Who is driving SSUCHY-Next forward? Between late June and early September 2026, our Work Package Leader campaign introduced the people coordinating the project’s key activities, from hemp fibres and bio-based resins to large-scale demonstrators, sustainability, communication and exploitation.

Through a series of short interviews, the eight Work Package Leaders shared their role, their objectives and the challenges behind their work. Together, their contributions show how the different parts of SSUCHY-Next connect to move bio-based composite solutions from material development and testing towards industrial applications.

Here is a recap of the campaign and the people coordinating these activities.

WP1 – Pierre Ouagne  (UTTOP)

From hemp stems to high-performance reinforcements

Pierre Ouagne, Senior Lecturer at UTTOP, coordinates WP1, dedicated to the production of hemp fibre reinforcements at industrial scale. The work explores different processing routes, from scutched and hackled fibres to lower-cost approaches based on more conventional harvesting and fibre extraction equipment.

One of the main challenges is achieving sufficiently homogeneous fibres and producing high-performance roving-type yarns that can ultimately be used in the project’s demonstrators.

WP2 – Leila Bonnaud (Materia Nova)

Developing high-performance bio-based resin

Leila Bonnaud, Senior Scientist and Project Manager at Materia Nova, leads WP2, which focuses on the development of bio-based, circular and reprocessable resin systems.

The objective is to bring high-performance bio-based resins towards TRL 7 and validate laboratory developments at industrial scale. A key issue highlighted during the campaign is the sourcing of suitable bio-based reagents within Europe.

WP3 – Aart van Vuure (KU Leuven)

Understanding and improving material performance

Alongside his role as SSUCHY-Next coordinator, Professor Aart van Vuure leads WP3, dedicated to material development, characterisation and testing.

The work assesses the suitability of the materials developed in the project for biocomposite applications and seeks to improve properties such as durability, fibre-matrix adhesion and damping performance. Current challenges include processing the new bio-based resins into high-quality composites and achieving the required fibre volume fractions.

WP4 – Philipp Haselbach (DTU Wind and Energy Systems)

Scaling bio-based composites up to a 12.6-metre wind turbine blade

Associate Professor Philipp Haselbach leads WP4, where DTU and its partners are developing, manufacturing and testing a full-scale 12.6 m wind turbine blade using hemp fibre reinforcements and a bio-based Elium® resin system.

This demonstrator will help assess the processability and structural performance of the materials at a scale representative of wind energy applications. An important challenge is obtaining sufficiently detailed material and processing data to support modelling and experimental validation.

WP5 – Vincent Placet (Université Marie et Louis Pasteur – FEMTO-ST)

Towards more sustainable polymer-modified wood composites

Vincent Placet, Deputy Director of the Department of Applied Mechanics at FEMTO-ST, leads work on polymer-modified wood composites within WP5.

His team contributes expertise on plant fibre- and wood-based composites, with particular attention to their hygro-mechanical behaviour. The objective is to improve the performance, circularity and sustainability of these materials so they can offer lower-impact alternatives for construction applications.

The work also requires close coordination between developments taking place across different partners and the successful scale-up of the bio-based polymers used in the hybrid materials.

WP6 – Willem Bottger (NPSP)

Designing bio-based façade panels for buildings

Willem Bottger, Director Innovation at NPSP, leads the activities around the project’s bio-based façade panel demonstrator in WP6.

The work combines hemp fibres and bio-based resin systems to develop façade panels suitable for large-scale construction applications. The team is also developing modelling tools to predict and optimise mechanical properties while reducing material use, cost and environmental impacts.

One current focus is increasing sample-production throughput to generate the data required for the model.

WP7 – Karel Van Acker (KU Leuven)

Putting sustainability and circularity at the heart of material development

Professor Karel Van Acker leads WP7 – End-of-Life, Recycling and Life Cycle Analysis. The work package assesses the environmental impacts and circularity of the solutions developed throughout SSUCHY-Next and provides feedback to the technical teams to guide material and process choices. WP7 is the project work package dedicated to Life Cycle Analysis and recycling.

A major challenge is obtaining reliable data across complete value chains. As highlighted during the campaign, a bio-based material is not automatically more sustainable: its performance needs to be assessed across its full life cycle.

