Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWSThe Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB, the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS, and Lieblingsköder GmbH are developing bio-based and biodegradable alternatives to conventional PVC plastisols in a new research project. These are initially intended to serve as eco-friendly fishing baits and, in the long term, to replace fossil-based plastics in textile, automotive, and construction applications.
Plastisols are plastic mixtures consisting mainly of a fine thermoplastic powder (usually PVC) and a plasticizer. At room temperature, they are pasty or liquid. When heated, the PVC gels and fuses with the plasticizer to form a permanently elastic, plastic layer. They play an important role in applications such as textile printing, as well as in coatings, seals, and floor coverings. However, such PVC plastisols are made from fossil raw materials and are not biodegradable. In the interest of environmental protection and the reduction of CO₂ emissions, it would be beneficial to replace this important product group with sustainable solutions.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGB (BioCat division, Straubing), Lieblingsköder GmbH (Dessau-Roßlau), and the Fraunhofer IMWS in Halle (Saale) are working on this in the “Bioplastisols” project. Together, they aim to develop bio-based and biodegradable plastisols that can be used in many different areas and replace existing PVC plastisols. Both the polymers used and the required plasticizers and additives are to be bio-based.
The first application being developed is a biodegradable fishing bait for recreational fishing. Such baits are frequently lost during use and end up in water bodies. The plastics they contain can accumulate there, enter the food chain, and thus potentially reach humans as well. “With our approach of using bio-based and biodegradable plastisols as fishing bait, we can reduce this release of plastics into the environment. This creates a new application area for bio-based materials and simultaneously has a positive effect on human and animal health,” says Dr.-Ing. Patrick Hirsch, who leads the project at Fraunhofer IMWS.
The project team is relying on a matrix approach that allows for modular further development and adaptation of the material for various fields of application. In the future, the bioplastisols are also expected to be used as coatings in the textile, automotive, and construction sectors, where they will replace fossil-based materials.
The project will run until November 2027 and is funded by the BMFTR under the “Innovation & Structural Change” program through the “BioZ – Bio-based Innovations from Zeitz and Central Germany” alliance.
(March 27, 2026)