Periodic Reporting for period 3 - WASTE2FUNC (Lactic acid and biosurfactants sourced from sustainable agricultural and industrial (food) WASTE feedstocks as novel FUNCtional ingredients for consumer products)
Période du rapport: 2023-12-01 au 2024-11-30
WASTE2FUNC aimed to demonstrate the production of biosurfactants and lactic acid from food waste from agriculture, the food industry, supermarkets and restaurants.
A first objective was the development of a a registration website/app to register food waste flows from the agriculture and food industry for collection by a waste collector. Therefore intensive consultation with farmers about how the collection of such food waste is worthwhile and what compensation should be given in return was organised. In addition, consultations were also aimed to be held about the availability of these waste streams, both among farmers and the food industry.
Technology was developed prior to the project to enable production of biosurfactants and lactic acid from supermarket and restaurant food waste and hence the second objective was to demonstrate these technologies and target TRL6-7.
Many of the abovementioned food waste flows have no end-use and they rot on the field or are discarded and often incinerated. This leads to unnecessary CO2 emissions and can hence be avoided by using the streams to further convert into biological soaps and bioplastics.
The technology already developed prior to the project to enable the conversion was aimed to be further optimized within the WASTE2FUNC project and brought to a pre-industrial scale. This would make it possible to investigate the economic feasibility of all developed technology and this new value chain and to examine the sustainability of the entire process. Furthermore, also potential regulatory hurdles have been investigated and resolved and business models were be set up.
Together with environmental, economic, social and regulatory analyses and constant optimization, performed by the WASTE2FUNC project partners, the aim was to decrease CO2 emissions with at least 20% and increase value from waste with 2-10 fold and create (high tech) jobs for the primary- and downstream sector in Belgium and Europe.
he results of the Waste2Func project have contributed and will further contribute to a more sustainable industry by using renewable resources and by its circular approach.
A first objective was the development of a a registration website/app to register food waste flows from the agriculture and food industry for collection by a waste collector. Therefore intensive consultation with farmers about how the collection of such food waste is worthwhile and what compensation should be given in return was organised. In addition, consultations were also aimed to be held about the availability of these waste streams, both among farmers and the food industry.
Technology was developed prior to the project to enable production of biosurfactants and lactic acid from supermarket and restaurant food waste and hence the second objective was to demonstrate these technologies and target TRL6-7.
Many of the abovementioned food waste flows have no end-use and they rot on the field or are discarded and often incinerated. This leads to unnecessary CO2 emissions and can hence be avoided by using the streams to further convert into biological soaps and bioplastics.
The technology already developed prior to the project to enable the conversion was aimed to be further optimized within the WASTE2FUNC project and brought to a pre-industrial scale. This would make it possible to investigate the economic feasibility of all developed technology and this new value chain and to examine the sustainability of the entire process. Furthermore, also potential regulatory hurdles have been investigated and resolved and business models were be set up.
Together with environmental, economic, social and regulatory analyses and constant optimization, performed by the WASTE2FUNC project partners, the aim was to decrease CO2 emissions with at least 20% and increase value from waste with 2-10 fold and create (high tech) jobs for the primary- and downstream sector in Belgium and Europe.
he results of the Waste2Func project have contributed and will further contribute to a more sustainable industry by using renewable resources and by its circular approach.
- Ecoson Recycling (part of Darling Ingredients) has created an efficient registration and collection system to collect and source organic waste, which facilitates both the routing and administrative process from its companies site, as well as the handling and information flow for (potential) customers. With the knowledge Ecoson Recycling has from other companies in the group, and the support of the work done in the Waste2Func consortium (from the workshops, see below), they have developed both a web portal and an application. New clients can use these tools to easily register and find their way to the company. Existing clients can use this tool to request a collection of their waste, track previous collections and find the administrative documentation they need for their bookkeeping. The web application is ready to use and also implements all necessary administrative work required for waste collection. It can be found via the direct link https://melden-acc.ecoson.be(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) or on the main webpage of Ecoson.be by clicking on “My Ecoson”. The application is, at this moment, available in 4 different languages, being English, Dutch, French and German. Before being able to login, the customer should have a customer number, received from an Ecoson commercial contact. This means it is not possible to login and start ordering waste pickups without prior screening or contact with the commercial team at Ecoson.
-The flemish Farmers cooperative (Boerenbond) organised several events, workshops and one-on-one meetings with farmers to get as much input as possible from the primary sector.
Deliverables on their work can be found on the website (https://www.waste2func.eu/en/publications/(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) - Deliverable 7.1-7.5).
- BBEPP and NNFCC organised workshops and meetings with stakeholders to get more insight on what was needed from feedstock owner and technology owner perspective.
Deliverables on their work can be found on the website (https://www.waste2func.eu/en/publications/ - Deliverable 7.7-7.12).
- Building of DEMO process lines for DEMO production of waste-based Lactic Acid and microbial biosurfacts finalised in Gent and Antwerp, Belgium.