WP8 – Garance Renoncourt (Bioeconomy For Change)

Connecting project results with the people who can use them

Garance Renoncourt, European Projects Officer at Bioeconomy For Change, leads WP8, dedicated to dissemination, communication and exploitation.

The work package aims to make SSUCHY-Next results visible and understandable, engage stakeholders across the value chain and support their future uptake beyond the project. One of its main challenges is translating highly technical research into accessible content while representing the contributions of a diverse European consortium.

The WP Leader campaign itself was developed within these communication activities and ran throughout summer 2026.

One project, complementary expertise

As seen above, each Work Package contributes to a different stage of the project, combining material development, large-scale demonstrators, environmental assessment and exploitation to advance high-performance bio-based composites towards industrial applications.

The campaign also highlighted a common theme across the interviews: the value of bringing together researchers, industrial partners and specialists with very different expertise. This combination allows developments to move across the whole value chain, from raw materials and laboratory research to demonstrators and future market applications.

Missed one of the interviews? Follow SSUCHY-Next on LinkedIn to discover the individual WP Leader posts and learn more about the people behind the project.

From Paris to Oslo and across the Atlantic to Indianapolis, SSUCHY-Next was on the move in 2026. Through exhibitions, scientific conferences and consortium meetings across Europe and internationally, project partners shared their latest developments in high-performance, bio-based composites.

These events brought the project into contact with industrial stakeholders, researchers and the wider bioeconomy community. Visitors discovered demonstrators combining hemp fibres and innovative resin systems for construction and wind energy, while scientific presentations offered insights into material performance, durability and characterisation.

Events

JEC World 2026 – March 10–12, Paris, France

SSUCHY-Next took part in JEC World, a leading international exhibition for composite materials, with a shared booth in the Bio-Materials Village, organised by the Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp.

Participating partners included KU Leuven, Materia Nova, Université Marie et Louis Pasteur, Bitrez, CETIM, EcoTechnilin, Terre de Lin, Linificio e Canapificio Nazionale, UTTOP and Arkema.

The stand showcased developments combining European hemp fibres with innovative bio-based resins. Textile reinforcements, semi-products and demonstrators illustrated the steps connecting material development with structural applications. Visitors discussed manufacturing, material validation and opportunities for deployment in wind energy and construction directly with the consortium.

BIOKET 2026 – March 17–19, Fribourg, Switzerland

Dedicated to key enabling technologies for the bioeconomy, BIOKET provided an opportunity to present SSUCHY-Next’s materials at the Bioeconomy For Change stand.

CETIM supplied recycled composite demonstrators produced using Thermosaïc and ThermoPRIME technologies, illustrating processing and recycling pathways for Arkema’s Elium® resin combined with flax and hemp fibres.

Alongside these samples, EcoTechnilin’s HempTape showcased unidirectional hemp reinforcement designed for scalable manufacturing. Quasi-unidirectional hemp fabrics developed by Linificio e Canapificio Nazionale highlighted textile solutions for structural applications. Together, these exhibits connected reinforcement development with processing and circularity.

CBE JU Stakeholder Forum 2026 – March 24, Brussels, Belgium

The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking Stakeholder Forum brought together bioeconomy stakeholders to exchange on the development and deployment of bio-based solutions in Europe.

SSUCHY-Next contributed to the exhibition with HempTape from EcoTechnilin, quasi-unidirectional fabrics from Linificio e Canapificio Nazionale, a bio-based wind blade prototype from Université Marie et Louis Pasteur, and a Nabasco façade panel from NPSP.

The display connected textile reinforcements with end-use applications, providing a tangible overview of the project’s approach and opportunities to discuss requirements for wind energy and construction materials.

American Coatings Show 2026 – May 5–7, Indianapolis, United States

Bitrez represented SSUCHY-Next at the American Coatings Show, bringing the project to professionals from the coatings and associated materials industries.

Within SSUCHY-Next, Bitrez is developing 100% bio-based resin solutions for high-performance hemp fibre composites, targeting applications including wind energy and construction.

Discussions involving Paul H. Jones addressed collaborative innovation, circularity and material performance. By highlighting its involvement in SSUCHY-Next alongside other European projects, Bitrez illustrated how cooperation between industry and research supports the development of new materials and manufacturing solutions.

