Films and coatings for circular packaging

HORIZON-JU (Films and coatings for circular packaging) is an Innovation Action under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking seeking collaborative projects to develop and demonstrate bio-based films and coatings for food and non-food packaging. The topic has an indicative budget of €14 million, expects approximately two grants (around €7 million each) and follows Horizon Europe funding and reimbursement rules for Innovation Actions. Proposals must demonstrate technologies at least TRL 6 for product prototypes, include at least one non-food application, apply eco-design and the EU Safe and Sustainable by Design framework, and test end-of-life routes at TRL 5+ (mechanical/chemical/enzymatic recycling, composting, reuse/remanufacturing), with landfill and incineration out of scope. Single-stage submissions via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal opened 23 April 2026 and close 22 September 2026 at 17:00 CET; consortia must meet Horizon Europe eligibility, evaluation and administrative requirements.

What it funds

Scope and expected outcomes

Innovation actions to develop and scale bio-based films and/or coatings for food and non-food packaging that improve barrier and mechanical performance and enable circular end-of-life options (mechanical/chemical/enzymatic recycling, composting, reuse, remanufacturing). Landfilling and incineration are out of scope.

Type of action and total topic budget:HORIZON JU Innovation Action (IA). Topic-level contribution: around €14,000,000. Apply under CBE JU 2026 Work Programme CBE JU reference documents ¹.

Who can apply

Consortia of organisations eligible under Horizon Europe (industry including SMEs, manufacturers, research organisations, universities, technology providers, end‑users). Proposals must follow Horizon eligibility rules (see Work Programme General Annexes).

Key requirements (concise)

1. 1Demonstrate technology at minimum TRL 6 and applicability to industrial packaging manufacturing, with at least one non-food packaging use-case.
2. 2Deliver packaging product prototypes and test performance under realistic use conditions (barrier, mechanical, printability, food-contact where relevant).
3. 3Apply eco-design principles in line with the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation and test EoL solutions at TRL 5+ (recycling, composting, reuse/remanufacturing where applicable).
4. 4Follow a multi-actor approach: involve end-users and consumers early, assess regulatory compatibility (SUP, PPWR), and apply the SSbD framework.

Proposals submitted in a single-stage procedure via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Follow application templates and Horizon rules (admissibility, eligibility, evaluation, MGA). See topic page for full conditions and submission link Topic details.

Footnotes

1. 1See the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026 for topic-specific conditions, budget breakdown and cross-references: cbe.europa.eu.

Call identity, deadlines and administrative overview

Call identifier:HORIZON-JU. Programme: Horizon Europe, implemented by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU). Type of action: HORIZON JU Innovation Actions (IA). Type of Model Grant Agreement: HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG]. Opening date: 23 April 2026. Deadline (single-stage): 22 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Submission channel: Funding & Tenders Portal electronic submission system via the designated submission entry for HORIZON-JU-IA / HORIZON-AG.

Topic budget (indicative):The CBE JU 2026 call portfolio total is €170,760,699. The specific indicative contribution for the Films and coatings for circular packaging topic is listed in the CBE JU call overview as approximately €14,000,000 ¹.

Scope, objectives and expected outcomes

Expected policy alignment:proposals must contribute to the Circular Economy Action Plan, the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). Projects must deliver results that increase availability and performance of bio-based films and coatings for packaging and demonstrably improve circularity compared with fossil-based and/or bio-based benchmarks across production, use and end-of-life (EoL).

Technical focus and challenges highlighted by the topic:bio-based films and coatings face intrinsic challenges compared to conventional plastics (PE, PET) such as higher hydrophilicity which impairs barrier properties (oxygen, moisture, grease, volatiles); scaling and reproducibility of deposition and processing methods; substrate adhesion while preserving technical properties and sustainable EoL; printability issues (ink smudging, poor adhesion); durability under mechanical and environmental stress; and packaging design for sustainability to avoid over-packaging and enable circular EoL pathways.

What proposals must deliver (requirements summary):Proposals must present technologies and demonstrations at TRL 6 or higher for bio-based films and/or coatings and their integration into packaging prototypes compatible with industrial manufacturing. At least one non-food packaging application must be included; food and non-food packaging are both in scope. Films/coatings themselves must be bio-based; substrates may be bio-based or conventional. Projects must assess properties relevant to intended use (mechanical, barrier, surface, temperature/weathering resistance, moisture/corrosion resistance, printability, and food contact compliance when applicable). Projects must apply eco-design principles aligned with the ESPR to reduce overpackaging, and test and report on circular EoL options at TRL 5 or above: mechanical, chemical, enzymatic recycling, composting, and combinations; re-use and remanufacturing where appropriate. Landfill and incineration are out of scope.

