The FLOWER (Flax composites, LOW weight, End of life and Recycling) project successfully developed new natural fibre composites that are cost-effective, environmentally friendly, lightweight, and viable alternatives to glass fibre composites for the automotive, marine, and point-of-sales advertising sectors.
Three prototypes have been developed for key applications in the marine, automotive, and advertising sectors. These prototypes are close to market readiness, showcasing the practical applications of flax-fibre composites, and include:
- A flying boat (hydrofoil)
- Automotive roof panels
- Point-of-sales advertising display boards made with the newly developed flax composite material technologies
The products were designed with a full life cycle approach to ensure the new materials are either biodegradable or recyclable at the end of their life.
The FLOWER research project has set a new standard for innovation and sustainability in the composites industry by demonstrating the immense potential of natural-fibre composites.
The project's success was recognized with the prestigious , a testament to its impact in the composites sector.
Funding
The five-year FLOWER project began in January 2018 and concluded in June 2023, with an extension due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
FLOWER was co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) within the framework of the INTERREG France (Manche) England cross-border cooperation program. FLOWER had a total budget of €4,717,674.56 (including €3,179,427.16 European Union (ERDF – Interreg FCE) co-financing).
Aims
The products developed as part of the FLOWER project aimed to:
- Reduce environmental impact due to the lightweight nature of the biodegradable and/or recyclable composites, which will be manufactured locally
- Fully replace glass fibre composites in ships and automotive parts
- Promote the adoption of suitable bio-composite products in industry
The project also addressed industrial demand by developing two types of semi-finished products:
- Non-woven reinforcements with a low grammage (50 gsm compared to the current 200 gsm) or with recyclable polymers.
- Long fibre reinforcements for structural applications.
Biodegradable and bio-based thermoplastics were explored to ensure end-of-life sustainability.
Our project partners
The FLOWER consortium consists of eight partners, including four academic institutions
And four industrial partners
- Teillage Vandecandelaère (part of the )
The project was also supported by several UK organizations, including Hethel Innovation, Natural Materials Association (a subgroup of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining), Bio-based and Biodegradable Industries Association, Eco-Composites Ltd, and the From Plants to Products Network.
Principal investigator
Media ready expert
Professor Hom Dhakal
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