Biodesign toolkit and recent findings are presented at the stage EcoDesign2025 in Tokyo
At this year’s EcoDesign2025 conference in Tokyo, BBoBB made an exciting international impact. The latest research were presented on how designers can confidently work with fully biobased materials marking an important step in bringing European biobased innovation.
A new way of navigating biobased materials
Bert Vuylsteke, Pieter Beerten, Jan Detand and Francesca Ostuzzi from UGent Kortrijk developed a design-oriented framework based on the BBoBB that maps biobinders, biofibers and bio-additives across four essential property groups.
- Experiential
- Mechanical & chemical
- Processing
- Circularity
This work resulted in a practical, open-access database aimed at helping designers make faster and better-informed biocomposite decisions.
Why this matters for the shift to circular design
For Europe—and the world—to move toward regenerative and circular products, designers need more than a list of available materials. They need trustworthy, structured information on how to combine materials responsibly, locally, and effectively.
By highlighting both the opportunities and the current data gaps and variability, our research provides a realistic foundation for material selection and future experimentation.
What comes next
Our next steps include:
- Developing selection guidelines for combining biobased constituents
- Testing new material compositions
- Further expanding and refining open datasets
Curious to explore the current database?
Visit: biodesign
A milestone for BBoBB
Seeing this research presented in Japan marks a proud moment for the BBoBB partnership. It shows that our impact extends far beyond Europe and contributes to a global shift toward responsible, biobased design.