14th November 2019

Horizon 2020 WaysTUP! Project: turning urban biowaste into biobased products

Turning urban biowaste into a resource is key to a circular economy, and it’s an activity we’re intimately familiar with.

In consistently seeking to innovate more valuable uses for coffee waste, we’re taking part in the EU-funded Horizon 2020 project WaysTUP!, which aims to demonstrate the establishment of new value chains for the use of urban biowaste through a multi-stakeholder approach in line with a circular economy.

The project is designed to showcase a portfolio of new processes converting urban biowaste from different feedstocks into biobased products; e.g. fish and meat waste, spent coffee grounds, household separated biowaste, used cooking oils, etc.

These processes will result in the production of food and feed additives, flavours, insect protein, coffee oil, bioethanol, biosolvents, bioplastics, and more.

The WaysTUP! Project, which kicked off in October 2019, will involve the following activity:

• End-product characterisation and safety assessment;
• Assessment of environmental impact through Life Cycle Assessments of the value chains;
• Development and implementation of a behavioural change approach with citizens and local communities by improving their current perception of urban biowaste as a local resource;
• Enhancement of citizens’ active participation in the separate collection of urban biowaste and an increase in consumer acceptance of urban biowaste-derived products;
• Development of new profitable business models from the new value chains;
• Preparation of market entry for the demonstrated technology solutions and the resulting end-products; and
• Provision of guidance to city managers on adopting new organizational models supporting the valorisation of urban biowaste, as well as evidence-based EU level policy recommendations for decision makers.

Pilot demonstrations will take place in Valencia, London, Alicante, Prague, Athens, L’Alcúdia, Terni and Chania.

The WaysTUP! project, which runs until February 2023, involves 26 research partners, local authorities, businesses and city networks, including the following:
Sociedad Anonima Agricultores de Lavega de Valencia, Biopolis Sl, Aimplas – Asociacion de Investigacion de Materiales Plasticos y Conexas, National Technical University of Athens, Polytechneio Kritis, Universidad de Alicante, bio-bean Limited, Nafigate Corporation, A.S., Novamont Spa, Industrias Mecanicas Alcudia Sa, Centro de Investigaciones Energeticas, Medioambientales y Tecnologicas-Ciemat, Tbw Research Gesmbh, Metsa Tissue Oyi, Nutrition Sciences, Adm Wild Valencia Sa, Terra i Xufa Sociedad Limitada, Draxis Environmental S.A., Fundacion Circe Centro de Investigacion de Recursos y Consumos Energeticos, Interuniversitair Micro-Electronica Centrum, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Biosense Institute, Εταμ Sa, Area Metropolitana de Barcelona, Ayuntamiento de Valencia, Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature and Diktyo Poleon Gia Ti Viosimi Anaptyxi Kai Kykliki Oikonomia.

 

For further information on the WaysTUP! project, contact Dr Angela Perdones: aperdones@sav.es