The Glaukos project, formally titled Circular solutions for the textile industry, was funded by the European Union under the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme. It ran from June 2020 to May 2024, with a total budget of EUR 4.99 million and an EU contribution of EUR 4.19 million. Coordinated by BIO BASE EUROPE PILOT PLANT VZW (Belgium), the consortium brought together partners from Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Slovakia, Switzerland and Türkiye, including research organisations, universities, SMEs, industrial manufacturers and sector associations. The project aimed to develop innovative bio-based textile fibres and coatings that combine environmental performance with technical functionality. It had a particular focus on reducing plastic and microplastic pollution from clothing and fishing gears. By redesigning the full life cycle of textile materials, Glaukos sought to reduce the carbon and plastic footprint of textile products while supporting biodegradable and bio‑recyclable end‑of‑life solutions. 

A core element of Glaukos was the development of bio‑based polymers, circular end‑of‑life solutions and assessment methods to address plastic pollution in textile value chains.  

Key achievements of the project include:

• Scale-up of bio-based polymer production processes: development and pilot-scale demonstration of fermentation‑based production of bio‑based polymer building blocks from industrial sugar‑containing side streams.
• Development of textile fibres and coatings: production and testing of new‑generation bio‑based polymers for fibre spinning and textile coatings for use in clothing and fishing gear applications.
• Pilot‑scale material validation: scale‑up of selected polymer formulations to pilot quantities, supported by laboratory‑scale development and screening of more than 25 polymer variants.
• Circular end‑of‑life solutions: investigation and demonstration of biodegradation and bio-recycling pathways, including enzymatic and microbial processes enabling closed-loop material cycles.
• Advanced sustainability assessment: development and application of assessment methods covering biodegradability, mechanical degradation, environmental effects on aquatic ecosystems and microplastic impacts, complemented by holistic sustainability evaluations.
• Stakeholder engagement and policy outreach: establishment of stakeholder labs and organisation of ten workshops involving more than 400 stakeholders, alongside implementation of a “Projects2Policy” approach to support dialogue between research and policy. 

Glaukos addressed challenges related to sustainability, circular economy and pollution prevention in textile value chains by exploring bio-based and biodegradable alternatives to conventional textile polymers. The project examined approaches to reducing microplastic pollution from textiles and fishing gear through material design, biodegradability and bio‑recycling, generating knowledge relevant to efforts to limit plastic leakage into marine and aquatic environments. In addition, the development of sustainability assessment methods supported improved understanding of environmental trade‑offs across textile life cycles. These insights are relevant to ongoing EU discussions on sustainable products, safer chemical use and circular material management.

Glaukos was coordinated by BIO BASE EUROPE PILOT PLANT VZW and brought together a multidisciplinary European consortium combining expertise in biotechnology, polymer science, textile engineering, sustainability assessment and stakeholder engagement. Collaboration across research organisations, universities, industrial partners and sector associations facilitated knowledge exchange on bio‑based polymers, fermentation technologies, fibre spinning, end‑of‑life solutions and environmental assessment. The results of the project were shared through workshops, publications and stakeholder events. Digital communication tools supported the transfer of knowledge to industry, policymakers and the wider textiles ecosystem.