The Virtual Academy provides resources related to the implementation of Urban Circular Bioeconomy solutions.
This includes handbooks, manuals, factsheets and videos on technologies and financial engineering for circular bio-economy projects.

Urban metabolism

Urban metabolism of HOOP Lighthouses

Urban Metabolism analysis is an analytical instrument to quantify flows of food, water and generated biowaste. In the eight HOOP cities and regions about 60 % of the biowaste is treated by AD and or composting. A high proportion of biowaste still ends up in the mixed municipal waste.

Circular business models, Circular strategies

HOOP project_Novel Circular Business Models applied in the value chain of bio-waste valorisation

This report focuses on the identification of Circular Business Models for bio-waste valorisation.

Circular business models, Financing, Investment, OFMSW, Wastewater

HOOP project_ Investment Package Manual for European Cities and Regions (Volume III)

The Volume III of the Investment Package Manual presents a selection and inventory of funding and financing schemes, programmes, instruments and tools for investment projects on circular bioeconomy and bioenergy at National and Regional levels.

Financing, Incentives, Legislation, Innovation procurement

HOOP project_Investment Package Manual for European Cities and Regions (Volume II)

The Volume II of the Investment Package Manual guides the reader through the selection and inventory of funding and financing schemes, programmes, instruments and tools for investment projects on circular bioeconomy and bioenergy at European level.

Financing, Investment, Legislation

HOOP project_Investment Package Manual for European Cities and Regions (Volume I)

The Investment Package Manual Volume I presents the description of the EU Taxonomy concepts, methodology, objectives, technical screening criteria and DNSH (“do no significant harm”) applied to economic activities linked to the circular bioeconomy.

Circular business models, Circular strategies, Financing, Investment

HOOP project_Webinar New business models

Prevailing business models are overwhelmingly linear and do not often consider the benefits of circularity, which can be hard to quantify. This webinar shares existing and successful innovative circular economy business models for urban circular bioeconomy.

Collection, Sorting

HOOP project_Webinar Selective Collection of Urban Biowaste

Soon to be a requirement across the EU, separate collection of urban biowaste is a prerequisite for the implementation of urban bioeconomy. In this webinar technical experts and municipal representatives discuss common pitfalls and good practices for collecting a high quality organic fraction.

Collection, Sorting, Valorisation technologies

HOOP project_Webinar Selective Collection of Urban Biowaste

Soon to be a requirement across the EU, separate collection of urban biowaste is a prerequisite for the implementation of urban bioeconomy. In this webinar technical experts and municipal representatives discuss common pitfalls and good practices for collecting a high quality organic fraction.

Behaviour change, Citizen awareness, Consumer acceptance, Stakeholder engagement

HOOP project_Webinar Safety and acceptance of biobased products

Creating new products from (bio)waste naturally raises some questions related to safety. And are consumers ready to embrace products made from waste? These are the topics of this webinar co-organised by the projects WaysTUP!, SCALIBUR, HOOP and ValueWaste.

Valorisation technologies

HOOP project_Insect larvae farmed on biowaste or agri-food by-products

Some insects can be safely included in feed and food formulations. Species like Tenebrio Molitor and Hermetia Illucensis are farmed with different substrates. Their bodies provide high-quality nutrients and chitin with a much lower environmental impact than traditional value chain processes.

OFMSW, Valorisation technologies, Wastewater

HOOP project_Nutrients recovered from residual dewatering liquid from anaerobic digestion

Struvite (MgNHPO4·H2O) and ammonium sulphate [(NH4)2SO4] are compounds used as fertilizers and they can be recovered from residual dewatering liquid of anaerobic digestion.

Valorisation technologies

HOOP project_Volatile fatty acids from acidogenic digestion of solid biowaste

Volatile fatty acids such as acetic, propionic or butyric acids are used for many applications in the chemical and petrochemical industry. Currently, they are mainly obtained from petrochemical resources, but they can be also produced from organic wastes through acidogenic digestion.

Collection, Valorisation technologies

HOOP project_Fermentation of used cooking oils (UCOs)

Waste cooking oil is a rich carbon source for bacteria, which is utilized in their metabolism to synthesize the fully biodegradable, non-toxic and biocompatible P3HB (a Polyhydroxyalkanoate - PHA). It has applications in cosmetics, biomedicine, packaging, agriculture and in 3D printing.

Valorisation technologies

HOOP project_Webinar Technologies for urban biowaste and wastewater valorisation

Many innovative processes are currently under development to valorise the Organic Fraction of Municipal Waste (OFMSW) and Urban Wastewater Sludge (UWWS) into added-value products. This webinar highlights some of the most promising technologies currently emerging from EU-funded research projects.

Stakeholder engagement

HOOP project_Guidance for the organisation of National Replication Workshops

This report is one of the outputs of the HOOP project and it aims at guiding the Lighthouses cities in the organisation of National Replication Workshops. The guide can be adapted and replicated in every context and sector.

Behaviour change, Citizen awareness, Stakeholder engagement

HOOP project_What is a Biowaste Club?

Biowaste Clubs are dialogue platforms that bring together stakeholders involved in the biowaste valuechain. They exchange and together develop a shared vision for how their city can become more circular.

Behaviour change, Stakeholder engagement

HOOP project_Webinar stakeholder engagement & citizen awareness

Updating an entire (bio)waste value chain requires the buy-in and long-term commitment of all stakeholders involved. This webinar focuses on strategies for engaging these stakeholders, changing mindsets and behaviour, and establishing local leadership.

Circular business models, OFMSW, Valorisation technologies

URBIOFIN project_From Urban Waste to Bioproducts

The URBIOFIN project offers a new model for Organic Municipal Solid Waste management, based on the Urban Biorefinery concept. This factsheets briefly outlines and business benefits of such a model.

Circular business models, Circular strategies, Collection, Sorting

Zero Waste Europe_Scenario 3: Going beyond just recycling to total tackle waste generation

This publication is part of a series of scenarios written by Zero Waste Europe to give guidance to municipalities willing to adopt a local zero waste strategy. This third and last report focuses on cities with high separate collection rate, between 50% and 70%.

Circular business models, Circular strategies, Collection, Sorting

Zero Waste Europe_Scenario 2: Stepping-up the existing system to go towards zero waste

This publication is part of a series of scenarios written by Zero Waste Europe to give guidance to municipalities willing to adopt a local zero waste strategy. This second report focuses on cities with a separate collection rate between 30% and 50%.

Circular business models, Circular strategies, Collection, Sorting

Zero Waste Europe_Scenario 1: Starting from scratch to quickly improve waste management

This publication is part of a series of scenarios written by Zero Waste Europe to give guidance to municipalities willing to adopt a local zero waste strategy. This first report focuses on cities with a collection of biowaste between 0 and 20%.

Circular business models, Circular strategies, Wastewater

WBCSD_Business guide to circular water management: spotlight on reduce, reuse and recycle

This report aims to help companies in developing strategies to respond to challenges of water availability by implementing circular water management practices.

Circular business models

WaysTUP! project_Business Models Analysis

This report, published by the WaysTUP! project, gathers and analyses relevant information about circular business models and their importance.

Circular business models, Circular strategies, Legislation, Pilot projects

WaysTUP! project_Market Outlook Report

This report is a direct outcome of Task 6.1 Analysis of market outlook. Overall, the scope of the market outlook is focused on the market drivers and barriers to entry for technologies and end-products stemming from the Project’s Pilots.

Circular strategies, Incentives, Investment, Innovation procurement, Stakeholder engagement

ACR+_The governance of circular bioeconomy: Practices and lessons learnt from European regions

In collaboration with the French Pays de la Loire region, ACR+ set up a working group on circular bioeconomy with a particular focus on governance. The objective is to support public authorities in the development of local or regional roadmaps on circular bioeconomy.

Behaviour change, Circular strategies, Citizen awareness, Collection, Sorting

SCALIBUR project_How Lund became a circular economy pioneer

Back in the 1990’s, 60% of waste went to landfill in the Swedish city of Lund. Today it’s less than 2%, and the region is a pioneer of the burgeoning circular economy. How did they do it?

Circular strategies, Innovation procurement

ICLEI_The Power of the Public Plate

This document provides a collection of actionable recommendations for procurers and policy makers towards procuring food with a value chain perspective.

Urban metabolism

City Loops project_Sector-wide circularity assessment. Biomass sector

This report provides contextual information on the four different CityLoops cities (Apeldoorn, Mikkeli, Porto and Seville) and their biomass sectors.

Urban metabolism

City Loops project_Seville (Spain): Sector-wide circularity assessment for the biomass sector

The City Loops project developed a Sector-Wide Circularity Assessment method to assess the circularity level of biomass in cities. This report presents the results in the city of Seville (Spain).