Cross-cutting and process requirements:implement a multi-actor approach (MAA) by involving end users and engaging consumers early to assess market acceptance and incorporate feedback; assess regulatory compatibility (notably the Single Use Plastics Directive and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) and identify bottlenecks and recommendations; include a task applying the EU Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework for bio-based films and coatings; demonstrate complementarities with past and ongoing related R&I projects (Horizon 2020 / Horizon Europe, BBI JU, CBE JU).

Eligibility, application modality and evaluation

Call type:open call for proposals, single-stage submission via the Funding & Tenders Portal. Applicants must use the application form available in the Submission System (Part A and Part B). Proposal page limits and layout are described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and in Part B of the Application Form in the Submission System.

1. 1Eligible countries: described in Annex B of the Horizon Europe General Annexes; participation rules follow Horizon Europe (EU Member States, Associated Countries and other eligible third countries under the rules and any specific provisions referenced in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide).
2. 2Other eligibility conditions: follow Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes and the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026 (section 2.2.3.1).
3. 3Financial and operational capacity, exclusion rules and legal entity validation: follow Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes and Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR appointment and financial capacity assessment.

Evaluation and award procedures follow Horizon Europe General Annexes (Annex D, F) and the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual. Award criteria, scoring and thresholds use the standard Horizon Europe evaluation model for RIAs and IAs with adapted evaluation forms. An indicative evaluation timeline and grant agreement negotiation timeline are described in Annex F of the General Annexes.

Who should apply and eligible applicant types

The call is aimed at consortia that can achieve industrially relevant demonstrations at TRL 6+. Eligible and appropriate applicant types (typical for Horizon IA topics and reflected by the CBE JU mission) include: SMEs, startups, scale-ups, large enterprises (manufacturers and converters in packaging and coatings), universities, public research organisations and institutes, technology centres, testing laboratories, hospitals (for food contact testing aspects if relevant), non-profit organisations, standardisation bodies, recyclers and waste management companies, consumer organisations and other multi-actor stakeholders. Public authorities may participate where relevant. Individual natural persons are not eligible as sole applicants under Horizon rules.

Consortium requirement:The topic is structured as a Horizon JU Innovation Action and typically expects a consortium rather than a single applicant because industrial demonstration, regulatory assessment, consumer engagement and EoL testing normally require multiple complementary partners. The Funding & Tenders Portal submission allows single legal entities where the topic rules permit, but applicants must check specific eligibility in Annex B and CBE JU call documentation. Practically, multidisciplinary consortia including industrial partners (packaging manufacturers, converters), material/coating developers, recyclers or composting actors, testing labs and user groups are recommended.

Funding, reimbursement and co-funding

Indicative funding for the CBE JU call series shows a topic-level allocation of around €14,000,000 for Films and coatings for circular packaging. The CBE JU call budget overview shows multiple topics with indicative contributions in the range of around €1,200,000 to €20,000,000 depending on topic type and scale; the Films and coatings topic is indicated at around €14,000,000 in the CBE JU 2026 call list ¹.

Funding type and nature of support:Primary financial mechanism: grant (Horizon Europe grant under the HORIZON-AG model). Beneficiaries receive monetary support in the form of EU grants. In addition to monetary support, winners also receive non-monetary services accessible through the Horizon/CBE JU ecosystem such as access to networks, SSbD methodological guidance, partner search tools, and policy/regulatory engagement channels.

Co-funding requirement:The call text does not explicitly state a separate co-funding percentage for this topic in the scraped text. Applicants should follow Horizon Europe reimbursement rules for Innovation Actions and the CBE JU-specific provisions in the Annual Work Programme; consult Annex G (legal and financial set-up) and the HE Programme Guide for exact reimbursement rates and co-funding policies. Where applicable, in-kind contributions and private matching contributions may be relevant, and IA projects generally expect significant partner resource commitments.

Project maturity and expected project stages

Required project maturity at submission:demonstrators at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 6 or above for the coating/film technology and TRL 5 and above for EoL testing of selected alternatives. The project should cover progression from industrial-relevant prototype manufacturing to validation of packaging prototypes and EoL demonstration at the required TRLs.

Project stage / TRL focus:Expected stages covered by proposals: development, validation, demonstration and near-commercial scale-up activities. The topic targets late development and industrial validation rather than basic research or early-stage concept work.

Application process, templates and administrative documents

Application method:single-stage open call submitted electronically through the Funding & Tenders Portal. Applicants must use the Application Form available inside the Submission System (Part A administrative and budgetary data; Part B technical narrative and annexes). Proposal page limits and formatting follow Part B stipulations and Horizon Europe General Annexes (Annex A and Annex E).

1. 1Required application templates and documents: application form in submission system (use the online template), Part B (technical description), budget tables in Part A, ethics checklist if applicable, participants’ declarations, and Model Grant Agreement (HE MGA) documents for reference.
2. 2Evaluation form templates: the standard Horizon Europe evaluation form (RIA/IA) will be used with necessary adaptations; these are available as guidance and should be consulted to structure proposal sections to address excellence, impact and implementation criteria.
3. 3Call-specific guidance: CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2026 (section 2.2.3.1) and the CBE JU call for proposals documentation; HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 General Annexes; Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual; HE Programme Guide; and the SSbD methodological guidance and JRC/PARC resources.

Application structure guidance (how evaluators will see content and recommended structure):follow the standard Horizon IA Part B structure and ensure the following are clearly addressed: 1) Excellence: technical novelty, TRL status, SSbD compliance, regulatory mapping (SUP, PPWR), eco-design and materials selection; 2) Impact: contribution to CBE JU objectives and EU policy, pathway to market, expected improvements vs benchmarks (technical and circularity metrics), stakeholder and consumer acceptance evidence, and exploitation plan; 3) Implementation: project workplan and Gantt, consortium roles and complementarity, industrial integration and manufacturing compatibility, pilot/demonstration plans, EoL testing plan (TRLs), risk management, budget justification, and resources including testing and scale-up facilities.

Evaluation, stages, success rates and timelines

Evaluation model:single-stage evaluation applying Horizon Europe award criteria (excellence, impact, quality and efficiency of implementation) and thresholds as set in the General Annexes. The standard scoring and thresholds from Annex D of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes apply.

Number of application stages and timeline:Application stages: single-stage submission. Post-submission evaluation and grant preparation follow the indicative timelines described in Annex F of the General Annexes. The exact calendar (evaluation windows, ranking, and grant agreement signature) is published in the portal documentation and the Online Manual.

Success rates:the scraped call text does not provide historical success rates for this topic. Success rates vary by topic, number of applications and quality; applicants should assume competitive selection and design proposals according to the evaluation templates and thresholds. For planning, applicants may consult past CBE JU/Horizon calls and yearly statistics for indicative selection ratios.

Regulatory and methodological frameworks to be applied in proposals

1. 1Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR): apply eco-design principles aligned with ESPR to reduce over-packaging and enable sustainable EoL.
2. 2Single Use Plastics Directive (SUP) and Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR): assess compatibility, identify opportunities and bottlenecks and provide recommendations.
3. 3Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework: include a task to apply the SSbD framework for assessing the bio-based films/coatings and use JRC methodological guidance and PARC toolbox where relevant ².
4. 4Complementarity requirement: map and reference past and ongoing relevant R&I projects (Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, BBI JU, CBE JU) and explain complementarities and added value.

Technical and testing expectations (detailed list)

Proposals should include detailed technical development and testing plans covering the following where relevant to the targeted applications: mechanical performance testing, barrier properties (oxygen, moisture, grease, volatile organic compounds), surface properties and adhesion measurements, thermal resistance (low/high temperature), weathering and aging tests, moisture and corrosion resistance, printability and ink adhesion/smudge testing, food contact compliance testing and documentation (for food applications), industrial coating deposition and conversion process compatibility, reproducibility and scale-up validation, packaging prototype manufacturing trials, transport and storage condition simulations, and end-of-life pathway testing (mechanical, chemical, enzymatic recycling; composting; re-use and remanufacturing demonstrations).

Practical recommendations for applicants

1. 1Assemble a multidisciplinary consortium including coating/formulation developers, packaging converters and manufacturers, recyclers/composters, accredited testing laboratories and end users (brand owners, retailers).
2. 2Plan for TRL 6+ demonstrations and allocate resources for industrial-compatible upscaling and process reproducibility validation.
3. 3Include consumer engagement and market acceptance activities from the start as part of the multi-actor approach (MAA).
4. 4Perform an early regulatory compatibility assessment (SUP, PPWR, ESPR) and integrate SSbD assessment tasks using JRC guidance and available SSbD toolbox resources.
5. 5Design a clear EoL testing strategy that achieves TRL 5+ for selected EoL options and document metrics that will be used to benchmark circularity versus fossil-based or current bio-based standards.

Mentioned countries and geographic eligibility

The call text references the Horizon Europe participation rules and Annex B for lists of eligible countries. The scraped material does not list individual countries by name; eligibility follows Horizon Europe rules (EU Member States and Associated Countries are typically eligible; certain third countries may participate under specific provisions). Applicants should consult Annex B of the Horizon Europe General Annexes and the Horizon Europe Programme Guide for the definitive list and any arrangements for non-Associated third countries.

Project stage, target sector and technology areas

Target sector:packaging industry, coatings and film materials, circular bio-based materials, recycling and waste management, food contact materials when applicable. Technology focus includes bio-based polymer films, bio-based coating chemistries and deposition technologies, barrier-enhancement approaches, compatibility with industrial converting/manufacturing equipment, process scale-up and reproducible deposition methods, printability treatments, and EoL recycling/composting processes. The expected project maturity is development to demonstration (TRL 6+ leading toward commercialization/scale-up).

Templates, forms and application structure — practical outline

Use the Application Form in the Submission System. The typical Part B structure for Horizon Innovation Actions applies (applicants must follow the mandatory template in the portal):

1. 1Section 1 — Excellence: background, objectives, relation to topic, TRL, technical approach, description of bio-based films/coatings, SSbD application and eco-design integration, regulatory alignment (SUP, PPWR, ESPR).
2. 2Section 2 — Impact: expected outcomes, performance vs benchmarks (technical and circularity), quantifiable indicators, market uptake plan, exploitation and dissemination, contribution to policy objectives, business model and route-to-market for prototypes, metrics and KPIs for circularity and EoL performance.
3. 3Section 3 — Implementation: work packages, deliverables, milestones, Gantt chart, resources and budget per partner, management structure, risk and mitigation, industrial compatibility testing, pilot / demonstration plan, description of facilities and infrastructure, ethics and safety.

Ancillary documents to attach or prepare:letters of support and commitment from industrial partners and end users, consumer engagement plan, memoranda of understanding with recyclers or composting facilities for EoL testing, third-party testing facility availability statements, CVs of key personnel, and any sector-specific compliance declarations (food contact safety dossiers if food packaging is addressed).

Summary and what this opportunity is about

This CBE JU Horizon Europe Innovation Action topic solicits collaborative project proposals to develop, validate and demonstrate bio-based films and coatings for packaging (food and non-food) at TRL 6 or above, with a strong emphasis on industrial applicability, improved technical performance compared to fossil-based benchmarks, and demonstrable circularity across production, use and end-of-life. Proposals must address processing and scalability challenges, adhesion, printability, durability, and regulatory compatibility (including ESPR, SUP, PPWR), and include SSbD assessments. Projects must test circular EoL routes (recycling, composting, re-use) at TRL 5+ and actively involve end users and consumers from early stages as part of a multi-actor approach. The topic is funded via Horizon Europe grants under the CBE JU 2026 call with an indicative topic budget of around €14 million. Single-stage electronic submission through the Funding & Tenders Portal is required by 22 September 2026. Applicants must follow Horizon Europe General Annexes for eligibility, evaluation and legal/financial conditions and use the application templates provided in the Submission System. The call is competitive, designed for multidisciplinary consortia able to scale and industrially validate bio-based packaging solutions aligned with EU circular economy and chemicals sustainability policies.

Key references and support resources:CBE JU Annual Work Programme and Budget 2026, HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 General Annexes, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, HE Programme Guide, SSbD methodological guidance from JRC and PARC, and CBE JU reference documents and call-specific guidance on the CBE JU website and the Funding & Tenders Portal.

