What is the Unique Selling Proposition (USP) of P4SB?

P4SB is about the utilisation of the conceptual and material tools of contemporary Synthetic Biology to bring about the sustainable and environmentally friendly bioconversion of oil-based plastic waste into fully biodegradable* counterparts by means of deeply engineered, whole-cell bacterial catalysts. These tools will be used to design tailor-made enzymes for the bio-depolymerisation of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PU (polyurethane), but also for the custom design of a Pseudomonas putida Cell Factory capable of metabolising the resulting monomers.

^{*meaning capable of being broken down into innocuous products by the action of living things (such as microorganisms)}

Abstract

Objectives

These tools will be used to design tailor-made enzymes for the bio-depolymerisation of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and PU (polyurethane), but also for the custom design of a Pseudomonas putida Cell Factory capable of metabolising the resulting monomers.

Impact

P4SB will develop essential waste valorisation strategies to bring the current recycling rates of PET from 30 to 50% and of PU from >5 to 70%, as targeted by the EU in 2020.