EMBRACED

Establishing a Multi-purpose Biorefinery for the Recycling of the organic content of AHP waste in a Circular Economy Domain

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Project details

Type of project: Innovation Action - Demonstration
Project focus: Bio-based polymers & plastics
Feedstock origin: Organic waste
Feedstock type: Organic fraction of municipal solid waste

Project period: 1 June 2017 - 31 December 2022
Status: Completed
CBE JU Contribution: € 10 494 611,74
Call identifier: H2020-BBI-JTI-2016

Summary

Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHP) waste, which includes used nappies for babies and adults, menstrual products, and wipes, among others, are currently considered a non-recyclable fraction of municipal waste. 8,500,000 tons of such waste are incinerated or landfilled in Europe each year.

The EMBRACED project has demonstrated a replicable, economically viable, and environmentally sustainable model of an integrated biorefinery that uses the cellulosic fraction of such waste to produce bio-based building blocks, polymers, and fertilisers. The biorefinery uses a circular economy model, closing the cycle of raw materials and minimising the use of primary resources.

Demonstrate a replicable logistic scheme and service which will enable the collection of 10,000 tons of separated AHP waste per year.
Demonstrate the recovery of three separate high-purity fractions from AHP waste suitable for subsequent added-value efficient use.
Demonstrate a low-cost, efficient one-step process for obtaining 2G fermentable sugars from high-purity AHP waste cellulose, as well as processes for converting these fermentable sugars into bio-based building blocks and polyesters.
Use the obtained bio-based polyesters to produce biodegradable films for non-food packaging and materials for medical applications.
Valorise all by-products for final applications, such as organic fertilisers, plastic bins and caps, and absorbent underpads.
Encourage the local community to collect and recycle AHP waste.
Reduce the environmental impacts related to the AHP’s end of life.
Prepare the market uptake of the developed products and processes through the development of standardisation measures.

Scaled up, adapted enhanced an existing AHP pre-treatment plant for the separation of cellulose, and super absorbent fractions.
Showcased an innovative value chain by converting AHP waste into sugars and then into bio-based building blocks for bioplastics.
Validated efficient and sustainable protocols for converting AHP waste into bio-based plastic formulations through a virtuous integration of biotechnology and chemistry.
Successfully scaled up value chain processes at a demonstration scale, including the installation of process units and integration at Novamont’s premises, leading to the production of biodegradable and compostable bio-based materials.

Supported the separate collection of AHP waste in Amsterdam, Paris, and Verona using Smart Bins pilots.
Completed a scenario analysis for logistics and conferral plan to collect 10,000 tons per year of feedstock for the biorefinery.
Contributed to obtaining high-quality compost from the solid fraction of digested sludge.
A second value chain for producing PHB from AHP waste cellulose sugars was demonstrated, showing promising results for future development.
Evaluated the use of co-products from the biotechnological process for plant bio-based fertilisers and stimulants.
Advanced state-of-the-art with an integrated supply chain model for recycling AHP waste, transforming materials into building blocks and polymers for various applications.

Consortium map

Project coordination

Fater S.p.A. Pescara, Italy

Consortium

NOVAMONT SPA Novara, Italy
FUNDACION CIRCE CENTRO DE INVESTIGACION DE RECURSOS Y CONSUMOS ENERGETICOS Zaragoza, Spain
EDIZIONI AMBIENTE SRL Milano, Italy
BV RUBBERFABRIEK WITTENBURG Zeewolde, Netherlands
FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV Munchen, Germany
SAPONIA KEMIJSKA, PREHRAMBENA I FARMACEUTSKA INDUSTRIJA DD Osijek, Croatia
MATER-BIOTECH SPA Novara No, Italy
CONTARINA SPA Lovadina Di Spresiano Tv, Italy
FERTINAGRO BIOTECH SL Teruel, Spain
PROCTER & GAMBLE INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS SA Petit Lancy, Switzerland
TERRACYCLE UK LTD Perivale, United Kingdom
LEGAMBIENTE NAZIONALE APS RETE ASSOCIATIVA ETS Roma, Italy