GREEN-LOOP

Duration:
September 1^st, 2022 – August 31^st, 2025

Project coordinator:
Luis Enrique Acevedo
(IDENER RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT AGRUPACION DE INTERES ECONOMICO  - Hiszpania)

Project manager in GIG:
dr inż. Mariusz Kruczek
Department of Water Protection
e-mail: mkruczek@gig.eu
tel. 32 259 22 07

Description:
Project GREEN-LOOP presents the concept of a circular economy in terms of the bioeconomy and demonstrates the business benefits of transforming a linear to a circular economy model. The project concept is based on innovative solutions to promote the reduction of consumption and the substitution of non-renewable resources in favour of biomaterials (biocomposites). The main goal of GREEN-LOOP is to design and optimise 3 innovative bio-based materials and components which will provide an alternative, environmentally friendly raw material for industrial sectors, i.e. construction, heavy industry, food, packaging, etc. The project will optimise the value chains for each of the biomaterials/biocomposites developed, covering each stage of the product life cycle, i.e. from raw material manufacture to end of life (EoL). In the case of biological products (biomaterials), a particular challenge is to extend their life by putting them into so-called cascade cycles of circulation-recycling. As part of the project, in order to increase the efficiency of the recycling system and thus reduce waste, the production lines under study will be equipped with elements of an artificial intelligence (AI) system to adapt the system to the production of new improved bio-components. The use of ultrasound-based technology is expected to improve the production of lignin and rubber, while modifications using microwaves will contribute to the optimisation of the bioplastic production process, particularly at the injection moulding and curing stages of wood composites. In line with the project brief, the results of the work will be continuously monitored and presented on a virtual platform, which includes KPI assessment, real-time business optimisation, as well as providing access to training (webinars) and materials to promote the results of the project while raising public awareness. . Keywords: circular value chain, Bioplastics, Bio-rubber, Wood composites,  innovative manufacture, extrusion, injection moulding, hot press, microwave, ultrasound, LCA, LCC, SLCA, End Of Life.

The project consortium is formed with the following partners:

1. IDENER RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT AGRUPACION DE INTERES ECONOMICO (Spain) - the Coordinator:
2. KEMIJSKI INSTITUT (Slovenia),
3. AVOD ZA GRADBENISTVO SL (Slovenia),
4. FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV (Germany),
5. LABRENTA SRL (Itay),
6. MIXCYCLING SRL SOCIETA BENEFIT (Italy),
7. NEROSUBIANCO SRL (Italy),
8. GERACE MARIA CATERINA (Italy),
9. IRIS TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, SOCIEDAD LIMITADA (Spain),
10. GŁOWNY INSTYTUT GÓRNICTWA (Poland),
11. RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN (Germany),
12. AUSTRIAN STANDARDS INTERNATIONAL -STANDARDISIERUNG UND INNOVATION (Austria),
13. INSTITUTO DE SOLDADURA E QUALIDADE (Portugal),
14. AXIA INNOVATION UG (Germany),
15. ASOCIACION DE INVESTIGACION METALURGICA DEL NOROESTE (Spain),
16. NCC OPERATIONS LIMITED (United Kingdom),
17. UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL (United Kingdom)