CIRCLE Project

To be competitive and to ensure sustainability in the face of global challenges and technological advancements, the European industrial sector must urgently introduce drastic changes to comply with net-zero targets, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and to shift towards an environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable development. Highly efficient and cost-effective biorefinery systems are recognised as solid solutions that support our industrial transition towards this direction. Nonetheless, it remains a crucial challenge to achieve a sustainable model for their adequate implementation. The chemical industry in Europe is a crucial driver of the economy; however, it faces several challenges, such as greenhouse gas emissions, high energy costs, and dependence on foreign sources due to its reliance on fossil resources. While the bioeconomy is an essential strategy to address these challenges, there is a significant gap between the consumption and domestic production of bio-based platform chemicals in Europe. To tackle this issue, the CIRCLE consortium is working on an innovative retrofitted biorefinery. This biorefinery will transform food waste streams and other biomasses into high-value bio-based chemicals and intermediates such as lactic acid (LA) and its derived products, including polylactic acid (PLA)-based ones. The project aims to upgrade the capacity of an existing biogas plant and contribute to the production of bio-based chemicals in Europe by valorising food waste streams.