Footnotes

1. 1CBE JU 2026 call for project proposals page and Budget overview lists an indicative contribution for the Films and coatings for circular packaging topic around €14,000,000; the CBE JU call portfolio total is shown as €170,760,699 on the call overview.
2. 2Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework and Methodological Guidance resources are available from the European Commission and the Joint Research Centre; applicants should refer to SSbD guidance to structure the SSbD assessment task in proposals.

Opportunity Overview

This is an Innovation Action (IA) call under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) 2026 work programme. The topic HORIZON-JU seeks to advance bio-based films and coatings for packaging applications that meet stringent technical performance requirements while supporting circular economy principles and regulatory compliance.

Call Identifier and Programme:HORIZON-JU under Horizon Europe, managed by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking, a €2 billioneuro public-private partnership between the European Union and the Bio-based Industries Consortium.

Funding Details

Budget Allocation:€14 million allocated to this specific topic within the total 2026 call budget of €170.7 million.

Indicative Number of Grants:Approximately 2 grants expected, with an indicative average grant size of €7 million per project.

Funding Rate:Horizon Europe standard funding rates apply. Innovation Actions typically receive up to 70 percent of eligible costs for profit-making entities and up to 100 percent for non-profit entities.

Timeline and Submission

Call Opening and Deadline:The call opened on 23 April 2026 and closes on 22 September 2026 at 17:00 CET. This is a single-stage submission process with no preliminary stage.

Submission Format:Proposals must be submitted through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal using the HORIZON JU Innovation Actions submission system with HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based model grant agreement.

Eligibility and Applicant Requirements

Eligibility follows standard Horizon Europe rules. Eligible countries include EU Member States and Associated Countries as defined in Annex B of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. A number of non-EU and non-Associated Countries have made specific provisions for funding availability for their participants. Applicants must demonstrate financial and operational capacity and must not be subject to exclusion criteria as detailed in Annex C of the General Annexes.

Eligible Applicant Types:Research organisations, universities, public entities, SMEs, large enterprises, and non-governmental organisations from eligible countries may apply. Consortia must include at least three independent legal entities from different eligible countries, with at least two from EU Member States or Associated Countries.

Multi-Actor Approach Requirement:Proposals must involve end users and engage consumers from early stages to assess market acceptance and incorporate insights into product development. This is a mandatory requirement for all CBE JU proposals.

Technical and Scope Requirements

Proposals must address the development and demonstration of innovative bio-based films and coatings for packaging applications. The scope encompasses both food and non-food packaging, with at least one non-food packaging application required. While the films and coatings must be bio-based, substrates may be either bio-based or non-bio-based materials.

Technology Readiness Level (TRL) Requirements:Projects must demonstrate at least TRL 6 for innovative technologies for obtaining bio-based films and coatings, and at least TRL 6 for applicability in manufacturing packaging product prototypes. End-of-life testing must reach TRL 5 and above. ¹

Key Technical Challenges to Address:

• Achieving adequate barrier properties against oxygen, moisture, grease and volatiles, as bio-based materials are typically more hydrophilic than conventional plastics like polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate
• Overcoming scalability and reproducibility issues in processing methods, including bio-based coating deposition
• Ensuring coatings adhere well to substrates while maintaining technical properties and not hindering sustainable end-of-life
• Addressing printability concerns, as bio-based surfaces can cause ink issues such as smudging or poor adhesion
• Demonstrating durability under stress and operating conditions for certain bio-based applications

Expected Project Outcomes

Successful projects are expected to contribute to the Circular Economy Action Plan, the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. Specific expected outcomes include:

• Wider availability of bio-based films and coatings for packaging products in the European market
• Improved technical performances of packaging products compared to fossil-based and bio-based benchmarks
• Improved circularity of packaging products against specified market benchmarks taking into account production, use and end-of-life phases

Mandatory Project Requirements

Beyond standard Horizon Europe requirements, proposals must address specific CBE JU requirements:

1. 1Demonstrate compatibility of developed solutions with industrial packaging manufacturing processes through prototype development
2. 2Assess targeted product properties according to intended applications under conditions occurring during use phases, including transport and storage, covering mechanical, barrier, surface properties, resistance to temperature extremes, weathering, moisture and corrosion, food contact compatibility where applicable, and printability
3. 3Apply eco-design principles in line with the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation to reduce over-packaging and enable sustainable end-of-life
4. 4Test selected end-of-life alternatives at TRL 5 and above, including mechanical recycling, chemical recycling, enzymatic recycling, composting and their combinations, as well as re-use and remanufacturing where compatible with application and common practices. Landfilling and incineration are explicitly out of scope
5. 5Assess compatibility with regulatory frameworks, particularly the Single Use Plastics Directive and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, identifying opportunities for bio-based products and potential bottlenecks with recommendations for addressing them
6. 6Apply the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework developed by the European Commission for assessment of targeted bio-based films and coatings ²
7. 7Ensure complementarities with past and ongoing research and innovation projects addressing similar challenges, including projects funded under Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe Cluster 6 and other clusters, and previous BBI JU or CBE JU projects

