Background Global plastic production increased from 1.5 million tonnes per year in 1950 to 250 million tonnes in 2013, and it is estimated to triple by 2050. Plastics are used extensively in product packaging, such as food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Around 30% of plastics used worldwide are used for packaging. The most common plastic compounds are petroleum-based polymers such as polystyrene. For example, around 450 billion disposable coffee cups are used per year in the EU and the USA combined (equal to 6.7 million tonnes of waste per year). These cups are often made with polystyrene and, even if the rest of the components are organic, the use of fossil-based materials makes this waste difficult or impossible to recycle. This is a common problem and in total around a half of all plastic waste in the EU is landfilled. Therefore, much energy and processed raw material is lost, instead of being recycled into new products. Objectives The objective of the BIODOLOMER for LIFE project is to demonstrate an innovative 100% ‘fossil-free’ biomaterial, Biodolomer®, which can replace plastic in product packaging. The project will test its use in four different commercial reference products (freezing bags, cutlery, and food and drink packaging) to verify the possibility of introducing it to the European plastic and packaging industry. This new material can be treated as organic waste through energy recovery/incineration, organic recycling/composting and material recycling, thus avoiding landfilling and upgrading management practice to comply with the waste hierarchy established by the Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EC). The new material is also cost efficient and highly transferrable, as it can be produced with plastic processing machinery already on the market. Another key innovation is that no waste will be generated during its production, making it resource efficient. Furthermore, its production process requires less energy than used for producting plastics, cardboard and aluminum, with energy consumption reductions of up to 30%. Therefore, the project is fully in line with the aim of the 7th Environment Action Programme to transform the EU into a resource-efficient, low-carbon economy. Expected results: 65% reduction of waste compared to plastics, i.e. a reduction of 32 500 kg waste; 50% less energy consumption in the production of the material; 50% more biogas produced from waste based on the new material; Up to 60% reduction of CO2 emissions in the complete lifecycle of the new material; Four products based on fossil-free Biodolomer®, each validated by end users; and A life cycle assessment study performed on fossil-free Biodolomer®.A future full-scale implementation of the material would mean a significant reduction in energy-intensive plastic and packaging materials within the EU. If successful, it will allow for several industrial actors across Europe to consider substituting current materials with the more sustainable green material, enabling waste-handling companies to be able to generate more biogas from the waste.