PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
microLIFEguard will revolutionize microbiological preservation by providing greatly more sustainable and safer preservatory solutions for industrial and consumer goods. Biocides are used in myriads of products to prevent microbiological degradation. Evidence is mounting that many biocides pose serious human health and environmental risks. Industry, regulators, and NGOs agree that less hazardous alternatives are urgently needed. MicroLIFEguard aims at developing up to eight new efficient and safe, economically feasible preservation solutions for acrylic paints, and construction wood, based on substances with a low risk (under the Biocide Product Regulation, 1907/2006). The paint solutions are crucial to support a transition from volatile organic compounds (VOC) paints that are serious health threats, to safer low-VOC, water-based products. The wood preservatives work in support of increasing use of climate-friendly wood in new buildings as a CO2 reduction tool. The new preservative solutions will be produced at demonstration scale with partners and key stakeholders in Denmark and Finland. We will monitor the impacts of the solutions for health, environment, and economy by comparing them with currently used biocides (all targeted for replacement by the EU). We will disseminate project results and solutions widely to stakeholders in the supply chains, representatives of target industries, biocide science fora, as well as the end users, the consumers. To ensure sustainable impact, microLIFEguard will refine market feasibility studies and prepare business plans for all solutions. The project also explores future other sectors as food and personal care preservatives. Supply chains are established, from manufacturing of preservative solutions, over intermediary industrial goods, to end-user products, based on the Safe and Sustainable by Design Framework. We will apply for regulatory approvals, Environmental Protection Declarations, and at least two patents.