BioImpulse: Breakthrough Bio-Based Molecule and Adhesive Resins as the Project Reaches Completion
The BioImpulse project demonstrates the relevance of industrial biotechnologies for the production of bio-based ingredients and a new generation of adhesives
After six years of collaborative research, the BioImpulse project confirms the competitiveness of industrial biotechnologies and paves the way for a new generation of high-performance, biobased adhesive resins free from substances of concern for human health.
A collaborative project to accelerate green chemistry
Launched by Michelin and its ResiCare brand, the BioImpulse project brought together public and private partners¹ with the ambition of developing a new generation of bio-based adhesive resins, free from so-called SVHC² (“Substances of Very High Concern”). Building on the production of a bio-based molecule of interest, the project aimed to open new perspectives for industrial biotechnologies in the field of materials and to provide credible alternatives to petrobased phenolic adhesives.
A competitive bio-based molecule, produced at an unprecedented scale
After six years of work, BioImpulse today confirms the successful development of a bio-based molecule that was until now scarcely available and produced exclusively through petrochemistry. This breakthrough relies on the development of a unique fermentation and purification process. The process developed by the partners has been successfully scaled up for industrial deployment and validated in 200 m³ pilot trials.
Concrete industrial applications
Access to this bio-based monomer enables ResiCare to formulate a new generation of highperformance, competitive adhesive resins while reducing the use of fossil resources and eliminating substances of concern.
Among the first validated applications:
• a formulation for plywood, nearing commercial launch,
• a formulation adapted to carbon/carbon composites, currently under industrial evaluation,
• further potential in other applications: wood panels, insulation, composites, textile reinforcements, molded compounds…
Cutting-edge scientific and industrial collaboration
BioImpulse is the result of collaboration between five main partners:
• Michelin (ResiCare) – project coordinator and resin developer,
• Leaf by Lesaffre – responsible for optimising the fermentation process for the monomer,
• FCBA Technological Institute – technical lead for resin characterisation and implementation,
• INSA Toulouse (CRITT Bio-Industries) – responsible for developing purification processes in partnership with LGC,
• INRAE (TWB, TBI) – in charge of identifying and optimising innovative production pathways, designing microbial strains and developing associated production processes. Supporting partners included Alderys (Givaudan group), which designed the industrial yeast strain, and ARD (Vivescia group), which carried out the first industrial scale-up step at its BioDemo demonstration facility.
A step forward for innovation in Europe
“BioImpulse proves that it is possible to produce, at industrial scale, a bio-based molecule that long remained dependent on petrochemical routes. This is a decisive first step, showing that competitive biotechnological solutions can emerge in Europe. For each of our partners, this project acts as a catalyst for innovation and demonstrates that green chemistry is making tangible progress,” says Sébastien RIFFLART, Programme Manager at ResiCare.
Next step: an industrial demonstrator
Building on this success, Michelin and its partners are now exploring the establishment of an industrial demonstrator, to move from proof of concept to large-scale production. Through this project, the Michelin Group continues to pursue its “All Sustainable” approach and strengthens its position as a leader in the field of composite polymers.
Press contact Herve ERSCHLER - Michelin Group Press Office herve.erschler@michelin.com +33 6 70 47 85 04
(1)About BioImpulse Launched in 2019 and completed in 2025, the BioImpulse project (€28M) brought together Michelin (ResiCare), Leaf (Lesaffre), the FCBA Technological Institute, INSA Toulouse (CRITT Bio-Industries and LGC) and INRAE (TWB, TBI). Its objective: to create a new adhesive resin free from Substances of Very High Concern (SVHC). By developing a bio-based molecule of interest, this project opens new opportunities for biotechnologies in the materials sector. Learn more: https://www.bioimpulse.fr/
(2) SVHC: “Substance of Very High Concern”, as defined in the current state of scientific knowledge by ECHA (European Chemicals Agency).
BioImpulse is supported by ADEME (French Environment and Energy Management Agency) under the Investments for the Future Programme.
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