At Transfiere Forum 2024, the leading European event for Science, Technology, and Innovation, project RESOURCE ran the ‘RESOURCE INVEST EU’ session for investors on seven promising Pilot projects in a wide range of industries, all committed to innovating the circular economy. RESOURCE, or ‘REgional project development aSsistance fOr the Uptake of an aRagonese Circular Economy’, aims to support the uptake of the circular economy in the Aragon region.

The challenge: circular economy needs solid results before investment

Aragon faces similar challenges to many CCRI regions: changing from a linear to a circular business model involves significant investment risks, as investors can perceive circular solutions as untested or are not aware of the economic value and environmental benefits they bring.

This issue necessitates both de-risking and the creation of a learning environment in industrial regions like Aragon. RESOURCE has achieved this by providing project development assistance to seven pilot projects in Aragon, each presented at Transfiere Forum 2024.

Green Foundry reduces CO2 emissions and manufacturing costs

The first RESOURCE-supported project shown to investors was Green Foundry Castillonroy, the first green iron foundry in Spain. Focused on the construction of a steel and metallurgical plant using sustainable methods, Green Foundry aims to demonstrate the economic opportunities of the circular economy for iron foundries.

During the event, the Green Foundry project presented its measurable reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in iron foundries. Green Foundry’s circular solution reduces CO2 emissions by between 80 and 85% compared to current steel and metallurgical industries, while also cutting the costs by 36%. This innovation is a scalable, more sustainable and potentially more-profitable solution to one of the world’s most carbon-intensive industries.

PLATASUMO improved recycling rates in Aragon by 15%

Another RESOURCE pilot presented to investors was PLATASUMO Plataforma de Decisión por Consumo, which has increased recycling rates in Aragon by 15%. The project created a digital platform that offers rewards like discounts to people who have reached the recycling challenges on the app.

PLATASUMO’s CEO explained that the platform also generates Carbon Footprint Compensation Certificates for businesses seeking to offset their emissions.

CERFO recovers solar panel materials to reduce landfill waste and manufacturing costs

Also shown to potential investors was the CERFO European Photovoltaic Recycling Center pilot project, which introduced an innovative recycling process that identifies and recovers valuable materials from solar panels.

CERFO CEO described the process for identifying and recovering photovoltaic material, including the end-of-life routes for these materials, and explained that thanks to its circular method 95% of the photovoltaic materials from old solar panels has been recovered. This not only reduces electronic waste sent to landfills greatly but also measurably reduces manufacturing costs by 20%, as a great monetary incentive for investors.

As with the other projects, CERFO received technical, economic, legal assistance, and financing scheme support from RESOURCE. Such project development assistance helps boost projects’ private investment, improves their methodologies, aids dissemination and replicability, and enables the studies and monitoring exercises which produce the economic data that excite investors.

Bugcle Bioindustrias turns mealworms into bioplastics with sustainable farms

Two RESOURCE projects presented at the event showcased the potential of biological materials in innovative circular solutions, providing a monetary benefit compared to current linear solutions.

The first of these projects was Bugcle Bioindustrias, which uses mealworm larvae to create bioplastics and pharmaceuticals. The project creates insect farms for the production of the bioplastics, enabling participating farmers to scale-up their productions for larger volumes. The project uses shipping containers designed to house and breed Tenebrio molitor, a species of mealworm beetle, which can also be used as nutritional animal feed. This modular approach allows production to be modified simply and without great infrastructure costs on the farmer.

With bioplastics projected to reach a market value of over EUR 14 billion by 2028, Bugcle is well-positioned for growth as it tackles plastic pollution in a simple and effective way with modularity for participating farmers.

Smart Moss Europe filters indoor air and valorises biological waste

Also in the biowaste sphere, the Smart Moss Europe project presented a unique circular solution that utilises live moss to purify indoor air and improve well-being. Initially targeting commercial spaces, Smart Moss Europe also aims to expand into the residential market.

The concept of turning waste into profit is certainly attractive to investors, and the circular economy is a major driver not only for the reduction of waste but also the reuse of resources formerly considered waste. Therefore, Cristian explained to investors that, besides being biological and therefore renewable, Smart Moss Europe reduces and valorises biowaste by converting its mature moss organism into an organic fertiliser.

Also presented at the forum was Feltwood Ecomateriales, which produces industrial materials from vegetable waste, that can be used in construction, packaging and other sectors, and EcoHelp Tecnologie, which transforms and valorises biowaste such as eggshells into useful materials.

As shown by each of the pilot projects, RESOURCE has demonstrated significant success in promoting the circular economy within the Aragon region. Through innovative pilot projects presentations, RESOURCE highlighted the economic and environmental benefits of circular solutions to investors. The achievements of reducing CO2 emissions, improving recycling rates, and recovering valuable materials from waste underscore the potential for circular economy initiatives to drive sustainable development. With supportive project development assistance from projects like RESOURCE and by securing diverse funding, regions like Aragon are well-positioned to attract investment and lead the transition towards a more sustainable future.