News
Project updates
Keep up with news, events and updates about the EcoPlastiC project.
Development of Antimicrobial Blends of Bacteria Nanocellulose Derived from Plastic Waste and Polyhydroxybutyrate Enhanced with Essential Oils
This study investigates the development of antimicrobial blends of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) derived from plastic waste and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHB), further enhanced with essential oils.
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Seventh EcoPlastiC Steering Meeting
The seventh online EcoPlastiC Steering Meeting (SM) took place on 29 November 2024 where the partners highlighted the latest updates and presented plans for 2025.
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2nd European Society of Applied Biocatalysis (ESAB) Congress
The 2nd European Society of Applied Biocatalysis (ESAB) digital congress was taking place online from 25-27 November 2024, featuring an exceptional program of cutting-edge science, world-class plenary talks and interactive sessions that made it a must-attend for anyone working in biocatalysis, enzyme engineering and related fields.
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Near-Infrared-Induced High-Performance Antimicrobial Active Coating for Medical Textiles Based on Easy-to-Synthesize Natural Catechin with Full End of Life Circularity
The near-infrared (NIR)-induced antimicrobial textile (CTex) exhibits significant antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity.
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Winter School on Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) and Disinfection By-Products (DBPs): Occurrence, Impact and Elimination
The Winter School on Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs) and Disinfection By-Products (DBPs): Occurrence, Impact and Elimination was organized by four European projects: BlueWWater, H2OforAll, MAR2PROTECT and ALERT-PFAS. It was held in the World of Wine (WOW) in Porto (Portugal) from 25-26 November 2024.
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EIC T2M Business Idea Validation Bootcamp
The EIC T2M Business Idea Validation Bootcamp event brought together 16 projects from groups of diverse researchers and innovators, including EIC Pathfinder and EIC Transition beneficiaries, all eager to transition their ideas from the lab to impactful market innovations.
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19th International Symposium on Biopolymers
The 19th International Symposium on Biopolymers – “Towards Safe and Sustainable Biopolymers for our Future” was organised by the Universiti Sains Malaysia at Setia SPICE Convention Centre, Penang Island, Malaysia from 20-23 October 2024. Two keynote lectures and two posters presented results from the EcoPlastiC project.
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14th European Symposium on Biochemical Engineering Sciences
The 14th European Symposium on Biochemical Engineering Sciences (ESBES) was organized at the headquarters of the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR Byen) in Copenhagen, Denmark. Within the Session “Novel upstream and downstream process concepts”, Dr. Patrícia Concórdio-Reis (NOVA) presented results from the EcoPlastiC project.
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3rd Serbian Conference on Materials Application and Technology
The EcoPlastiC project results were presented in an Invited Lecture “Bacterial nanocellulose: From bacteria to breakthrough biomaterials” on the 3rd Serbian Conference on Materials Application and Technology (SCOM)
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Building on a shared mission: EcoPlastiC at the TwInn4MicroUp workshop
The EcoPlastiC project was a key topic of discussion during the recent workshop organised by the TwInn4MicroUp project.
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7th Congress of the Serbian Genetic Society
The 7th Congress of the Serbian Genetic Society was organized at Zlatibor mountain, Serbia from 2-5 October 2024. Within TOPIC 3 – Microbial genetics, 1 invited lecture and 1 poster presented results relevant for the EcoPlastiC project.
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Sixth EcoPlastiC Steering Meeting
The sixth online EcoPlastiC Steering Meeting (SM) took place on 4 October 2024 where five EcoPlastiC partners presented the latest achievements within their Work Packages (WPs) and made further plans for Year 3, the final year of the project.
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TV report: Updates from the EcoPlastiC project
A TV crew from Radio Television Vojvodina (RTV, Serbia) visited our partners at the Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering (IMGGE) and interviewed our colleagues.
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EcoPlastiC at the European Researchers’ Night 2024
The European Researchers' Night is the largest science outreach public event that celebrates science across Europe every year. In 2024, the event took place in 25 countries, counting more than 1.5 million visitors and our partners from Portugal (NOVA) and Serbia (IMGGE) took part.
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EcoPlastiC at the TwInn4MicroUp Kick-off meeting
The Kick-off meeting of the TwInn4MicroUp - Twinning Innovation Hub for Microbial Platforms in Plastic Upcycling was organized from 12-13 September 2024 in Athens, Greece.
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Double layer bacterial nanocellulose - poly(hydroxyoctanoate) film activated by prodigiosin as sustainable, transparent, UV-blocking material
Double-layer active UV-blocking material composed of bacterial nanocellulose as an inner layer and poly(hydroxyoctanoic acid) containing prodigiosin as an active compound was produced by layer-by-layer deposition.
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Unveiling the potential of bacterial isolates from plastic-polluted environments: enhancement of polyhydroxybutyrate biodegradation
This study explored the biodegradation potential of microbial isolates focusing on their ability to utilize biopolymers as sole carbon source.
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EcoPlastiC innovations on the EC Innovation Radar
The Innovation Radar is a European Commission initiative to identify high potential innovations and innovators in EU-funded research and innovation projects. Among great EU-funded innovations to be discovered, five EcoPlastiC innovations can be found.