24H of Bioeconomy For Change 2026 – July 1–2, Beauvais, France

SSUCHY-Next was showcased at the European Projects stand during the 24H of Bioeconomy For Change, which combined innovation pitches, workshops, B2B meetings and networking.

The display included a highly bio-based façade panel developed by NPSP, integrating hemp fibres, recyclable resins and circular design principles. Visitors also discovered EcoTechnilin’s HempTape®, using fibres from Terre de Lin, and quasi-unidirectional hemp fabrics from Linificio e Canapificio Nazionale.

During an Innovation Pitch, Jean-Jacques Flat presented Arkema’s activities in bio-based materials, including the contribution of its bio-based production platform in Singapore.

Foire de Châlons – August 31, Châlons-en-Champagne, France

SSUCHY-Next participated in the Village de la Bioéconomie during a day dedicated to Europe’s role in accelerating bioeconomy innovation.

Méline Carré from CETIM presented the project’s objectives and ongoing work on mechanical recycling of thermoplastic composites, covering wood-based composites for construction and hemp-based composites for wind turbine blades.

A dedicated project stand and CETIM’s stand enabled visitors to discover materials and demonstrators, discuss potential applications and learn about recycling approaches. This participation brought the project’s work to a broader audience beyond specialised composites events.

Scientific conferences and presentations

Bio-based resins webinar – May 29

Organised by Bioeconomy For Change, the webinar “Bio-based resins: sourcing, production and applications” brought together industrial and research perspectives on renewable alternatives for resin production.

Leila Bonnaud, from Materia Nova’s (BIO)Polymers department, presented an overview of bio-based reactants produced in Europe or available on the European market, prepared within SSUCHY-Next.

Her contribution addressed sourcing opportunities for polyphenols, amine compounds and aldehydes relevant to resin development. The wider programme covered epoxy, benzoxazine and Elium® systems, connecting raw material availability with chemistry and industrial applications.

EURODINAME III – June 8–11, Giens, France

Mohamed Amine Belahcen from Université Marie et Louis Pasteur represented SSUCHY-Next at EURODINAME III, an international conference dedicated to structural dynamics.

His presentation, “Simultaneous Identification of Elastic and Damping Properties in Bio-Based Composites”, explored methods for determining both material stiffness and the ability to dissipate vibration energy. This research supports the characterisation and modelling of bio-based composites for applications where dynamic behaviour matters.

SAMPE Benelux Student Competition and Spring Meeting 2026 – June 8-9, Hoogeveen, Netherlands

Sander Van de Vel from KU Leuven presented SSUCHY-Next research at the SAMPE Benelux Student Competition, held during the Spring Meeting hosted by GKN Fokker Aerospace.

His presentation examined the hygrothermal durability of flax and hemp fibre composites with epoxy and Elium® matrices. The research investigated how moisture affects stiffness and strength, showing that improved adhesion between natural fibres and Elium® enhanced mechanical performance while delaying moisture-induced degradation.

ECCM22 – June 21–25, Oslo, Norway

The 22nd European Conference on Composite Materials provided a forum for two SSUCHY-Next researchers to share findings on composite performance and durability.

Mohamed Amine Belahcen, from Institut FEMTO-ST / Université Marie et Louis Pasteur, presented research on the stiffness–damping trade-off in hemp/Elium® composites for wind turbine applications.

Ivo Liepa, from Delft University of Technology, explored fatigue–creep interaction in hemp fibre composites. These contributions addressed complementary challenges in understanding material responses to vibration, repeated loading and sustained mechanical stress.

The journey continues in 2027

Throughout 2026, SSUCHY-Next partners shared progress on fibres, resins, manufacturing and recycling, connecting research developments with industrial needs across Europe and beyond. This engagement will continue in 2027 through further exhibitions, scientific conferences and opportunities for collaboration. Among these, JEC World, taking place on March 2-4 at Paris Nord Villepinte, will offer an occasion to meet the consortium and discover the project’s latest advances. Together, these events will support continued exchanges on bio-based composites and their applications in wind energy and construction.

Composite materials are all around us, from cars and building panels to boats and sports equipment. Their principle is simple: combining materials with different properties can create a new material that performs better than either component alone.

