Wastewater sludge can serve as a versatile raw material for various industrial applications. Harnessing the energy potential of sludge for biogas production is a well-established practice, and there is a growing emphasis on enhancing nutrient recovery. Sludge can also be converted into bioplastics—a high-value product that aligns with circular economy principles. LAB University of Applied Sciences and the University of Helsinki are collaboratively developing a smart biorefinery concept to achieve this as part of the EU-funded Horizon Europe project, CircSyst – Circular Systemic Solutions for Plastic, Packaging, Bio-Waste, and Water.
- Päijät-Häme is a fellow in the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI). CircSyst marks our first CCRI project and an essential step harnessing collaboration with the CCRI stakeholders as we work together to address common challenges, says Juha Hertsi, Director of Development.
New EU Project Demonstrates Circular Economy Solutions
The CircSyst project will showcase various circular economy solutions for the use of bio-waste, improvement of water management, and addressing challenges related to plastics and packaging materials. All these value chains are part of the EU’s circular economy action plan. Knowledge transfer and sharing of best practices are central to the CircSyst project, which involves partners from eight different countries and is coordinated by the Spanish plastic product manufacturer AIJU.
In Finland, the demonstration will take place in the Päijät-Häme region, focusing on the more efficient utilization of wastewater sludge. This implementation will involve a container placed at Lahti Aqua Ltd.’s wastewater treatment plant to pilot on-site bioplastic raw material production directly from sludge. This technology is currently in use at the University of Helsinki’s laboratory and is now being scaled up. LAB University of Applied Sciences is advancing the bioplastic processing methods and digital modelling to optimize the cost-efficiency of the process.
The innovative biorefinery concept allows sludge to be used not only as a raw material for biodegradable bioplastics but also as an energy source and a soil improver in the form of biochar. Additionally, methods are being developed during the project to improve the recovery of nitrogen and phosphorus from the sludge. This approach aims to find new ways to mitigate climate change, enhance supply security, and create new business models.
More Information:
Project Manager Mari Eronen, LAB University of Applied Sciences, mari.eronen@lab.fi, Tel. +358 50 304 9219
Senior Lecturer Merja Kontro, University of Helsinki, merja.kontro@helsinki.fi, Tel. +358 294120309
https://lab.fi/en/project/circsyst-circular-systemic-solutions-plastic-packaging-bio-waste-and-water
