BIO-SUSHY Co-Hosts “Beyond PFAS” Workshop at SICT 2025 Conference

The BIO-SUSHY project made a significant impact at the SICT 2025 Conference in Albufeira, Portugal, with its participation in the Beyond PFAS Workshop on April 23, 2025. Co-hosted by BIO-SUSHY coordinator Mrs. Mireille Poelman (Materia Nova, Belgium) and Dr. Fabiola Brusciotti (TECNALIA, Spain), the workshop highlighted the advancements in PFAS-free coating technologies from four EU-funded projects.

Workshop Highlights

The Beyond PFAS Workshop, attended by 40-50 participants, featured eight presentations from the four sister projects: BIO-SUSHY, PROPLANET, TORNADO, and ZEROF. The workshop showcased innovative, safe, and sustainable coating solutions, addressing challenges in packaging, textiles, kitchenware, and cosmetic glass applications.

Presentation Schedule

• 13:45 – 14:05: Waterborne PFAS-free coatings for packaging and textile sectors – Dr. Raquel Rodriguez, TECNALIA, Spain
• 14:05 – 14:25: PFAS-free non-stick coatings for kitchenware applications (TORNADO) – Dr. Fabiola Brusciotti, TECNALIA, Spain
• 14:25 – 14:45: PFAS-free sol-gel hybrid coatings with hydrophobic and non-stick properties (PROPLANET) – Dr. Fabiola Brusciotti, TECNALIA, Spain
• 14:45 – 15:05: Biopolymer-based hydrophobic textile coatings (PROPLANET) – Dr. Anja Verbic, National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia
• 15:05 – 15:25: Synthesis of safe and sustainable PFAS-free omniphobic coatings – Mrs. Tamara Piock, Fraunhofer ISC, Germany
• 15:25 – 15:45: Formulation and application of PFAS-free water and oil repellent coatings for textiles – Mrs. Ruth Garcia, Leitat Technological Center, Spain
• 15:45 – 16:05: Safe and Sustainable by Design PFAS-free Hybrid Coating for Cosmetic Glass Packaging (BIO-SUSHY) – Mrs. Mireille Poelman, Materia Nova, Belgium
• 16:05 – 16:25: Modified polysaccharide-based barrier solutions – Dr. Miika Nikinmaa, VTT, Finland

The presentations were followed by lively Q&A sessions, giving room to engaging discussions with the audience on the future of PFAS-free technologies and their applications.

Networking and Collaboration

The day concluded with a networking dinner attended by partners from the four sister projects. The dinner provided a platform to discuss coating challenges, Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) principles, future prospects, and upcoming EU funding opportunities.

To download the book of abstracts and know more about the workshop, please visit https://www.setcor.org/conferences/sict-2025/conference-program