A fibre-reinforced composite contains two main elements: reinforcing fibres and a polymer matrix. The resin is the material used to surround the fibres and once hardened, forms this matrix. In a biocomposite, at least one component comes from a renewable source. When both the fibres and the matrix are bio-based, we move towards a fully bio-based composite.

What does the matrix actually do ?

Fibres such as hemp, flax, glass or carbon can be extremely strong along their length but on their own they cannot maintain the shape of a panel or vehicle part. The matrix brings them together so that they behave as one material.

Its main functions are to:

• bind the fibres and keep them in the correct position
• transfer loads from one fibre to another
• give the part its final shape and surface
• protect the fibres from impacts, wear and environmental exposure
• slow down the propagation of cracks

The interface between the fibres and the matrix is therefore crucial. If the resin does not properly penetrate and adhere to the fibres, loads cannot be transferred efficiently, reducing the strength and durability of the composite.

Resins generally fall into two families:

• Thermosets (TS), such as conventional epoxies and benzoxazines, form a permanent network when cured. They provide good mechanical, thermal and chemical resistance but are usually difficult to reshape.
• Thermoplastics (TP) can soften when heated, making them potentially easier to reshape or recycle, although they can be more difficult to introduce between the fibres.

One material principle, many applications

 There is no single ideal matrix for every composite. Its properties must be adapted to the conditions in which the final product will be manufactured and used.

For example:

• construction panels need to resist moisture, weathering and fire
• vehicle components must be lightweight, durable and impact-resistant
• boats require good resistance to water and harsh outdoor conditions
• sports equipment must combine low weight, stiffness and resistance to repeated loads
• wind turbine blades must withstand changing weather and millions of loading cycles.

The choice of matrix also determines which manufacturing methods can be used. A low-viscosity liquid resin can flow through a large fibre structure inside a mould, while other matrices are better suited to pressing, injection or flexible products. Research on architectural biocomposites has shown that combining natural fibres with rigid, flexible or thermoset matrices can produce objects ranging from curved façade panels to flooring and furniture elements.

This choice also affects environmental performance and end-of-life options. For example, replacing glass fibres with flax in polypropylene composites could create components that were 6% lighter, with environmental impacts reduced by 10-[1] However, using natural fibres does not automatically make a composite sustainable: the origin of the resin, manufacturing process, durability and recyclability must all be considered.

How is the matrix used in SSUCHY-Next?

SSUCHY-Next applies this same principle by matching hemp reinforcements with both enhanced TP and advanced TS bio-based resin systems designed for different products:

• A bio-based acrylic polymer Elium® (Arkema), processed as a TS liquid -to ease reinforcement impregnation- before becoming a thermoplastic, with a targeted bio-based content of up to 95%. Its fluidity makes it suitable for vacuum infusion and for penetrating wood structures.
• Fully bio-based vitrimeric benzoxazines (Materia Nova and Bitrez), designed as alternative or complement to epoxy TS resins to provide at the same time mechanical performance, thermal stability, charring ability, low moisture uptake and reprocessability to facilitate recycling thanks to the integration of dynamic exchangeable bonds.

These matrices allow the project to explore several applications. The acrylic resin is used for a 12.6 metre hemp-fibre wind turbine blade, and laminated wood products for construction. Benzoxazine is combined with shorter hemp fibres to manufacture façade elements, traffic signs and electrical enclosures.  It is also paired with unidirectional (UD) hemp reinforcements to manufacture prepregs or hybrid stacks for the construction, building, and urban furniture sectors.

For each application, the matrix must hold the reinforcement together, transfer loads, protect it and provide the properties required by its intended use. SSUCHY-Next therefore studies fibre-matrix adhesion, moisture durability, mechanical performance, fire behaviour and recycling, while using life-cycle assessment to guide material choices.

The matrix may be less visible than the fibres, but it is what allows them to work together. Rethinking this essential component is central to SSUCHY-Next’s ambition to develop high-performance hemp-based composites using more renewable resources and offering more realistic end-of-life pathways.

