of doing this for all types of film. With four years of development and an investment of 1.6 million euros, Clarify represents an important step toward achieving European recycling targets, and the installation could eventually process up to 20,000 tonnes of plastic per year. (LinkedIn)
🔗 Link with the Interreg Flanders–Netherlands BioColEol ProjectProf. Steven De Meester and his research group, who developed this technology, are also partners in the BioColEol project. Their expertise in de‑inking and purification directly feeds into this project, where similar technology will be used to remove biobased colorants from biobased materials.
🌱Â A strong boost for circular innovation, both in Kortrijk and within BioColEol.
More information can be found in the video on the BioColEol project page and on the Focus WTV website.