The SOLRESS project began in September and aims to develop an integrated biorefinery system to produce five key industrial solvents (ethyl acetate, ethyl lactate, butyl acetate, 2-MeTHF and GVL) from bio-waste, including post-consumer coffee grounds and lignocellulosic feedstocks. Designed to meet industrial purity standards, these bio-based solvents will be tested in sectors such as paints and coatings, cosmetics and industrial material processing.

The project aims to:

• replace the use of fossil, non-renewable raw material with circular, bio-based feedstocks for key solvents;
• provide Safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) alternatives to controversial solvents associated with high hazard and toxicity;
• enhance competitiveness and sustainability along the entire value chain.

Through the collaboration of leading industrial, research and innovation actors, SOLRESS will demonstrate how bio-based solvents can strengthen Europe’s industrial resilience, reduce environmental impacts and create new opportunities across the chemical sector.

SOLRESS is funded by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) with a contribution of EUR 7 million for a total budget of EUR 9.1 million. The 48-month project has 17 partners and is coordinated by AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre.