The UNLOCK project ends with strong results and a promising future for feather-based bioeconomy

Coordinated by CIDETEC Surface Engineering, the project has demonstrated how a low-value waste stream such as chicken feathers can become a sustainable raw material for bio-based agricultural products.

Four years of innovation come to a close, paving the way for continued impact in the bioeconomy sector

The UNLOCK project, funded by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) and launched in May 2021, officially concluded with a successful final event showcasing four years of pioneering work in feather valorisation. Coordinated by CIDETEC Surface Engineering , the project has demonstrated how a low-value waste stream such as chicken feathers can become a sustainable raw material for bio-based agricultural products.

The European poultry industry produces around 3.6 million tons of feathers each year which are considered a waste or used for low value-added applications. UNLOCK has addressed the challenge of transforming feathers into a valuable raw material by applying three innovative processing technologies: mechanical grinding, steam explosion and microbial fermentation to convert feathers into biodegradable materials tailored to agricultural use. These include the development of feather-based seed trays, mulch films, nonwoven geotextiles, and hydroponic foams (find all the details of these products and processes on the UNLOCK solutions booklet).

On 26 March 2025, in Donostia/San Sebastian, the final event brought together project partners, policymakers, and stakeholders across the bioeconomy value chain to discuss results and future applications. Participants in person and online could learn about Circular Bioeconomy & EU Policy Innovation in Agriculture with presentations from CBE JU representatives, NEIKER and the UNLOCK partners. A roundtable discussion and an exhibition area enabled exchanges and dialogue among the attendees and the showcasing of prototypes developed by the consortium.

“In UNLOCK, we have shown that feathers are far from mere waste —they are, in fact, a valuable resource with the potential to enrich and bring added value to the primary sector.” – said Sarah Montes from CIDETEC Surface Engineering, coordinator of UNLOCK.

With the collaboration of 15 partners from 8 countries, including RTOs, SMEs, industry and cluster organisations, UNLOCK successfully integrated sustainability, innovation and an exploitation roadmap into its results.

As the project ends, its impact continues thanks to the market potential, the clusters developed and interested in the sector, and the demonstrated prototypes of the UNLOCK materials. As noted during the final conference, this is not the end but a new beginning for sustainable materials development in agriculture.

For more information about the UNLOCK project and results is available at www.unlock-project.eu and through its social media channels: Twitter @UNLOCK_BBI and LinkedIn UNLOCK_project.

The UNLOCK project has received funding of €5 million from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement nº 101023306. It officially started on 1 May 2021 and will run until April 2025.

The consortium was composed of 4 Research and Technology Organisations (CIDETEC (ES) – coordinator of the project, ŁUKASIEWICZ Research Network-Institute of Biopolymers and Chemical Fibres (PL), AIMPLAS (ES), RISE Processum (SE)), 8 SMEs (Terra Aquatica (FR), Bioextrax AB (SE), Bio-Mi društvo sa ograničenom odgovornoču (HR), TECNOPackaging (ES), FARRELLY & MITCHELL (IE), Normec OWS (BE), ACUDAM (ES)), 2 Clusters (UNIMOS Alliance (PL), Greenovate! Europe EEIG (BE)) and GE! Member ATLANTIS Environment & Innovation (CY), and 1 large industry (CEDROB S.A. (PL)).