Wildcards 2022
In 2022 the program granted funding to 11 projects. Below you find a list of these 11 projects. During 2022, the wildcard projects were presented at 2 project meetings. To present their work, the project researchers provided posters, for which you can find links below. The projects have been completed in December 2022. The final project reports can also be found below.
Engaging in sustainable bioeconomies: The role of data-driven communication
Researchers
Sanne Kruikemeier, Rens Vliegenthart, Sophie Boerman, Annelien van Remoortere, Paulien Harmsen
Key message
In this project, we investigate how different targeted messages can be effective in influencing citizens’ intention to engage in and attitudes toward sustainable clothing consumption. Based on two studies, this project provides key insights for both scientists and policymakers/activists on how to design an effective information campaign.
Output
Project poster 1 | Project poster 2 | Executive report
Building WUR-WU Database on new biobased materials to facilitate LCA analysis
Researchers
Marieke Brouwer, Lesly Garcia-Chavez, Ellen Slegers, Iris Vural-Gursel
Key message
In this project we establish a common, structured approach on how data should be collected, upscaled and reported for new biobased processes and biobased materials to be used in (prospective) LCA studies. We apply this approach to viscose production (for textile applications) and isolation material from miscanthus as a first step to build a life cycle inventory database on novel biobased materials.
Output
Project poster 1 | Project poster 2 | Executive report
Pineapple leaves for high quality fibre and other biobased applications
Researchers
Huib Hengsdijk, Wolter Elbersen, Martien van den Oever, Francisco Alpizar Rodriguez, Silvia Fernandez Gonzalez, Luis Saldivia Gonzatti
Key message
This project explores the use of pineapple crop residues for fibers and other bio-based valorisation options. Based on the understanding of current agronomic, technical, economic, social-institutional and governance bottlenecks involved in the pineapple residue transitions solutions are identified to deal with these bottlenecks.
Output
Project poster 1 | Project poster 2 | Executive report
Never waste a good crisis
Researchers
Geerten Hengeveld, George van Voorn, Hubert Fonteijn, Luisa Trindade, Esther Koopmanschap, Paulien Harmsen, Jeroen Sluijsmans, Sinéad O’Keeffe, Els Weinans, Natalie Davis
Key message
With most technological solutions available, transformation towards a biobased (textile) economy will require major changes in existing – and often conservative - behavioural patterns. Can modelling provide insight into how externally induced crises can open up windows of opportunity for such behavioural changes to establish and consolidate?
Output
Project poster 1 | Project poster 2 | Executive report
Seaweed for renewable building materials
Researchers
Reinier Nauta, Maarten Kootstra, Harry Bitter, Tijs Ketelaar, Ben van den Broek, Martien van den Oever
Key message
In this research we want to identify potential streams of seaweed that can be utilized for building material with a assessment on the environmental impact.
Output
Project poster 1 | Project poster 2 | Executive report
A methodology to test strategies to increase consumer’s willingness to wear alternative textiles
Researchers
René A. de Wijk, Siet Sijtsema, Betina Piqueras Fiszman
Key message
The newly developed methodology of this study demonstrates the contributions of store and material information on experiences during touching of textile. The type of clothing store and way material information is provide may play a critical role in the acceptance by consumers of more sustainable textile materials.
Output
Project poster 1 | Project poster 2 | Executive report
Microalgae as SLA 3D printing material
Researchers
Vittorio Saggiomo, Maria Barbosa, Joshua Dijksman
Key message
We developed the first (and only so far), microalgae-based 3D printing material for SLA printers. This material can help with: Dematerialization: it is one of the main points of using 3D printing Biomass: the production of this material (microalgae) uses less water and land compared to plant-based materials -CO2 capturing: microalgae can be fine-tuned to capture an even higher amount of CO2 from the environment
Output
Project poster 1 | Project poster 2 | Executive report
The forecast of bio-feedstock availability for material transition: modeling with time-series and machine learning
Researchers
Daoud Urdu, Xuezhen Guo, Marcel Kornelis
Key message
Combining different statistical methodologies, such as time-series analysis and machine learning provides a robust modeling tool to predict bio-feedstock availability while considering forecast accuracy and efficiency.
Output
Project poster 1 | Project poster 2 | Executive report
Dyes and additives for fossil-free textile chains: linking fibre production, protected cultivation of high-value products and processing
Researchers
Anja Dieleman, Luisa Trindade, Marieke Bruins, Paulien Harmsen, Mark van Hoogdalem
Key message
In this project, we aim to select a number of interesting crops that could be used as dyes for textiles. Other prerequisites is that these high-value crops can be cultivated in protected cultivation, that concentrations of secondary metabolites can be controlled in a sustainable way to obtain components that may be used as dyes, and that the waste streams of this process can also be valorized.
Output
Project poster 1 | Project poster 2 | Executive report
Phasing out carbon-based materials in the Fashion industry
Researchers
Anita Hardon, Josephine van Zeben, Phil Macnaghten, Marloes Moed, Egbert Dommerholt, Paulien Harmsen, Radha Jethu-Ramkrishan-Ramsoedh, Dieuwertje de Wagenaar
Key message
In this project, we seek to learn from innovative efforts to phase out and recycle carbon-based – synthetic - materials in the fashion industry, including initiatives to promote the uptake of alternatives and the growth of niche grassroots initiatives.
Output
Project poster 1 | Executive report
Natural Nanoemulsions for Waterproofing and Softening Mycelium Textiles
Researchers
Renko de Vries, Costas Nikiforidis, Ben van den Broek, Iris Houthof, Emma Luijtjens
Key message
To make biomass sources such as mycelium more flexible and water repellant nano-emulsions coated with water-soluble polysaccharides can have potential.
Output
Project poster 1 | Project poster 2 | Executive report