Urban metabolism

City Loops project_Urban Circularity Assessment

The Urban Circularity Assessment is an urban, economy-wide material flow and stock accounting method, which paired with indicators, will enable the assessment of material circularity of a municipality or city.

Urban metabolism

City Loops_Apeldoorn (The Netherlands): Sector-wide circularity assessment for the biomass sector

The City Loops project developed a Sector-Wide Circularity Assessment method to assess the circularity level of biomass in cities. This report presents the results in the city of Apeldoorn (The Netherlands).

Urban metabolism

City Loops_Porto (Portugal): Sector-wide circularity assessment for the biomass sector

The City Loops project developed a Sector-Wide Circularity Assessment method to assess the circularity level of biomass in cities. This report presents the results in the city of Porto (Portugal).

Urban metabolism

City Loops_Mikkeli (Finland): Sector-wide circularity assessment for the biomass sector

The City Loops project developed a Sector-Wide Circularity Assessment method to assess the circularity level of biomass in cities. This report presents the results in the city of Mikkeli (Finland).

Circular business models, Collection, Pilot projects, Sorting, Urban metabolism, Valorisation technologies

City Loops_Apeldoorn (The Netherlands): Optimised Implementation Plan – Biowaste

Apeldoorn collects over 56,000 tonnes of household waste yearly, around 38% of which is bio-waste. Within CityLoops, the municipality aims to further investigate how to process and/or collect biomass and introduce new processing methods and business models.

Collection, OFMSW, Pilot projects, Sorting, Urban metabolism, Valorisation technologies

City Loops_Seville (Spain): Optimised Implementation Plan – Biowaste

Seville aims to divert as much waste from landfill as possible and instead use the bio-waste fractions of municipal solid waste for higher value purposes. The diagnosis and characterisation of the current situation of the flow of organic matter is the starting point.

Collection, Pilot projects, Sorting, Urban metabolism, Valorisation technologies

City Loops project_Mikkeli (Finland): Optimised Implementation Plan – Biowaste

Only 38% of the 6,900 tonnes of bio-waste Mikkeli’s citizens produce yearly is recycled, mainly as compost. Consequently, Mikkeli’s aim within CityLoops is to improve the recovery of nutrients from bio-waste streams into recycled products.

Collection

City Loops project_Smart collection system tool

Seeking to improve its waste collection practices to separate bio-waste more effectively, Porto implements a Smart Collection System tool based on a mathematical model that will integrate data from the new installed set of smart sensor containers with the transportation trucks.

Collection

City Loops project_OMSW flow optimisation tool

Software tool for municipalities to model possible scenarios for separate collection of biowaste considering the data on biowaste material flows and quality collected.

Circular strategies, Collection, Sorting, Urban metabolism, Valorisation technologies, Wastewater

Metabolic_Exploring circular solutions in the waste system

This report, published by Metabolic, provides a waste analysis of the Capital Region of Denmark.

Valorisation technologies

SCALIBUR project_Sensors for biowaste degradation monitoring

How to monitor the level of degradation of biowaste, in order to prioritise its collection and provide biorefineries with higher-quality feedstock?

Valorisation technologies

SCALIBUR project_Optimised insect fractionation for food and feed applications

How to retrieve the most suitable insect protein for food and feed applications?

OFMSW, Valorisation technologies

SCALIBUR project_Optimised enzyme cocktail to valorise OFMSW

How to optimise the extraction of sugars from biowaste, to better valorise this highly valuable waste stream?

Valorisation technologies, Wastewater

SCALIBUR project_Optimised anaerobic digestion process

How to improve the anaerobic digestion process, in order to better valorise sewage sludge?

Valorisation technologies

SCALIBUR project_Novel biopesticide from organic waste

How to create an efficient pesticide that does not harm the environment?

Valorisation technologies

SCALIBUR project_Monitoring system for bio-waste treatment

How to monitor the level of purity of biowaste, in order to provide biorefineries with a satisfaying constant feedstock?

Valorisation technologies

SCALIBUR project_Insect rearing plant

Is there a sustainable way to feed the growing human population that also allows a true valorisation of food waste?

Valorisation technologies

SCALIBUR project_Insect proteins for feed applications

What substitute to traditional protein sources can be used, to ensure farm animals’ feeds are more sustainable?

Valorisation technologies

SCALIBUR project_Extraction of sustainable sugars from organic waste

How can the extraction of sugars from biowaste be optimised, to ensure a broader market uptake of this revalorisation process?

