Ab-initio Biowaste Loop (ABEL)

This consortium aims to tackle a pressing issue in the Dutch society related to inefficient use of waste streams, resulting in loss of valuable materials, loss of economic value and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This has obliged the Netherlands to continue relying on fossil feedstocks, energy-intensive materials, and the use of rare elements in the build-up of these materials or in their fabrication. All the materials used in modern society have a common feature: they are carbon-based. This raises the possibility that, as fossil feedstocks are gradually phased out in the Netherlands, carbon will emerge as a critical raw material.
One key aspect of the problem include the nature of the low-grade biogenic waste, which makes it challenging and less appealing to waste processors and industry. Furthermore, there are other social, organizational, economic, and institutional elements that contribute to the limited use of low-grade waste. To overcome these challenges and build a sustainable and thriving Dutch bioeconomy, this project aims to research novel strategies for upcycling low-grade waste materials into sustainable and circular biomaterials. This is because low-grade biogenic waste contains valuable building blocks that can serve as a sustainable solution to raw material shortages and replace energy-intensive materials. The target sectors for this project are agriculture sector, construction and building materials sector, asphalt paving sector, aviation sector, and household sector. Results of this project are expected to empower communities to engage in the processes of waste collection, valorization of low-grade waste and production of biomaterials by 2040. Our goal is to achieve a cleaner environment across ecosystems due to less carbon emissions from fossil feedstocks, less waste incineration and less waste.