SSbD bio-based solutions to replace hazardous conventional chemicals for textiles production

The HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-02 grant opportunity focuses on developing Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) bio-based solutions intended to replace hazardous conventional chemicals used in textiles production. This grant falls under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) as part of the Horizon Europe framework, emphasizing innovation actions.

Eligible applicants include startups, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), large enterprises, universities, research institutes, non-profit organizations, public-private partnerships, and NGOs actively involved in bio-based innovation. The consortium requirement indicates that at least three independent entities from different EU member states or associated countries must collaborate, highlighting the call's commitment to a multi-actor approach.

Geographically, the scope of this opportunity extends to EU member states, European Economic Area (EEA) countries, EU candidate countries, and associated third countries. The focus is on advancing Europe’s bioeconomy by developing solutions that are both safe and sustainable, directly aligned with EU strategies for sustainable textiles and circular economy goals.

The specific target sectors are textiles, biotechnology, chemicals, and environmental sustainability. The initiative aims to create non-toxic alternatives to hazardous materials commonly used in textile production, addressing significant environmental concerns like pollution and climate change.

The project stage is centered around the demonstration and validation of innovative bio-based alternatives, requiring the scaling of lab-tested solutions to industrial readiness. A total budget of €14 million has been allocated to this specific topic, with individual grants likely ranging between €1 million and €5 million.

The application process follows a single-stage model, and proposals are required to be submitted electronically by 18 September 2025. Grants will cover up to 70% of eligible costs, with a co-funding requirement that mandates private sector participants to contribute at least 30% of the total costs.

The expected outcomes include improved sustainability and circularity in the textiles sector, reduction of pollutants, and enhanced socio-economic impacts along the textile value chain. Proposals should ensure involvement from diverse stakeholders, such as textile manufacturers, raw materials suppliers, and regional officials, and include a framework that addresses health and environmental safety.

The opportunity encourages collaborative innovation to ensure compatibility with existing manufacturing practices while aiming for impactful solutions across the entire textiles lifecycle, from production to recycling. This aligns with broader EU objectives and aims to advance responsible practices within the textile industry, addressing both environmental and social dimensions.

The funding opportunity is HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-02, titled "SSbD bio-based solutions to replace hazardous conventional chemicals for textiles production". It falls under the HORIZON Call Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025) and is a HORIZON JU Innovation Action (HORIZON-JU-IA) with a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG] Model Grant Agreement. The call is currently open for submission with a single-stage deadline. The opening date was April 3, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is September 18, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcomes of successful proposals include: Availability of Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) bio-based solutions for the textile industry that meet technical and market performance requirements, improvement in the sustainability, circularity, and safety of the textiles industry, reduction of pollution (including micropollutants and emerging contaminants) from the production, use, and end-of-life phases of textile value chains, and improved social impacts along the textiles value-chain and broad socio-economic benefits.

The scope of this topic is to address the EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles, which aims to increase circularity and sustainability in the textiles value chain. The European consumption of textiles significantly impacts climate change and the environment. Conventional textiles production is resource-intensive and polluting, often relying on hazardous chemicals to achieve desired functionalities and properties. These chemicals include coatings like PFAs, heavy-metal-rich dyes and fixing agents, solvents, and surfactants. Fossil-based polymers like PVC and PU, commonly used in coated fabrics, are also under scrutiny due to potential adverse effects from additives and high health and safety impacts during production, use, and end-of-life. The call seeks to demonstrate and introduce adequate substitutes for these hazardous substances in textile value chains, considering challenges in remanufacturing and textiles-to-textiles recycling, and to explore the potential of innovative bio-based chemicals and processes.

Proposals should demonstrate SSbD bio-based alternatives to hazardous conventional chemicals used in textile production. The bio-based solutions can be applicable to both bio-based and fossil-based textiles production. The chemicals in scope for replacement include those used in production processes and those included in the end products. The SSbD bio-based solutions can be chemicals (organic and/or inorganic compounds) or processing routes that remove the need for chemical-to-chemical substitution. Proposals should ensure compatibility of innovative chemicals and/or processes with textile manufacturing equipment and practices, and test the impact of the alternative bio-based chemical(s) and/or process on the end-product(s) based on available standards. The action can target garments, technical textiles, or other products (e.g., footwear, non-woven textiles) to improve the production of bio-based and/or fossil-based textiles. A thorough assessment of technical performance, human health safety, and environmental impact against relevant benchmarks is required, considering production, use, and end of life (EoL) scenarios, including recycling and remanufacturing.

In addition to the general requirements for this type of action as described in section 2.2.3.1 of the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2025, proposals should ensure the involvement of key actors in the relevant value chains, including textiles manufacturers (especially SMEs and brand owners), raw materials suppliers, process industries, regional/local officials, and workers’ representatives related to health, safety, and environment (HS&E). Proposals should include a task to apply the safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) framework developed by the European Commission, considering the health and safety of workers and end-users, and contribute recommendations to advance the application of the SSbD framework. Complementarities with past and ongoing R&I projects addressing similar challenges, including projects funded under Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe (Cluster 6 and Cluster 4 as well as the upcoming partnership on Textiles: ‘Textiles for the Future’) and BBI JU/CBE JU projects, should be ensured. Examples of relevant projects include GLAUKOS, CELLFIL, TexMaTer, SOLSTICE, and BioSusTex.

