In this episode of the bioCircular Loop podcast, Melina Gerdts discusses waste valorization and the role of artificial intelligence in enhancing these processes with John Goriup, CEO of VCG.AI. They explore how AI can optimize waste management, predict waste flows, and create sustainable business models. The conversation delves into the challenges of scaling waste valorization, the importance of data-driven approaches, and the various industries that can benefit from these innovations. In this conversation, Jon from VCG.AI discusses the transition to sustainable industries, focusing on biomass availability in Europe, the role of AI in the bio circular economy, and how they support companies in securing feedstock. He emphasizes the importance of building ecosystems around waste streams and the impact of their work on reducing CO2 emissions. The discussion also touches on the future of the circular economy and the necessity of virgin materials in a growing economy.

Useful Links

https://vcg.ai/

https://vcg.ai/portfolio/developing-value-chains-in-6-eu-regions/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/waste-valorization

Takeaways

• Waste valorization transforms waste into valuable resources.
• AI plays a crucial role in optimizing waste management processes.
• Predictive analytics can enhance decision-making in waste management.
• The circular economy requires collaboration across sectors.
• The future of waste valorization lies in innovative data solutions.
• The transition to sustainable industries requires smart utilization of resources.
• Building ecosystems around waste streams is crucial for valorization.
• AI can play a pivotal role in the bio circular economy.
• The future of the circular economy will still involve some virgin materials.
• Maximizing the value of byproducts can significantly reduce emissions.
• VCG.AI aims to valorize 100 million tons of byproducts by 2030.
• Understanding local connections is key to successful valorization.

In this episode, the bioCircular Loop podcast discusses fungi-based alternative proteins and the use of innovative raw material sources to soy. The guest, Simo Ellilä, CEO and co-founder of Enifer, a biotech startup in Finland, shares insights on their process of fermenting side streams to produce sustainable protein ingredients. The conversation covers the benefits of plant-based proteins, the environmental and ethical concerns of animal agriculture, and the challenges of soy dependency in Europe. They also discuss Enifer’s journey of scaling production, their target markets, and the advantages of their mycoproteins compared to soy or meat-based proteins. Enifer is a company that produces sustainable and high-quality protein ingredients from fungi. They have faced challenges in fundraising due to the adverse funding climate and the need to demonstrate a shorter-term vision for generating revenue. They have a strong intellectual property portfolio and valuable know-how from the old process. Building new markets and convincing B2B clients to change their recipes are ongoing challenges. Sustainability is important but not always a top priority for consumers and companies. Enifer compares favorably to soy-based alternatives in terms of carbon emissions and land use. Measuring impact is complex, but Enifer uses economic allocation to account for the environmental emissions of their side streams. Enifer’s protein can offer up to 70% CO2 emission savings compared to Brazilian soy.

Episode #5 explores the chemicals and plastics value chains and a technology that uses CO2 as a renewable resource for circular chemicals production. A key discussion topic is the importance of partnerships in driving circular transformations and the need for collaboration across value chains. The conversation delves into the technology developed by Photanol, a Dutch startup, which uses CO2, sunlight, water, and bacteria to convert carbon into renewable chemicals. Renolit and Photanol are partnering to develop a technology that converts CO2 into renewable chemicals for plastics and other products. The collaboration aims to transition the chemical industry away from fossil fuels and towards a more sustainable and circular economy. The technology uses CO2 and sunlight as inputs and has the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions. The first commercial facility is expected to have an impact equivalent to the annual emissions of 10,000 passenger cars or 10,000 round trips between New York and London.

Carbios is a French biotech company that has developed enzymatic processes to recycle plastic, particularly PET. They have engineered enzymes specifically for PET and other types of plastic, allowing them to break down the polymers into monomers that can be used to produce new high-quality plastics. They have built a bio-recycling plant in France that can process 50,000 tons of waste per year. Their business model is based on licensing their technology to make it accessible in many countries. Their customers come from various industries, including cosmetics, food and beverage packaging, automotive and textiles. Carbios technology enables the recycling of waste PET (polyester) that is currently being sent to landfills or incinerated. Scaling the technology to other parts of the world, particularly in Asia, where textile manufacturing and consumption are high, requires building a new value chain and addressing challenges in collection, sorting, and preparation. While regulatory aspects can pose challenges, Carbios' technology aligns with existing regulations for recycled PET. However, there is a need for regulations to keep pace with innovation and consider different types of chemical recycling technologies. Traceability along the value chain is ensured through the short loop of Carbios' technology, which allows for a chain of custody. Overall, Carbios' technology has a significant environmental and sustainability impact by enabling the recycling of non-recyclable waste, reducing reliance on oil-based plastics, and cutting down CO2 emissions.

Key Takeaways

• Carbios has developed enzymatic processes to recycle plastic, particularly PET, into high-quality monomers that can be used to produce new plastics.
• Their technology is more sustainable and environmentally friendly compared to mechanical and chemical recycling methods.
• Carbios' bio-recycling plant in France can process 50,000 tons of waste per year and is focused on recycling non-recyclable waste.
• Their business model is based on licensing their technology to make it accessible in many countries.
• Their customers come from various industries, including cosmetics, food and beverage packaging, and textiles.
• The technology enables the production of 100% waste-based PET, reducing reliance on oil-based plastics.
• Traceability along the value chain is ensured through the short loop of Carbios' technology, and external certification is important to build trust and prevent greenwashing.