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EcoPlastiC at the 6th Symposium on Biotransformations for Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Industry
The results from the EcoPlastiC project were presented in a lecture Biotransforming waste streams into biomolecules and biomaterials” on the 6th Symposium on Biotransformations for Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Industry that took place in Krakow (Poland), from 17-21 June 2024
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EcoPlastiC at the 66th International Fair of Technics in Serbia
The 66th International Fair of Technics and Technical Achievements took place in Belgrade, from 21-24th May 2024. The team from the Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering (IMGGE) presented their research projects under the slogans “Microorganisms: ready to face great challenges” and “Creative paths of waste” to 19,047 curious visitors of all ages.
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EcoPlastiC General Assembly III
The third EcoPlastiC General Assembly (GA) took place on 17 May 2024 in Belgrade (Serbia). The GA provided an opportunity for all European partners from Ireland (TUS), Belgium (Avecom), Portugal (NOVA), Serbia (IMGGE) and Sweden (KTH)to meet in person, share the latest updates for each Work Package (WP), and discuss the future steps.
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EcoPlastiC presented at the BioICEP Final Event
EU-funded Horizon 2020 BioICEP project (Bio Innovation of a Circular Economy for Plastics) organized a ceremonial event marking the completion of the project.
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Fifth EcoPlastiC Steering Meeting
The fifth online EcoPlastiC Steering Meeting (SM) took place on 12 April 2024 where partners presented the latest results within their respective Work Packages and discussed further actions, especially on potential commercialisation opportunities.
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EcoPlastiC at the 13th Congress Of Microbiologists Of Serbia
The 13th CONGRESS OF MICROBIOLOGISTS OF SERBIA - MIKROMED REGIO 5: “From Biotechnology to Human and Planetary Health” was organised by the Serbian Society for Microbiology in Belgrade (Serbia).
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EcoPlastiC at the EFB “Plastics: Challenges and Biotechnological Solutions”
The European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB) and the Asian Federation of Biotechnology (AFOB) organized an online conference on “Plastics: Challenges and Biotechnological Solutions” to explore the range of new bio-based materials that are becoming available.
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EcoPlastiC at the 3Bs Materials 2024 Conference
Keynote lecture “Microbial polymers: novel biomaterials with improved properties” by Filomena Freitas and Maria A. M. Reis was presented at the 3Bs Materials 2024 Biomaterials, Biodegradables and Biomimetics International Conference.
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Targeting Bacterial Nanocellulose Properties through Tailored Downstream Techniques
This study focuses on the strain Komagataeibacter medellinensis ID13488, a strain with the ability to produce high yields of Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) under acidic growth conditions and a promising candidate to use for industrial production of BNC.
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Biotechnological model for ubiquitous mixed petroleum- and bio-based plastics degradation and upcycling into bacterial nanocellulose
In this study, a model system for the sustainable management of mixed (petro-bio)plastic waste is presented, demonstrating a biotechnological route through synergy-promoted enzymatic degradation of PET–representing petrochemical polyester plastic–mixed with thermoplastic starch (TPS)–as a model bioplastic.
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European Researchers’ Night ‘Researchers at Schools’ continues in 2024
As part of the ERN initiative ‘Researchers at schools’ funded by the European Commission, the IMGGE team members visited several schools across Serbia to present the EcoPlastiC project in a talk: “Can microbes mend the landfills’ plastic blend?”
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EcoPlastiC at the TUS Research Week 2024
At the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) in Athlone Campus, Ireland, the TUS Research Week took place from 12-16 February 2024. The conference was conducted in a hybrid format, combining both in-person and virtual attendance modes.
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Fourth EcoPlastiC Steering Meeting
The fourth online EcoPlastiC Steering Meeting (SM) took place on 26 January 2024 where partners presented the latest updates within their respective Work Package and communicated plans for the future.
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Boosting bacterial nanocellulose production from chemically recycled post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate
In this study, the possibility to modify the expensive Hestrin–Schramm medium for bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) production was evaluated from laboratory scale to fermentation at pilot scale.
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Exploring Microorganisms from Plastic-Polluted Sites: Unveiling Plastic Degradation and PHA Production Potential
A publication examining the plastic degradation potential of microorganisms isolated from sites with prolonged plastic pollution was published.
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EcoPlastiC at MIKROBIOKOSMOS 2023
A plenery lecture and two poster presentations discussed the EcoPlastiC project at the 10th International Conference “MIKROBIOKOSMOS” – All microbes for a sustainable future.
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EcoPlastiC Year 1 Review Meeting
The EcoPlastiC Year 1 Review Meeting with the Project Officer Ester Iacovelli took place on 23 November 2023 online. All scientific experts and the Project Officer were pleased with the progress of the project, the consortium communication and are looking forward to future results.
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EcoPlastiC presented at the Avecom webinar
Our partners from Avecom organized a free online webinar Unveiling the Role of Biodegradation in a Circular Economy. The EcoPlastiC project was presented by one of our Project Ambassador, Helena Koninckx.
