Project cooperationUpdated on 12 June 2025
Releasing the potential of feathers to foster circularity in agriculture (UNLOCK BBI JU)
About
Funded by the Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU), the UNLOCK project involves 14 partners from seven EU countries and aims to create a feather-based bioeconomy. It focuses on producing functional bio-based materials for agricultural applications such as forest/seed trays, nonwoven geotextiles, mulch films, and hydroponic foams. These materials offer environmental benefits like biodegradation, nitrogen enrichment for soils, and zero waste at end-of-life. The project utilizes different processes - mechanical treatment, steam explosion, microbial fermentation - to valorise feathers based on the end products desired. Annually, Europe generates 3.6 million tonnes of poultry waste, which UNLOCK seeks to transform into high-value, sustainable agricultural products.
As part of its replication process, UNLOCK will launch three new feather-based bioeconomy clusters that will be set up using the bottom-up, participatory and synergistic methodology for cluster development in France, Spain and Poland. It will be done via cross-sectorial collaborative workshops, regional roadshows and dissemination events and Thematic Smart Specialisation Partnership to disseminate UNLOCK results at wider, PanEuropean level.
We are inviting innovation actors, such as high-tech enterprises, R&D organizations, clusters, regional agencies, regional governments and/or other relevant actors involved in the development of feather-based economy to join the UNLOCK community and jointly explore and seize feather valorisation business, innovation and cooperation opportunities.
Contact person:
Katarzyna Rull (Kowalska)
UNIMOS Alliance
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Katarzyna Kowalska
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