Chaincraft is a Dutch startup that manufactures fatty acids from local food waste, specifically pre-consumer plant-based organic residues. They use a two-step fermentation process to convert food waste into medium chain fatty acids, which is more sustainable with a lower carbon footprint than traditional palm oil-based fatty acids. The company currently operates a demo plant in Amsterdam and is planning to build a larger flagship factory in the Netherlands. Their products have a significantly lower carbon footprint compared to industry standards and offer a stable and local supply of sustainable chemicals. Chaincraft's customers include the animal nutrition industry, fragrance and flavors, home and personal care, and the lubricants market. In the episode the Commercial Manager, Jeroen van Dorp, dives into the downstream challenges and experiences of building a new market for circular fatty acids.

Takeaways

• Chaincraft manufactures fatty acids from local food waste, reducing the carbon footprint and offering a sustainable alternative to palm oil-based fatty acids.
• Their two-step fermentation process converts pre-consumer plant-based organic residues into medium chain fatty acids.
• The company operates a demo plant in Amsterdam and plans to build a larger flagship factory in the Netherlands.
• Chaincraft's products have a stable and local supply, making them attractive to customers in various industries, including animal nutrition, fragrance and flavors, home and personal care, and the lubricants market.

Useful Links
www.chaincraft.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/chaincraft/?originalSubdomain=nl

https://www.ecover.com/too-good-to-waste/

Episode #2 explores the importance of nutrient recovery, specifically the recovery of phosphorus, from wastewater and waste sludge. The depletion of phosphorus reserves and the overuse of fertilizers have led to environmental pollution like eutrophication and biodiversity loss. Rag'n'Sells, a recycling company, has diversified to become a future material producer, focusing on phosphorus recovery. Their technology, called Ash2Phos, extracts phosphorus and other valuable materials from sewage sludge and other waste streams. Pär Larshans, Chief Sustainability Officer at Rag'n'Sells shares insights into the Havbruk project, where waste from Norwegian fish farms is turned into biogas and nutrients are recovered. The recovered phosphorus can be used as a feed phosphate or in organic farming. However, regulatory challenges and the need for partnerships and infrastructure pose obstacles to scaling up the technology. Moving towards a bio-circular economy and transforming wastewater treatment plants into resource plants is crucial for sustainable food production and environmental protection.


Takeaways

• Phosphorus is a critical raw material that is essential for stable food production, but its reserves are depleting and overuse is causing environmental pollution.
• Recovering phosphorus and other valuable materials from wastewater and waste sludge can address the problem of resource depletion and pollution.
• Rag'n'Sells has developed the Ash2Phos technology, which extracts phosphorus and other materials from sewage sludge and waste streams.
• Scaling up the technology requires regulatory changes, partnerships, and infrastructure development.

Useful Links
https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/infographics/critical-raw-materials/

https://foodplanetprize.org/initiatives/easymining-is-recycling-nutrients-agriculture-needs-2/

https://www.ragnsells.com/what-we-do/inspired/cop28-sustainable-fish-farming-norway/

https://www.ragnsells.com/what-we-do/inspired/norwegian-fish-poop-can-replace-russian-gas-and-phosphorus/

https://www.10billionchallenge.org

The first episode of the bioCircular Loop podcast introduces the concept of circular bioeconomy and its importance in addressing global challenges. The circular bioeconomy involves shifting towards a more sustainable and resource-efficient economy, where externalities like pollution become the responsibility of companies. It aims to create value from waste and challenges the linear value chains that dominate the current system. The podcast explores the people, companies, organizations, technologies, and countries driving this transformation. The European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) is highlighted as the first venture capital fund dedicated to investing in bio-based and circular startups. The conversation explores the use of waste as a feedstock in the bioeconomy and the challenges of cost and production. It also discusses the regulatory and policy framework in Europe and the support available for startups in the industry. The Netherlands is highlighted as a pioneer in the circular bioeconomy, and other countries such as Germany, France, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, and Sweden are also mentioned as bioeconomy hubs. The conversation concludes with the expectation of continued growth in the bioeconomy driven by regulatory push, consumer demand, and the sustainability policies of companies.

Takeaways

• Circular bioeconomy is a sustainable and resource-efficient economic model that addresses global challenges.
• It involves shifting responsibility for externalities like pollution to companies and creating value from waste.
• The current linear value chains need to be challenged and transformed into circular systems.
• The European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) is a venture capital fund investing in bio-based and circular startups. Waste can be used as a feedstock in the bioeconomy, but the cost and production challenges need to be addressed.
• Europe, particularly the Netherlands, is a pioneer in the circular bioeconomy, with other countries also making advancements.
• Regulatory and policy frameworks in Europe support the development of the bioeconomy, with a focus on production conditions, feedstock sources, and sustainability.
• Startups in the bioeconomy can access financial and advisory support from organizations like the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF) and the European Innovation Council (EIC).
• Consumer demand, regulatory push and the sustainability policies of companies are driving the growth of the circular bioeconomy.

Useful Links

www.ecbf.vc

https://www.weforum.org/publications/circular-transformation-of-industries-the-role-of-partnerships/

https://www.fao.org/in-action/sustainable-and-circular-bioeconomy/slides/detail/en/c/1329591/

https://www.cbe.europa.eu/

https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/312121/reporting/es#:~:text=The principal barrier to fully,from elsewhere in the world.

www.biocircularloop.com

The Biocircular Loop podcast aims to educate and inform listeners about the circular bioeconomy in Europe. It highlights the innovations and businesses driving the growth of a circular economy powered by renewable biomass and recycled materials. The podcast explores the goal of moving away from linear systems and towards a circular system that considers the whole life cycle of a product. The host, Melina Gerdts, is a market researcher and strategy consultant who works with companies developing circular innovations. The podcast aims to educate, inform, and inspire listeners to rethink their own work and business models.