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SSbD Bio-Based Solutions to Replace Hazardous Conventional Chemicals for Textiles Production

This Horizon Europe Innovation Action (IA) call focuses on advancing Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) bio-based solutions to replace hazardous conventional chemicals used in textile production. The European textile industry is one of the most resource-intensive and polluting sectors, requiring urgent intervention to improve sustainability, circularity, and safety. The call aligns with key EU strategies, including the Bioeconomy Strategy, Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, and the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles.

Key objectives include:
- Development and scaling up of bio-based chemical alternatives to replace hazardous substances in textile manufacturing.
- Compatibility assessment with existing textile production equipment and processes.
- Evaluation of the environmental, human safety, and technical performance of new bio-based chemicals.
- Support for circular economy initiatives, including recycling and remanufacturing solutions.
- Strengthening the European research and innovation landscape to address sustainability challenges in the textile industry.

Expected outcomes include:
- Increased availability of SSbD bio-based chemicals for the textile industry that meet technical and market requirements.
- Reduction in pollution from textile production and its entire lifecycle, including micropollutants and other contaminants.
- Improved socio-economic impacts along the textile value chain.

The call supports projects achieving Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6-7 by the end of implementation. Proposals should actively engage relevant stakeholders, including SMEs, brand owners, research institutes, and industry representatives, ensuring multi-actor collaboration. Additionally, projects are expected to align with previous initiatives from BBI JU/CBE JU and Horizon Europe clusters, particularly the upcoming ‘Textiles for the Future’ partnership.

Opening: 04-04-2025
Deadline(s): 17-09-2025

Expected Outcome

• Availability of SSbD bio-based solutions for the textile industry, meeting technical and market performance requirements.
• Improved sustainability, circularity, and safety of the textile industry.
• Reduction of pollution, including micropollutants and emerging contaminants.
• Better integration of circularity and environmental sustainability in textile value chains.
• Enhanced social and economic benefits along the textile industry’s value chain.
• Increased adoption of bio-based chemicals as substitutes for hazardous substances.
• Strengthened research and innovation capacity in sustainable textiles.
• Greater involvement of brand owners and industry players in sustainability initiatives.
• Acceleration of bio-based chemical adoption in EU textile manufacturing.
• Support for the EU’s climate neutrality and zero pollution objectives.

Scope

• Upscaling SSbD bio-based alternatives to hazardous conventional chemicals used in textile production.
• Ensuring compatibility of innovative bio-based chemicals and processes with textile manufacturing equipment.
• Testing technical performance, safety, and environmental impact of bio-based alternatives in textile production.
• Addressing the environmental footprint of the textile industry and contributing to circularity objectives.
• Engaging key industry stakeholders including SMEs, brand owners, and researchers.
• Applying the Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design (SSbD) framework to project developments.
• Demonstrating bio-based chemicals and processes that contribute to sustainability targets.
• Avoiding overlaps with previous projects and ensuring complementarity with existing research.
• Developing recommendations to enhance the application of the SSbD framework.
• Supporting EU strategies related to sustainability, circularity, and pollution reduction.