The SSUCHY-Next project consortium gathered in Saint-Valery-en-Caux, located in Haute-Normandie, for its second official meeting on Tuesday, March 18, and Wednesday, March 19, 2025. The meeting served as a opportunity for partners to assess progress, exchange insights, and discuss the next steps in the ambitious project aimed at advancing bio-based and circular materials.
Visit to the Terre de Lin Cooperative
The first day of the meeting kicked off with a tour of the Terre de Lin Cooperative, providing consortium members with a comprehensive overview of the flax textile processing chain. From seed to fiber, attendees witnessed various stages, including plant breeding, seed production, fiber retting and combing, as well as the valorization of by-products such as (?). This hands-on experience emphasized the role of flax as a principal resource in the SSUCHY-Next project, which focuses on developing sustainable materials for diverse industries.
General Assembly and presentations
Following the visit, the morning session continued with the General Assembly, led by Aart Van Vuure from KU Leuven, the project coordinator. Van Vuure presented an update on completed deliverables and provided a roadmap for upcoming milestones which marked significant progress in the project’s timeline.
Then, the partners gathered to address the project’s risks and challenges. Each Work Package leader took the floor to present the progress within their respective areas and to highlighted achievements and outlining future steps.
WP1 (From Seed to Fabric: Hemp Processing into Hackled and Carded Slivers, Yarns, and Reinforcement Performances) was presented by Pierre Ouagne from ENIT, offering insights into recent updates in fiber processing.
Next, Leila Bonnaud from Materia Nova presented WP2 (Bio-based and Circular Matrices), sharing the latest developments on resins and their role in the project.
The day concluded with a presentation by Aart Van Vuure on WP3 (Material Development for Enhanced Performance and Durability: Characterization and Testing), focusing on the progress made in composite performance.
Continued presentations and discussions on WP progress
The second day of the meeting was dedicated to further presentations from the remaining Work Packages, providing an in-depth look at each area’s contributions to the project.
- WP4 (Wind Turbine Blades) was presented by Philipp Haselbach and his team.
- WP5 (Wood and Hybrids) was covered by Vincent Placet and his partners.
- WP6 (Building Products) was presented by Willem Böttger and colleagues.
The presentations continued with WP7 (Recycling and LCA), led by Willem Böttger, Karel Van Acker, and Mariana Ochodková, focusing on lifecycle analysis and recycling strategies.
The final session of the day was dedicated to WP8 (Dissemination and Communication Actions), presented by Régis Essis from B4C, followed by an update on the Data Management Plan by Alex Prapavesis from KU Leuven.
Ecotechilien facility Tour
To close the meeting, the consortium visited the Ecotechilien facilities and laboratory, where Benjamin Barthod-Malat and his team provided an overview of cutting-edge technology for fiber treatment and valorization. This visit highlighted the importance of technological innovation in advancing the project’s goals of developing sustainable, bio-based materials.
The second SSUCHY-Next consortium meeting proved to be a significant milestone in the project’s journey and also offering valuable opportunities for partners to exchange knowledge, discuss challenges, and plan future actions. With continued collaboration, the project is set to make great strides in creating innovative, circular solutions for industries ranging from construction to renewable energy and recycling.
No comment yet, add your voice below!