Evaluation and Award Criteria

Proposals are evaluated against standard Horizon Europe award criteria:excellence, implementation, and impact. Evaluation follows the procedures described in Annex D and Annex F of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. The standard evaluation form for Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions and Innovation Actions will be used with necessary adaptations.

Evaluation Thresholds:Each criterion must achieve a minimum score, and the overall proposal must meet a combined threshold score to be eligible for funding. Specific threshold values are detailed in Annex D of the General Annexes.

Grant Agreement and Legal Framework

Successful proposals will be awarded HORIZON Action Grants with a Budget-Based model grant agreement. The legal and financial set-up of grants is described in Annex G of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Grants follow the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509 and the Horizon Europe Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 2021/695.

Grant Duration:Project duration is not specified in the call documentation but typically ranges from 3 to 5 years for Innovation Actions, subject to proposal design and evaluation outcomes.

Strategic Context and Policy Alignment

This call aligns with the CBE JU's Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for 2022-2030, which identifies strategic priorities in feedstock, processing, products, and cross-cutting aspects of communication and environmental sustainability. The call supports the European Commission's Strategic Framework for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy and contributes to Europe's industrial resilience and competitiveness through biotechnology, biomanufacturing and circular value chains.

Support and Guidance Resources

Applicants have access to multiple support mechanisms:

• Horizon Europe Programme Guide containing detailed guidance on structure, budget and political priorities
• CBE JU Annual Work Programme and Budget 2026 with complete topic descriptions and requirements
• CBE JU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda providing framework for research priorities
• National Contact Points (NCPs) offering guidance, practical information and assistance on Horizon Europe participation
• Enterprise Europe Network providing advice to businesses with special focus on SMEs
• Research Enquiry Service for questions about European research and EU Research Framework Programmes
• IT Helpdesk for technical aspects of proposal submission
• European IPR Helpdesk for intellectual property issues
• CEN-CENELEC and ETSI Research Helpdesks for standardisation guidance
• Partner Search functionality to identify collaboration partners
• Proposal pre-check service offered by the NCP_WIDERA.NET project for eligible country applicants

Key Applicant Considerations

Applicants should note several critical factors when preparing proposals:

• The call requires demonstrated innovation at advanced technology readiness levels, indicating this is not for early-stage research but for scaling and demonstration activities
• Strong emphasis on circular economy principles and end-of-life solutions means proposals must go beyond material development to address full lifecycle sustainability
• Regulatory compliance assessment is mandatory, requiring expertise in EU packaging and chemicals regulations
• The SSbD framework application is a specific requirement distinct from general sustainability considerations, requiring familiarity with the European Commission's assessment methodology
• Multi-actor involvement from early stages is essential, not an optional add-on, requiring genuine engagement with end users and consumers
• Complementarity with existing projects must be demonstrated, requiring thorough literature and project portfolio review
• Proposals must address both food and non-food packaging with at least one non-food application, requiring diverse technical expertise
• Industrial scalability and manufacturing compatibility are central evaluation criteria, not secondary considerations

Application Process Overview

Applicants must submit proposals through the Electronic Submission Service in the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. The application form is available in the submission system and must follow the page limits and layout requirements specified in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form. Applicants should carefully review all conditions and documents referenced in the call, including the CBE JU Call for Proposals 2026 specific instructions and the Horizon Europe Main Work Programme 2026-2027 General Annexes.

Footnotes

1. 1Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) range from TRL 1 (basic research) to TRL 9 (commercial deployment). TRL 6 represents technology demonstrated in a relevant environment, and TRL 5 represents technology validated in a relevant environment.
2. 2The Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) framework, revised in March 2026, provides a voluntary assessment approach for chemicals and materials to guide innovation towards safer and more sustainable solutions over their whole life cycles. The updated Methodological Guidance is expected to be published in April 2026.