A new version of the Application Form (Part B) template is available in the Submission System as of April 4, 2025. The submission session is available as of April 3, 2025, for various topics including HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-RIA-02, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-RIA-01, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IAFlag-03, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-05, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-03, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IAFlag-02, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-01, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-RIA-03, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-02, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-04, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IAFlag-04, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IAFlag-01, and HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-CSA-01.

General conditions for admissibility, eligible countries, financial and operational capacity, exclusion, evaluation and award criteria, submission and evaluation processes, indicative timeline, and legal and financial set-up are described in the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. Specific conditions are detailed in section 2.2.3 of the CBE JU Annual Work Programme 2025.

Application forms are available in the Submission System, and evaluation forms will be adapted from the standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA). Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide, and the Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is the HE MGA. Call-specific instructions are in the CBE JU Call for proposals 2025. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025, the HE Framework Programme 2021/695, the HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, rules for legal entity validation, the EU Grants AGA, and the Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual.

The budget overview indicates that the topic HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-02 has a budget of around EUR 7,000,000 for the year 2025, and it is anticipated that two grants will be awarded.

There are 58 partner search announcements available for collaboration on this topic. LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests on the Funding & Tenders Portal.

To start the submission process, applicants should access the Electronic Submission Service via the submission button, selecting the appropriate type of action and model grant agreement.

This funding opportunity aims to foster the development and adoption of safe and sustainable bio-based alternatives to hazardous chemicals currently used in the textile industry. It aligns with the EU's broader goals of promoting a circular bioeconomy, enhancing sustainability in the textile sector, and reducing pollution. By encouraging collaboration among key stakeholders and emphasizing the application of the SSbD framework, the call seeks to drive innovation and create a more environmentally friendly and socially responsible textile industry. The call is specifically targeted at projects that can demonstrate viable bio-based solutions, assess their impacts across the entire lifecycle, and contribute to the development of safer and more sustainable practices in the textile value chain.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, based on the nature of Horizon Europe and CBE JU calls, eligible applicants typically include: SMEs, large enterprises, universities, research institutes, and other types of organizations involved in research and innovation within the bio-based sector. The call encourages the involvement of textile manufacturers, especially SMEs and brand owners, raw materials suppliers, process industries, regional/local officials, and workers’ representatives related to HS&E, suggesting these are also potential applicants or partners.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG], as indicated in the "Type of MGA" section. The call falls under HORIZON-JU-IA (HORIZON JU Innovation Actions).

Consortium Requirement: The call emphasizes the Multi-Actor Approach (MAA), indicating that a consortium is strongly encouraged, if not required. The call specifies the need for adequate involvement of key actors in the value chains, including textile manufacturers, SMEs, brand owners, raw materials suppliers, process industries, regional/local officials, and workers’ representatives. This suggests that a consortium approach is necessary to meet the requirements of the call.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility is described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, which is a standard reference for Horizon Europe calls. Generally, Horizon Europe is open to entities from EU member states, associated countries, and certain third countries. The text mentions that "A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects," and refers to the Horizon Europe Programme Guide for more information.

Target Sector: The primary target sector is the textile industry, with a focus on promoting sustainability, circularity, and safety by replacing hazardous chemicals with bio-based alternatives. This includes the bioeconomy, chemicals, and environmental sectors. The call also aligns with the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, and the EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned in the provided text. However, eligibility extends to EU member states, associated countries, and potentially certain third countries as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Project Stage: The project stage is demonstration and innovation. The call aims to "Demonstrate SSbD bio-based alternatives to hazardous conventional chemicals used in the production of textiles," indicating that the projects should be at the stage of demonstrating and validating innovative solutions. The call is for Innovation Actions (IA), which typically focus on piloting, demonstrating, or scaling up existing technologies.

Funding Amount: The funding amount is variable depending on the specific topic. The budget overview lists several topics with indicative funding amounts: HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-RIA-02, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-RIA-01, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-RIA-03 are around 3,500,000 EUR, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-05, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-03, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-01, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-02, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-04 are around 7,000,000 EUR, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IAFlag-03, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IAFlag-02, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IAFlag-04, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IAFlag-01 are around 20,000,000 EUR and HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-CSA-01 is around 1,000,000 EUR. The specific call, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-02, has an indicative budget of around 7,000,000 EUR.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as indicated by "Open For Submission" and the single-stage deadline model.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant.

Application Stages: The application process is single-stage, as indicated by "Deadline model: single-stage."

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The co-funding requirements are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, Horizon Europe grants typically fund a significant portion of the project costs, but may require some level of co-funding from the applicants or other sources.

This opportunity, HORIZON-JU-CBE-2025-IA-02, is a call for Innovation Actions under the Horizon Europe program, specifically targeting the replacement of hazardous chemicals in the textile industry with safe-and-sustainable-by-design (SSbD) bio-based alternatives. The call aims to support projects that demonstrate and validate innovative bio-based solutions that improve the sustainability, circularity, and safety of textile production. The projects should address the entire lifecycle of textiles, from production to end-of-life, and ensure the involvement of key stakeholders across the value chain, including SMEs, brand owners, and workers' representatives. Successful proposals will contribute to the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, and the EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles, while also aligning with the objectives of the Mission "Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030". Applicants are expected to form consortia that include diverse expertise and ensure the compatibility of the proposed solutions with existing textile manufacturing equipment and practices. The call provides a grant with an indicative budget of around 7,000,000 EUR and follows a single-stage application process with a deadline of September 18, 2025.