HOOP: Report on the HOOP Cities Conference
Updated on 10.07.2025
This report presents the main outcomes of the HOOP Cities and Policy Conference and the broader work carried out by the HOOP project on identifying policy barriers and formulating actionable recommendations. It focuses on the challenges encountered in implementing circular bio-based solutions using innovative technologies for urban biowaste and wastewater sludge, particularly by HOOP Lighthouse cities. Among the different recommendations formulated by the initiative, the most relevant for HOOP include those promoting biowaste management, facilitating biowaste recovery, and supporting the development of specific bioproducts.
Relevance for Circular Systemic Solutions
The report provides practical insights into circular bioeconomy solutions, focusing on biowaste valorisation within waste management and urban sustainability. It highlights key barriers such as complex regulations (e.g., Animal By-Product rules), the lack of End-of-Waste criteria, and financial constraints limiting the scaling of innovative technologies. In annex 1, to address these challenges, it recommends policy adjustments, including mandatory biowaste recycling targets, harmonized EU regulations, and investment incentives for bio-based innovations.
These insights are important for implementing Circular Systemic Solutions by enabling regulatory clarity, economic incentives, and infrastructure development for biowaste-based circular systems. This is most helpful in the Map phase of Circular Systemic Solutions deployment.
including bio-based economy
<5 000
large 500 000-200 000, medium 200 000-50 000, and small cities 50 000-5 000
large metropolitan area >1.5 million, metropolitan area 1.5 million-500 000
predominantly urban regions, intermediate and predominantly rural regions, refer to TERCET typology NUTS 3 region
e.g. commercial, residential, service, industrial
