LIFE EBP
CUT (Cyprus University of Technology), Cyprus; SBLA(Sewerage Board of Limassol - Amathus), Cyprus; BB(Societe D’extrusion Du Polyethylene A.Barbier Et Cie), France; AUA(Agricultural University of Athens), Greece; VM(Municipality of Vrilissia), Greece; ACEA(ACEA Pinerolese Industriale S.p.A.), Italy; BPE(BIOMASA PENINSULAR S.A.), Spain; AL(Allegrini SpA), Italy; POOL(POOL.ITI S.r.l.), Italy; UNITELMA (Università degli Studi di Roma Unitelma Sapienza), Italy; TETMA (Técnicas y Tratamientos Medioambientales, S.A.U.), Spain; CM (Castellón City Council), Spain; UNITO(UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TORINO), Italy
Abstract
LIFE EBP aims to convert municipal biowaste into more efficient and diversified products, building on a TRL5 technology developed by the University of Torino (UNITO). Bio-based products (BPs) obtained from municipal biowaste (MBW) are new products, not currently known in the market, patented by UNITO for their unique chemical compositions and usable as agrochemicals, surfactants for tailored applications, and biopolymers for the manufacture of materials. LIFE EBP aims to address current environmental problems by implementing two core actions. First, to prove the process for the production of new bio-based products and insoluble residues (BPs/IR) from MBW, and second, to prove BPs/IR as biofertilisers/agrochemicals, and BPs as bio-based chemicals and biopolymers, are feasible alternatives for commercial fossil-based products for the same use.
The project team will conduct pilot demonstrations showing the environmental, economic and social benefits of BPs/IR in the sectors of municipal biowaste management, agriculture and chemical industry, in five EU countries (Italy, France, Spain, Greece, and Cyprus). These case studies will:
Replicate the BPs/IR production process under real operational conditions using local municipal biowaste as feedstock;
Validate the BPs/IR performance as soil fertilisers, plantbio-stimulants/anti-pathogen agents, biopolymers to make plastics, and surfactants to make detergents;
Confirm BPs/IR compliance with EU regulation to register them according to waste management policy, Common Agriculture Policy, and REACH regulation; and
Assess BPs/IR marketability.
Based on the results achieved, the project team intends to establish joint ventures among stakeholders in the sectors of waste management, agriculture and chemical industry to promote the industrialisation of the BPs/IR and their use in all EU countries.
During its lifetime, LIFE EBP will scale up BPs/IR production and test its pilot plant to upgrade it from TRL5 to TRL6, under close-to-real operational conditions. An after-LIFE replicability plan will foster BPs/IR industrialisation and prove their added value throughout Europe.
The project contributes to the implementation of EU policy, especially waste management plans (WMP), Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the Reach regulation. The projects policy objectives are to include BPs in the EU regulation on fertilisers within CAP, include LIFE EBP hydrolysis as a process for biowaste treatment within WMPs, include BPs as authorised chemical specialties within REACH, and contribute to bio-based products standardisation and certification.
