EMBRACED
Establishing a multi-purpose biorefinery for the recycling of the organic content of absorbent hygiene products (AHP) waste in a circular economy domain.
Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHPs) have become essential everyday products to society. As with every consumer product, AHP’s also end up in solid waste after their use. AHP waste, which includes post-consumers nappies, adult incontinence products, feminine hygiene items, wipes, etc. are currently considered a non-recyclable fraction of the municipal solid waste, with 8,500,000 tons of such waste incinerated or landfilled in Europe each year. Hence, diverting AHP waste from landfill or incinerators is important.
EMBRACED establishes a demonstration plant of an integrated biorefinery, based on the valorisation of the cellulosic fraction of waste towards the production of bio-based building blocks, polymers and fertilizers. The project follows a circular economy approach, closing the cycle of raw materials and minimizing the use of primary resources.
The goal of EMBRACED is to develop profitable business cases, business models and business plans, tuning the biorefinery model to different local conditions across EU countries.
EMBRACED aims to reduce GHG emissions by ca. 430 kg CO2eq per ton AHP waste against incineration. The project will also to reduce the land use required for the production of bio-based polyesters by 90 times compared to other sources.
CONTRIBUTION TO EU PRIORITIES:
- Circular Economy Action Plan – ensure less waste, recover and valorize waste streams into new products
- Climate Strategy - reduce of CO2 emissions
- Innovation – develop innovative and sustainable bio-based products
- Industrial Strategy – create of new jobs
- Farm to Fork - have a positive environmental impact on land use
WHERE
Italy - Veneto
Project championed by