Sources

Bioeconomy For Change, SSUCHY-Next Market Analysis, Deliverable 8.8 (confidential) , draft 2026

SSUCHY-Next Grant Agreement – Part B (confidential)

H. Dahy, “Biocomposite materials based on annual natural fibres and biopolymers”, Construction and Building Materials, 147, 2017

H. Ahmad et al., “A Comprehensive Review on Construction Applications and Life Cycle Sustainability of Natural Fiber Biocomposites”, Sustainability, 14, 2022, 15905

From agriculture to advanced materials, hemp fibres are becoming part of Europe’s transition toward more circular industries.

As climate challenges intensify and industries search for lower-impact materials, the qualities of hemp fibre are gaining renewed attention across Europe. In 2024, hemp cultivation already covered more than 51,000 hectares across the continent (mainly in France, Germany, Estonia, Netherlands, Finland, and Latvia) reflecting the growing interest in this versatile crop. Almost every part of the plant can be valorised, from fibres used in textiles, composites and insulation to seeds for food and cosmetics, and woody shives for construction materials such as hemp concrete.

Hemp combines both environmental resilience and industrial potential as it:

• grows up to 3 metres in a few months
• requires relatively little water
• can generally be cultivated without pesticides during growth
• supports biodiversity and helps naturally suppress weeds
• fits easily into existing European crop rotations

Before they can be used in materials, hemp fibres need to be extracted, sorted and prepared according to their final application. Their length, regularity and resistance strongly influence what they can become:

• long fibres can be transformed into yarns, woven fabrics or aligned tapes
• shorter fibres are better suited to non-woven mats, plastics or moulded parts

This is why extraction and processing methods matter: scutching, hackling, carding or breaking rollers do not produce the same fibre formats or the same mechanical potential.

This diversity also supports the full valorisation of the plant. Rather than producing a single material, hemp can generate several fibre grades adapted to different industrial uses, from textiles and insulation to structural composite reinforcements. The challenge is therefore not only to grow hemp, but to obtain the right fibre quality for the right application.

Hemp in composites: when a plant becomes a technical material

Once hemp fibres leave the primary processing plant, they can be transformed into composite materials. A composite combines two elements: a matrix, usually a resin or polymer, that gives the material its shape, and fibres that provide strength and reinforcement. Hemp fibres can therefore replace part of the glass or carbon fibres used in certain industrial applications.

Hemp-based composites are valued for combining several advantages at once:

• lightweight structures
• mechanical strength
• thermal and acoustic insulation
• vibration damping
• renewable and bio-based origin

Plant fibres can already represent 20% to 50% of some composite materials and today, hemp composites are already used or explored in sectors such as automotive, construction, furniture, technical textiles and geotextiles.

SSUCHY-Next: connecting hemp fibres to real composite applications

Building on these developments, SSUCHY-Next aims to develop hemp-based composite materials across the full value chain, from fibre production to demonstrators, bringing key technologies closer to industrial use. Several partners work on different ways to extract and prepare hemp fibres depending on their length and final use:

• Terre de Lin focuses on long fibres obtained through scutching and hackling

• Ecotechnilin then develops hemp-based reinforcement products, including a hemp version of its FlaxTape® technology and non-woven materials
• Linificio transforms fibres into woven and quasi-unidirectional fabrics for composite applications.

This step is central because SSUCHY-Next does not treat hemp as one single material. Instead, each fibre format is directed toward a relevant application:

• long fibres for high-quality reinforcements used in structural composites;
• medium fibres for lower-cost reinforcement yarns and fabrics;
• short fibres for moulded parts using BMC or SMC processes.

The project also works on the matrix. Partners develop bio-based and recyclable resin systems, including Elium®, benzoxazine and BG-epoxy, in order to avoid relying only on conventional fossil-based resins. These materials are then tested at composite level to assess fibre-matrix compatibility, durability, mechanical performance, fire behaviour and vibration damping.

Several demonstrators show how these hemp composites could be used in practice:

• a 12.6-metre wind turbine blade,
• wood-hemp materials for construction applications
• leather-like alternatives
• façade elements
• traffic signs and electrical enclosures.

The project also evaluates recycling routes and life cycle impacts, so the materials are assessed not only for performance, but also for circularity and environmental relevance.

Soon, these discussions will continue beyond the project itself. From 24 to 26 November 2026, SSUCHY-Next will take part in the World Hemp Forum in Troyes, France, bringing together researchers, manufacturers and industry stakeholders working on the future of industrial hemp and bio-based materials.

