About FOREST

FOREST is a project with a consortium that will develop innovative bio-based polymers & additives and recycled carbon fibres that will facilitate to the decarbonisation of the transport sector for the next three and half years.

The FOREST project started in December 2022 and will last until May 2026. The consortium aims to provide new and innovative green composites for sustainable and safe transport applications. The aim is fully aligned with EU 2030 Climate and Energy challenges.

Advanced lightweight materials FOr eneRgy Efficient StrucTures.

Concept

FOREST will develop novel lightweight multifunctional biocomposites as a competitive alternative to conventional composites. ​

​New chemistries will be developed based on bio-based materials (reactive and nonreactive polymeric systems and fire-retardant additives) in combination with fully recycled carbon fibre and EMI particles. ​

These biocomposite candidates will be obtained using one-shot manufacturing techniques, involving Out-of-Autoclave (OoA) processes to build and test prototypes (TRL5) with improved multifunctional properties (mechanical resistance, fire-retardant, EMI-shielding) for transport application. ​

FOREST will increase the focus area on the sustainability in Circular Economy (CE) by effective circularity solutions applied to multifunctional biocomposite constituents with >50% sustainable materials contained in lightweight products.

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Bio-based
& recycled
materials
OoA processes
Weight
reduction
FR & EMI
shielding
properties
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Sustainability

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Due to the increasing demand for carbon fiber in the transportation sector, innovative solutions are being sought to improve recycling rates and develop more environmentally friendly products.

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Lightening

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The demand for lightweight materials in the transportation sector creates opportunities for the European composite market. Fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs) are emerging as a promising material for reducing vehicle weight, which in turn reduces emissions from internal combustion engines (ICEs) and improves the efficiency of electric vehicles (EVs) and fuel cell vehicles.

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Safety

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Sustainable materials must guarantee component stability and safety to be considered viable solutions in the transportation sector. They must meet high standards for mechanical performance (structural functions) and safety features like fire retardancy and electromagnetic wave absorption (non-structural functions).