ECO-Bind project, funded by the Dutch Organisation for Applied Research (TNO), focused on commercialisation of a bio based product, named: ECO-Bind.
Eco-Bind, is a product developed in the TNO by Dr. Amir Tabaković as part of ASAP, EC Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships, project. ECO-Bind is patent protected: EP4495188A1 BIOPOLYMER BITUMEN SUBSTITUTE. ECO-Bind is a bio-polymer, Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate (PHBV), extracted from organic waste (sludge) leachate using a solvent process. Laboratory test results demonstrated that ECO-Bind is a suitable bio-extender (substitute) for bitumen (crude oil) in an asphalt mix.
Phase 1 of the project encompassed development of business plan and carrying out customer needs analysis study. The customer needs analysis focused on Dutch and Irish asphalt industry. The interview results demonstrated industry need for an alternative, sustainable, bitumen (crude oil product) substitute. The phase 1 of the project started March 2024 and ended September 2024.
Phase 2 of the project followed successful completion of Phase 1. Focus of the study was aligning the project with a deep tech venture programme High Tech XL, setting up the start up team, administration for launching the start up High Tech Binders and further development of the ECO-Bind technology, where the performance of a cost‑effective bio‑polymer, used as a bitumen bio‑extender, was assessed at both the binder and full asphalt mixture levels. A patent is pending from this work. Phase 2 of the project started October 2024 and ended June 2025.
Thematic Technology Transfer – Circular Technology, Proof-of-Concept. The work involved an intensive laboratory testing programme where the ECO-Bind performance was evaluated on asphalt binder level. Goal was to increase the ECO-Bind Technology Reediness Level (TRL) from TRL 2 to TRL 4. Project information available here: HighTechBinders – Thematische Technologie Transfer. TTT CT – ECO-Bind project started September 2024 and ended January 2025.