References :

FRD-CODEM. (2025, March). Panorama des marchés : Fibres végétales techniques à usages matériaux (hors bois) – Mémento 2025. InterChanvre. https://www.interchanvre.org/documents/5.actu_presse/documents_de_reference/Memento_2025.pdf

InterChanvre. (2026, January 16). Le chanvre, une filière d’avenir [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSfC6ER51EM

InterChanvre. (n.d.). InterChanvre – Newsletters. Retrieved May 13, 2026, from https://www.interchanvre.org/publications#publications_02

Pôle européen du chanvre. (n.d.). World Hemp Forum 2026. from https://www.pole-europeen-chanvre.eu/world-hemp-forum/

Terres Inovia. (2026, January). Chanvre : Guide de culture 2026. Terres Inovia. https://interchanvre.org/documents/5.actu_presse/documents_de_reference/Guide_chanvre_2026_Terres-Inovia.pdf

SSUCHY Project, 2018-2022, Book of final results : https://www.ssuchy.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/SSUCHY-Del-11.12-Book-Of-Final-Results.pdf

As 2025 draws to a close, it is time to look back on a year marked by active engagement and growing visibility for the SSUCHY-Next project.

Over the year, project partners took part in a wide range of industrial events, scientific conferences, and academic initiatives across Europe. These moments provided opportunities to present ongoing work, exchange on technical and environmental challenges, and engage with stakeholders from the composites, construction, biomass, and bioeconomy communities.

JEC World 2025 – March 4-6, Paris, France

SSUCHY-Next was visible at JEC World 2025, the world’s leading international trade fair for composite materials, through the active participation of several consortium partners. Bringing together the entire composites value chain, the event provided a key platform for showcasing innovation and fostering dialogue.

Consortium partners Arkema, Bitrez, Eco-technilin, KU Leuven, Terre de Lin, Linificio e Canapificio Nazionale SB | B Corp®, and CETIM were present with their own booths, contributing to dynamic exchanges around bio-based fibres, resin systems, processing technologies and composite applications. These interactions offered strong visibility to developments aligned with the objectives of SSUCHY-Next and highlighted the growing interest in sustainable, high-performance composite solutions.

European Coatings Show 2025 – March 25–27, Nuremberg, Germany

SSUCHY-Next was presented at the European Coatings Show (ECS) 2025 through the participation of Bitrez, a specialist in the design and manufacture of advanced polymers and synthetic resins. Held in Nuremberg, ECS is the world’s leading exhibition for paints, coatings, adhesives and sealants, bringing together industrial formulators, processors and research stakeholders from across Europe and beyond.

At its stand, Bitrez showcased its latest product developments while highlighting its involvement in several European collaborative projects, including SSUCHY-Next, alongside FOREST and CHCx3. Discussions with industry professionals focused on sustainability challenges in the coatings and composites sectors, advances in resin systems, and the role of European R&I projects in accelerating innovation and market-ready solutions for industrial applications.

Future Facades 2025 – 26-27 May, Utrecht, Netherlands

SSUCHY-Next was represented at Future Facades 2025 through its industrial partner NPSP, which showcased its NABASCO® bio-based composite solutions for façade and building envelope applications. Held in Utrecht, the event provided a dedicated platform to demonstrate how design freedom, technical performance and circularity can be combined in next-generation construction materials.

At the fair, NPSP highlighted maintenance-free, fire-resistant and bio-based façade concepts, including 3D and nature-inclusive designs, reflecting application pathways directly aligned with SSUCHY-Next developments.

The presence at Future Facades underlined the role of NPSP within SSUCHY-Next in bridging research and market uptake, translating project innovations in natural fibre-based composites into ready-to-deploy façade solutions addressing the growing demand for sustainable, low-maintenance and climate-resilient buildings.

European Biomass Conference & Exhibition – 9-12 June, Valencia, Spain

The SAM research group from KU Leuven represented the project at the 33rd European Biomass Conference & Exhibition in Valencia. As one of Europe’s leading events dedicated to the bioeconomy, EUBCE provided a key forum for exchanges on the sustainable valorisation of biomass residues and their transformation into biofuels, biochemicals and advanced biomaterials.

