BIO-BASED CIRCULAR SOLUTIONS

to decarbonise the local economy

The project

The Bio-based Circular Solutions to Decarbonise the Local Economy project is developed by PROMATERIS (Romania) as a Project Promoter and BioBag (Norway) as a Project Partner. The project’s aim is business cooperation between the two companies, which will reflect in their financial performance, but also between Romania and Norway, in order to offer innovative and environmentally friendly products.

The project aims to develop a new division within PROMATERIS company: BIO Compounds. This new division will be specialised in the production of BioMateris, a biodegradable and compostable raw material used in the production of biodegradable and compostable products.

The project and has a value of over EUR 1.65 million. The project is supported by a grant of EUR 744.000 provided by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway through the EEA and Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2014-2021, within the “SMEs Growth Romania” program. This is the second grant received by Promateris within this financing scheme as in 2019 the company was awarded an EUR 950.000 grant for developing bio-based packaging.

We are determined to offer products that have a low carbon footprint compared to traditional plastic packaging and which are plant based, biodegradable and compostable.

Product applications

BioMateris is a raw material with applications in the following areas/products: agriculture (mulching film, compostable clips), packaging (different types of bags, food contact bags, cling film, trays, lids), carrier bags, food service/HoReCa (tableware such as: knives, forks, spoons, straws, lids), bio waste management solutions (bin liners).

Romania is one of the main corn producers in Europe. The integration of local agricultural chains enables manufacturers of bio-based and compostable packaging to reduce their carbon footprint and to create a stronger local circular economy. Promateris encourages sustainable agricultural and waste management practices, such as the composting of bio-waste, which promotes territorial regeneration and soil quality improvements.

The BioMateris pellet is the result of pioneering research with cornstarch and other rapidly biodegradable polymers in order to respect the principles of a local bioeconomy model. The BioMateris pellet will be certified according to the European and international standards. PROMATERIS is the first company in Romania and Central and Eastern Europe to develop such product: high content of renewable raw materials (such as cornstarch), biodegradable and compostable, which is suitable for a wide range of applications.