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Horizon Europe Cluster 6 — Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources & Environment

Horizon Biotech for Complex Plastic Recycling

Funds two €5M projects to use biotechnology to recycle complex plastics into high-value products at pilot scale across industrial value chains.

ScheduledEuropean CommissionEU

Complex plastics are hard to sort and recycle because several materials, layers or components are combined in one product. That leaves useful material in waste streams and makes it difficult to return plastics to high-value uses. This topic funds two projects that use biotechnology to tackle that problem.

Projects can develop new recycling routes for multi-material, multi-layer and composite plas

Developing and demonstrating novel biotechnology for recycling complex plastics such as multi-material, multi-layer and composite products from packaging, construction, renewable-energy infrastructure and transport. Projects should improve waste characterisation, sorting and pre-processing, use microbes or enzymes where relevant, assess regulatory risks and Safe and Sustainable by Design, demonstrate the whole value chain at pilot scale, and measure lifecycle, economic, environmental and social results. Activities should reach TRL 4-5 by the end.

CycleiHow often this grant runs — e.g. annually, on a rolling basis, or a one-off call.Annual
Next deadlineiThe next date applications are due. Rolling means you can apply any time.22 Sept 2027
Decision timeiTypical time from the deadline to the funder's decision.22 weeks
Project durationiHow long the funded work is expected to run.
Award typeiThe form of funding — grant, equity, loan, tax credit, etc.Grant
Match fundingiThe share of project costs you must cover yourself. 0% = fully funded.0%
Funding pooliThe total budget available across all awards in this round.€10M

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Last verified: 25 Aug 2026Funder reference: HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-03Source: ec.europa.eu