Contributing to the scientific programme, Mariana Ochodková (KU Leuven) presented a poster entitled “Full Life Cycle Assessment Framework for Emerging Bio-composites”. Her contribution highlighted the Life Cycle Assessment approach developed within SSUCHY-Next to evaluate the environmental performance of bio-based composites. By integrating sustainability assessment directly into material development, this work supports the design of high-performance composites with an improved environmental footprint, fully aligned with the project’s objectives.

7th International Conference on Natural Fibers – 16-18 June, Lisbon, Portugal

SSUCHY-Next was present at the 7th International Conference on Natural Fibres (ICNF 2025) in Lisbon through its coordinator, KU Leuven. Bringing together researchers from around the world, the conference offered a comprehensive overview of the latest advances in natural fibre science, from material development to emerging applications.

3rd European Summer School on Bio-based Composites (ESBBC-3) – September 15–17, 2025, Cambridge, United Kingdom

The academic and training dimension of SSUCHY-Next was strongly highlighted at the 3rd European Summer School on Bio-based Composites (ESBBC-3), hosted by the University of Cambridge at St John’s College. As a unique European initiative dedicated to bio-based composites, the Summer School brought together Master’s and PhD students, early-career researchers, academics and industry representatives. SSUCHY-Next builds on this legacy, as its predecessor project, SSUCHY, was among the founding members of the initiative.

Over two and a half days, SSUCHY-Next played a visible role throughout the event.

• Prof. Aart van Vuure (KU Leuven), project coordinator, presented the project’s objectives and its integrated approach to developing high-performance, sustainable composite materials.
• Dr Yasmine Mosleh (TU Delft) presented recent work on the fatigue behaviour of flax and hemp fibre composites
• Prof. Pierre Ouagne (UTTOP) shared insights into fibre extraction processes and textile development for natural fibre reinforcements.

In addition, several PhD candidates involved in SSUCHY-Next contributed to the poster sessions, presenting their ongoing research on topics including natural fibre characterisation, composite performance and sustainability assessment. Among them, Mariana Ochodková (KU Leuven, SAM Research Group) was awarded the Best Student Presentation Prize for her work on Life Cycle Assessment of emerging bio-based composites, underlining the quality and relevance of the research carried out within the project.

7th “Fibres Naturelles et Polymères” Colloquium – September 17-18, Troyes, France

SSUCHY-Next was also represented at the 7th “Fibres Naturelles et Polymères” Colloquium in Troyes through the participation of B4C, with contributions from its experts Jean Bausset and Audrey Magnin. The event brought together industrial stakeholders, researchers and institutional actors involved in the development of bio-based composites and polymers, offering a forum for high-level technical and strategic exchanges.

Discussions throughout the colloquium covered key challenges and opportunities across the value chain, including agricultural feedstock availability, fibre–polymer interfaces, recycling and end-of-life strategies, life cycle assessment and material performance.

Bioeconomy For Change Webinar, 21 November 2025

SSUCHY-Next was also featured in the spotlight during a Bioeconomy For Change webinar held on 21 November, dedicated to the ageing and durability of bio-based materials. This online event provided a focused forum to address one of the key challenges for the industrial deployment of bio-based composites: their long-term performance under real-world environmental conditions.

During the session, Vincent Placet introduced the SSUCHY-Next project and highlighted how it contributes to advancing the next generation of sustainable composite solutions. The presentation showcased ongoing work on the development of high-performance lignocellulosic composites, innovative bio-based design strategies, and the improvement of material behaviour when exposed to ageing and environmental constraints. By bringing together scientific insights and industrial perspectives, the webinar offered participants valuable understanding of the reliability, durability and sustainability challenges that will shape the future of bio-based composite materials.

Looking ahead to 2026

Throughout 2025, SSUCHY-Next strengthened its presence across Europe by engaging with a broad ecosystem of industrial, academic and institutional stakeholders. From international trade fairs and scientific conferences to specialised training events, these exchanges supported the project’s progression from research and material development towards large-scale demonstrators, notably for wind energy and building applications.

This momentum will continue in March 2026, when SSUCHY-Next returns to JEC World in Paris Nord Villepinte with a dedicated shared booth. The stand will provide a focal point to showcase the latest project results, present demonstrators and samples, and foster new discussions with the global composites community on bio-based, high-performance and circular composite solutions.

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.