By replacing ingredients derived from fossil and food sources with bio-based alternatives, MULTIPLY not only reduces the environmental footprint of everyday products but also promotes the sustainable and profitable cultivation of microalgae across Europe.
The consortium is working with five species of microalgae — diatoms, Arthrospira (Spirulina), Tetraselmis, Nannochloropsis and Chromochloris zofingiensis — to develop ten high-value-added products. These applications are aimed at sectors as diverse as food (natural colourings and protein-rich ingredients), animal feed (salmon feed components enriched with microalgae compounds), cosmetics (oils and esters for personal care), lubricants (bio-based esters for high-performance applications) and biomaterials and packaging (compostable films, paper coatings and packaging solutions based on algae oils and starch).
AIMPLAS is developing sustainable solutions and materials from compounds and polymers extracted from microalgae for different packaging applications. Activities include the formulation of recyclable barrier coatings for paper substrates, with water and grease resistance, as an alternative to conventional paper/PE multilayer structures. AIMPLAS is also participating in the development of an active cosmetic packaging that integrates materials derived from microalgae, including functional compounds, encapsulation matrices and structural materials, to improve product stability and reduce the need for preservatives in cosmetic formulations.
