In the latest #CBEScaleUp Photo Competition, projects could compete in four categories: Scaling Innovation, People and Skills, Circular Europe, and Creative Focus. Therefore, the LUCRA communication team has collected and curated the best project photos from the consortium at the beginning of the year.
The final selection by the jury took place at the end of January, and we are delighted to announce that one of LUCRA’s submissions was selected as the winner in the category “Circular Europe.”
To celebrate this achievement, we are using this opportunity to present a virtual photo exhibition. In addition to the winning image, we are also showcasing several of our favourite submissions from the project.
Each photo tells a story. Together, they offer a glimpse into the people, processes, and ideas behind LUCRA and its contribution to a more sustainable and circular bioeconomy.
The winning photo from LUCRA partner Boreal Bioproducts depicts extracted sawdust in a Petri dish placed on a tree stump in a moss-covered forest. It reflects LUCRA’s innovative process of converting waste like sawdust, a wood industry residue, into succinic acid through enzymatic hydrolysis, microbial fermentation, and electrochemical extraction.
As Jaakko Pajunen, CEO of Boreal Bioproducts, explains, the inspiration behind the image lies in a deep respect for nature and its origins:
“We wanted to highlight the naturality and purity of our raw materials, sourced from the pristine boreal forests. In the Nordic region, the relationship with the forest has always been multifaceted. It has provided the essentials for living – the source of livelihood – while also offering a place for mental relief, relaxation, and reflection. Forests are deeply rooted in our cultural and spiritual heritage. By using them sustainably and upgrading side streams into higher-value applications, we aim to honor and preserve all of these dimensions.”
Together, the image and its story emphasize not only technological innovation but also a philosophy – one that respects the forest as both a resource and a legacy.
Building on the winning image, we can dive deeper into the material itself. A second photograph from Boreal Bioproducts presents a scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of sawdust, revealing a world that remains invisible to the naked eye.
At this microscopic scale, the surface of a single sawdust particle transforms into a complex landscape of fibers, pores, and irregular structures. These intricate features are not only visually striking but also highly relevant for the LUCRA process. The porous architecture increases the accessible surface area, enabling enzymes to efficiently break down the biomass during hydrolysis and making the subsequent fermentation steps more effective.
What appears as a simple wood residue in the forest thus reveals itself as a highly structured and functional material – one that holds significant potential when viewed through the lens of science and innovation.
Taken in June under the blazing sun of Chania, this photograph from Steinbeis Europa Zentrum shows a striking moment at the recycling plant, where the heat, the wind, and the protective gear combined to create an almost surreal effect. With temperatures reaching 30°C, the visit to the municipal recycling plant became an experience of contrasts – heat, movement, and discovery.
Guided through the facility, we gained valuable insight into the complexities of managing large-scale recycling operations. Particularly striking was how strongly the system is influenced by the tourist season, with fluctuating waste volumes shaping both logistics and capacity on a daily basis.
As a light wind caught the protective coveralls, they inflated and shifted, giving the figures an almost astronaut-like appearance – hence the title “Men on the Moon.” One lesson became clear very quickly: 30°C and plastic coveralls are a demanding combination.
This striking image from Ghent University shows succinic acid in its crystallised form, as seen under the microscope. Following fermentation and the electrochemical downstreaming process, the succinic acid is purified and concentrated, eventually forming crystals – the solid form that can be further processed into bio-based chemicals and materials.
At the microscopic level, the structured, orderly nature of the crystals stands in stark contrast to the raw, fibrous biomass from which they originated. The image is a compelling reminder of how LUCRA transforms low-value residues into high-value, functional products – from forest to lab to industry.
This vibrant image from CNR-SCITEC captures a row of test tubes, each filled with a different colored catalyst used in polymer synthesis. In the LUCRA process, these catalysts play a key role in transforming basic monomers and oligomers into functional polymeric materials with precisely designed properties.
The array of colors reflects not just chemistry in action, but the careful experimentation and control required to tune polymers for specific applications – from packaging and agri-food solutions to advanced composites and bio-based materials. Each test tube represents a step in understanding how molecular design, reaction conditions, and processing influence the structure and performance of the final polymer.
At first glance, it’s a simple laboratory scene. Yet, at a closer look, it embodies the creativity and precision behind turning raw chemical building blocks into materials that are both functional and sustainable.
This lively snapshot was taken at the Bio Base Europe Pilot Plant (BBEPP), LUCRA’s hub for scale-up and pilot operations. The photo shows a motivated, young team peeking out from behind a row of 30 L fermentation reactors.
BBEPP plays a crucial role in LUCRA by bridging the gap between laboratory experiments and industrial production. Here, scientists and engineers refine fermentation conditions, monitor microbial performance, and optimize processes to ensure that the biomass-to-succinic-acid conversion works efficiently on a larger scale.
The image captures not only the technical side of scale-up but also the collaborative and spirited atmosphere that drives innovation. It’s a reminder that transforming raw biomass into high-value chemicals is as much about teamwork, creativity, and enthusiasm as it is about enzymes and reactors.
The project is supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking and its members.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CBE JU. Neither the European Union nor the CBE JU can be held responsible for them.
This work was also co-funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) under the UK government’s Horizon Europe funding guarantee grant number 10082169.
