A new generation of bio-based building panels that combine strong performance with a lower environmental footprint, designed for real construction uses such as ventilated façades, suspended ceilings and interior walls. The technology focuses on self-reinforced composite (SRC) panels based on PHA, together with a scalable production route for both single-layer panels and face-skins for multilayer panel systems. 

Many construction panels on the market today rely on fossil-based plastics and conventional composites. They can perform well, but they are harder to align with sustainability goals and circular building ambitions. At the same time, truly bio-based alternatives are often seen as risky: they may be inconsistent to manufacture at scale, or they may not meet the mechanical and safety expectations required for building products. The challenge is to offer a panel solution that is both credible for construction and genuinely more sustainable, while remaining compatible with industrial manufacturing, quality control, and application-specific performance requirements. 

ECOFUNC is developing self-reinforced PHA composite panels and a scalable thermopressing-based production process for building applications. The panels use PHA textiles as reinforcements with PHA matrix layers, so the material reinforces itself and reduces the need for conventional mixed-material reinforcements, enabling easier recyclability than traditional multimaterial composites. They are being developed through a scalable production process for ventilated façade cladding as well as face-skins for suspended ceiling and partition wall panels, with optimisation for performance, manufacturability and scale-up. 

Prototype development and scale-up to TRL 7; full-size manufacturing and field validation are planned as part of the project. 

This technology can make it easier for the construction sector to adopt bio-based panels without stepping down on performance. By enabling strong, lightweight and application-ready components, it supports lower-impact building solutions and helps reduce reliance on fossil-derived materials. It also creates new pathways for circular design by improving material efficiency and enabling more responsible production practices, an important step for customers seeking greener products that still meet market expectations. In the project, the initial market focus is building and construction, with later expansion envisaged into automotive, furniture, consumer goods, and selected OEM markets. 

This solution is aimed at companies that design, manufacture or specify building panels, especially those supplying systems for ventilated façades, ceiling solutions and partition walls. It is also relevant for manufacturers looking to upgrade their product lines with credible bio-based materials, as well as developers and architects who want sustainable material options they can specify with confidence. Beyond construction, the proposal identifies potential relevance for automotive, rail, electronics, and consumer goods stakeholders. 

VTT will transfer knowledge to Volar Plastic to support scale-up of SRC PHA panel production from pilot to industrial scale. The initial exploitation focus is the building and construction sector through Acciona, with subsequent expansion foreseen into automotive via Stellantis, furniture via Kastamonu Entegre, and other OEM markets; IP protection is expected through patents. 

TBC