- Considering the processes: (1) Pre-treatment methods for several waste- and side streams optimized and are scaled up; (2) Optimisation and demonstration of 2G Lactic Acid production; (3) Optimisation and demonstration of 2G Microbial Biosurfactants production
- Successful application testing and formulation testing leading to the following prototypes: (1) Prototype development for the application of the above-mentioned produced 2G Lactic Acid and 2G Microbial Biosurfactants from the optimised and demonstrated processes: Two prototypes were officially launched by Ecover in the “Too good to waste” campaign (2(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) Polylactic Acid (PLA) prototype development ready; (3) Microbial BSs personal care prototype development ready (hand soap)
- In depth study of all regulatory requirements to facilitate in bringing the WASTE2FUNC innovations to the market
- Life Cycle Analysis study finished and confirmed the anticipated minimal 20% reduction of CO2 emissions compared to 1G State-Of-The-Art processes/products for 1G Lactic Acid and Microbial Biosurfactants
- Business models and Investment Teasers were finalised and all of the above has led to the kick off of two follow-up CBE-JU projects, kicked off in 2024: SURFs UP and CIRCLE
-Substantial private and public investments were succesfully obtained by both technology owners.
- Appealing, out-of-the-box and informative WASTE2FUNC project video launched with the goal to reach the general public and to also explain the bioeconomy narrative to the general public. This video was translated in several European Languages (Dutch, French, German, Spanish and Italian) and all versions with and without subtitles can be found back on the BBEPP youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL00RyxLNivXv_wrMt7ptHwoFcVXITMyFU(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) These video’s can freely be used by anyone to communicate in schools for example.
- Organisation of the WASTE2FUNC final event, with policy recommendations and final conclusions: see website.
-The flemish Farmers cooperative (Boerenbond) organised several events, workshops and one-on-one meetings with farmers to get as much input as possible from the primary sector.
Deliverables on their work can be found on the website (https://www.waste2func.eu/en/publications/(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) - Deliverable 7.1-7.5).
- BBEPP and NNFCC organised workshops and meetings with stakeholders to get more insight on what was needed from feedstock owner and technology owner perspective.
Deliverables on their work can be found on the website (https://www.waste2func.eu/en/publications/ - Deliverable 7.7-7.12).
- Building of DEMO process lines for DEMO production of waste-based Lactic Acid and microbial biosurfacts finalised in Gent and Antwerp, Belgium.
- Considering the processes: (1) Pre-treatment methods for several waste- and side streams optimized and are scaled up; (2) Optimisation and demonstration of 2G Lactic Acid production; (3) Optimisation and demonstration of 2G Microbial Biosurfactants production
- Successful application testing and formulation testing leading to the following prototypes: (1) Prototype development for the application of the above-mentioned produced 2G Lactic Acid and 2G Microbial Biosurfactants from the optimised and demonstrated processes: Two prototypes were officially launched by Ecover in the “Too good to waste” campaign (2(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) Polylactic Acid (PLA) prototype development ready; (3) Microbial BSs personal care prototype development ready (hand soap)
- In depth study of all regulatory requirements to facilitate in bringing the WASTE2FUNC innovations to the market
- Life Cycle Analysis study finished and confirmed the anticipated minimal 20% reduction of CO2 emissions compared to 1G State-Of-The-Art processes/products for 1G Lactic Acid and Microbial Biosurfactants
- Business models and Investment Teasers were finalised and all of the above has led to the kick off of two follow-up CBE-JU projects, kicked off in 2024: SURFs UP and CIRCLE
-Substantial private and public investments were succesfully obtained by both technology owners.
- Appealing, out-of-the-box and informative WASTE2FUNC project video launched with the goal to reach the general public and to also explain the bioeconomy narrative to the general public. This video was translated in several European Languages (Dutch, French, German, Spanish and Italian) and all versions with and without subtitles can be found back on the BBEPP youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL00RyxLNivXv_wrMt7ptHwoFcVXITMyFU(s’ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) These video’s can freely be used by anyone to communicate in schools for example.
- Organisation of the WASTE2FUNC final event, with policy recommendations and final conclusions: see website.
- Existing processes for microbial biosurfactant production on 1G substrates are adapted, optimised and scaled towards 2G food waste feedstocks for both lactic acid and biosurfactants
- New-to-market BSs are produced on 2G substrates, before only on 1G substrates
- Building of DEMO process lines for DEMO scale production of 2G waste based LA at BIOG and BBEPP ready.
- Development of WASTE2FUNC supply-chain and web application developed by ECOSON (see results).
- Four prototypes with WASTE2FUNC biochemicals produced and tested (see results).
- Life Cycle Analysis study finished and confirmed the anticipated minimal 20% reduction of CO2 emissions compared to 1G State-Of-The-Art processes/products for 1G Lactic Acid and Microbial Biosurfactants
- Business models and Investment Teasers were finalised and all of the above has led to the kick off of two follow-up CBE-JU projects, kicked off in 2024: SURFs UP and CIRCLE
- Linked to the previous bullet point: substantial private and public investments were succesfully obtained by both technology owners and this has led to many direct and indirect new jobs in both companies
- New-to-market BSs are produced on 2G substrates, before only on 1G substrates
- Building of DEMO process lines for DEMO scale production of 2G waste based LA at BIOG and BBEPP ready.
- Development of WASTE2FUNC supply-chain and web application developed by ECOSON (see results).
- Four prototypes with WASTE2FUNC biochemicals produced and tested (see results).
- Life Cycle Analysis study finished and confirmed the anticipated minimal 20% reduction of CO2 emissions compared to 1G State-Of-The-Art processes/products for 1G Lactic Acid and Microbial Biosurfactants
- Business models and Investment Teasers were finalised and all of the above has led to the kick off of two follow-up CBE-JU projects, kicked off in 2024: SURFs UP and CIRCLE
- Linked to the previous bullet point: substantial private and public investments were succesfully obtained by both technology owners and this has led to many direct and indirect new jobs in both companies