Utilizing Bio-based Coatings to Address PFAS Concerns - A Strategic Analysis Using PESTLE and SWOT Tool

This poster was showcased at the Polymers 2024 conference held in Athens (Greece) on 28-31 May 2024. Abstract Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are known for their excellent water and oil-repellency properties and are utilized in a wide range of everyday products. However, these artificial chemicals are persistent and can severely impact the environment and human health. To overcome the use of PFAS in coatings, the BIO-SUSHY project aims to replace them by using bio-based alternatives comprising sol-gel precursors, polymers, and bio-additives.To guarantee efficient exploitation and the market uptake of the project, a PESTLE (Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Legal, Environmental) and SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analyses have been conducted.While the PESTLE examines the macro external factors, the SWOT analysis considers both internal and external factors. In the BIO-SUSHY project, it was preliminarily identified that policy frameworks such as the Chemical Strategy for Sustainability and the thriving biobased market offer economic opportunities, complemented by societal preferences for sustainable and healthier alternatives. Ongoing technological trends with sol-gel coatings also support the project’s goals. Meanwhile, BIO-SUSHY’s SWOT analysis identified internal strengths like innovative bio-based coatings and robust methodologies. Moreover, the project consortium seems to benefit from social acceptance tools, a certification program, and market demand driven by PFAS restrictions. However, foreseen challenges include market price competitiveness, funding limitations, and compliance issues.Therefore, this work aims to provide an overview of the project concept and the use of business tools to facilitate the assessment of the strategic project planning process in the bio-based field.The BIO-SUSHY project is funded by the European Union under the Grant Agreement Number 101091464. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. Keywords PFAS; biobased; PESTLE; SWOT; bioadditives; coatings