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EcoPlastiC at “Green chemistry for a circular economy and a sustainable future”
EcoPlastiC was presented by Dr Jasmina Nikodinovic-Runic in a talk “Bioplastic from plastic waste – using green conversion” at the “Green chemistry for a circular economy and a sustainable future” event organized by the Center for Cleaner Production of Serbia.
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EcoPlastiC and Microplastics – what does the future hold?
The European Commission took a large step towards assuring a greener future and adopted measures that restrict MPs that are intentionally added to products, which was done under the EU chemical legislation REACH. This was an important topic for the media, and our partners from IMGGE in Serbia were invited to give their expert opinions and outlooks on these restrictions.
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EcoPlastiC at CoMBoS2 congress
Two lectures presented the EcoPlastiC project on the 2nd Congress of Molecular Biologist of Serbia (CoMBoS2) that took place in Belgrade (Serbia) on October 6-8, 2023.
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EcoPlastiC at the European Researchers Night 2023
The European Researchers' Night is a Europe-wide public event, which displays the diversity of science and its impact on citizens' daily lives in fun and inspiring ways. In 2023, the event took place in 26 countries counting more than 1.5 million visitors and our partners from Portugal (NOVA) and Serbia (IMGGE) took part.
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Second Online General Assembly
The second EcoPlastiC General Assembly (GA) took place on 20 September 2023 online. The GA was an opportunity to present the latest updates within each Work Package (WP) and give an overview of the future experimental plans. The Project Officer Ester Lacovelli also attended the meeting and expressed positive feedback on the presented results.
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Third EcoPlastiC Steering Meeting
The third online EcoPlastiC Steering Meeting (SM) took place on 28 July 2023 where partners presented the latest updates within their respective Work Package and communicated plans for the future.
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EcoPlastiC at FEMS2023 congress
EcoPlastiC project members presented at the 10th Congress of European Microbiologists “FEMS2023”.
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Triangular Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis: Investigating Potential Application in Materials and Biosensing
EcoPlastic project has been acknowledged in the published scientific paper Triangular Silver Nanoparticles Synthesis: Investigating Potential Application in Materials and Biosensing
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EcoPlastiC at the ENVIROCHEM2023 symposium
9th Symposium Chemistry and Environmental Protection “ENVIROCHEM2023”, a national conference with international participation, was organized by the Environmental Chemistry Section of the Serbian Chemical Society in Kladovo (Serbia).
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Second EcoPlastiC Steering Meeting
The second online EcoPlastiC Steering Meeting (SM) took place on 26 May 2023 where all partners presented the latest updates within each Work Package and communicated plans for the future.
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IMGGE presents EcoPlastiC at the 65th International Technical Fair in Serbia
More than 13.000 visitors to the 65th International Technical Fair in Belgrade (Serbia) got acquainted with the newest technological achievements including the EcoPlastiC project such as films of bacterial nanocellulose.
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EcoPlastiC presentation at the BioICEP webinar
BioICEP project organized an online webinar Europe Towards a Circular Society: Circular Plastic Challenge and EcoPlastiC project participated with a presentation.
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Together towards plastics circularity: EcoPlastiC & Buddie-Pack
EcoPlastiC is clustered with Buddie-Pack, as both projects contribute towards plastics circularity. While our project is focused on developing new biopolymers from plastic waste that would be infinitely bio-recyclable, Buddie-Pack aims to find profitable and comprehensive solutions for plastic reuse in the food and cosmetic/personal care industries.
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EcoPlastiC at the TUS Research Week 2023
EcoPlastiC project's Ph.D. students excel in TUS Research Week - Diana Garza won best mid-stage research, and Jeovan Araujo won in the art & design poster category.
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Web of Sustainability: Plastics & Websites
With our holistic approach to sustainability, we went further than working on solutions for plastics pollution. Aware of the environmental impact of web technologies, we developed a best-in-class, eco website to promote EcoPlastiC.
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First EcoPlastiC Steering Meeting
The first online EcoPlastiC Steering Meeting (SM) took place on March 31st 2023 where all partners presented the latest updates within each Work Package and communicated plans for the future.
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TV report on the EcoPlastiC project
Our project is already attracting the attention and interest of the media! A TV crew from Radio Television Vojvodina (RTV, Serbia) visited our partners from IMGGE and interviewed our associates to make a television segment on the EcoPlastiC project.
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Highlights of the first EcoPlastiC General Assembly
The first EcoPlastiC General Assembly (GA) took place on 25 January 2023 at AIMPLAS facilities in Valencia (Spain). The GA was an excellent opportunity for all international partners to meet in person and present the latest updates within each Work Package (WP) and do a recap on all priority actions.
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First general assembly at AIMPLAS
We are delighted to confirm details for our EcoPlastiC General Assembly Meeting which is being held on 25th January 2023 at AIMPLAS facilities.
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EcoPlastiC Kick-off Meeting
The kick-off meeting enabled an introduction to all beneficiary partners and established a common understanding of project aims, objectives, and work plans.
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