Sorting, Valorisation technologies

ECN Data Report 2022_Compost and Digestate for a Circular Bioeconomy

Overview of bio-waste collection, treatment and markets across Europe, with a special focus on compost and digestate.

Valorisation technologies, Wastewater

SCALIBUR project_Biopolymer (PHA) from sewage sludge & organic residues

As the demand for bioplastic grows, how to produce it in a sustainable way?

Valorisation technologies

SCALIBUR project_Biopesticides from solid state fermentation

After OFMSW is subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis, how can we valorise the solid residues?

Valorisation technologies

SCALIBUR project_Bioelectrochemical conversion of CO2

How to convert the CO2, in order not to release it into the environment?

Valorisation technologies

SCALIBUR project_Bio-based biodegradable plastic from OFMSW

How to produce a bio-plastic as environmentally sustainable as possible?

Collection, Stakeholder engagement

SCALIBUR project_Best practices for biowaste management

In order to help cities improve their management of biowaste, SCALIBUR partners identified best practices for selective collection, transport, sorting and pre-treatment, and characterisation of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW), HORECA and retail waste and sewage sludge.

Collection

SCALIBUR project_Algorithm for logistics optimisation

How to optimise the collection of biowaste, to ensure biorefineries have access to a uniform & high-quality feedstock?

Collection, OFMSW, Valorisation technologies

OECD_Realising the Circular Bioeconomy

This OECD report explore the synergies between bioeconomy and circular economy.

OFMSW, Valorisation technologies

PERCAL project_Conversion routes of the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste

The PERCAL project, funded by the BBI JU, presents an opportunity to exploit Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) as a feedstock to develop intermediate chemical products at high yield and low impurity level with huge industrial interest.

Valorisation technologies

Biomass for the Circular Economy

This report provides an overview of the types of biomass and biomass availability on the scale of the Netherlands, Europe and the world, and the available technologies for converting biomass into a range of useful products.

Circular strategies, OFMSW

Zero Waste Europe_Reducing food waste at the local level

This report, published by Zero Waste Europe together with Slow Food, aims at providing support to local municipalities to help reduce food waste through a holistic approach enabling the transition towards a sustainable food system.

Circular business models, Circular strategies

Zero Waste Europe_The State of Zero Waste Municipalities Report 2021

This report aims to celebrate the stories of Europe’s Zero Waste Cities; to showcase the leaders behind these successes; and to inspire others to follow down the same path.

Circular business models, Citizen awareness

Mission Zero Academy_Zero Waste Certified City

Led by the Mission Zero Academy, the Zero Waste Cities Certification is a tool to accelerate and certify your city’s circular economy and zero waste transition.

URBACT_Performance in policy-making

Readers will be guided through the process of policy making cycle by addressing evidence-based objectives, choosing the measurement criteria (indicators) and way to apply them to monitor, evaluate and improve sustainable urban development policies.

URBACT_Capacity-Building Framework

The overarching objective of the URBACT Programme is for urban practitioners to increase their knowledge and capacities in relation to integrated approaches to sustainable urban development.

Legislation

European Commission_Monitoring framework for the circular economy

In 2018, the European Commission published a communication on a monitoring framework for the circular economy. This framework is made of ten indicators grouped into four aspects: (1) production and consumption, (2) waste management, (3) secondary raw materials and (4) competitiveness and innovation.

Behaviour change, Citizen awareness, Households, Sorting, Stakeholder engagement

VALUEWASTE project_Report on the preparation of Educational Campaign in Murcia (Spain)

This report details the content of the communication campaign and the activities carried out in the city of Murcia by the Valuewaste project. The focused on citizens, restaurants and food markets to make sure that they perform a proper separation of biowaste.

Circular business models, Collection, Sorting, Valorisation technologies, Wastewater

VALUEWASTE project_Kalundborg-Symbiosis: Successful case and role in ValueWaste

This report describes more than 40 years of experiences in Kalundborg working with industrial symbioses.

Collection, Sorting

Zero Waste Europe_The story of Milan (Italy)

In 2011, the city of Milan (Italy) took the decision to upgrade its waste management strategy by adopting a comprehensive approach to separately collect food waste. Ten years later, the city is one of the world leading examples regarding food waste collection.

Collection, Sorting, Valorisation technologies

Zero Waste Europe_The story of Pontevedra (Spain)

Thanks to decentralised composting the province of Pontevedra went from providing no options for bio-waste to a comprehensive and community-based system.

Collection, Pilot projects, Pretreatment, Sorting, Valorisation technologies, Wastewater

WaysTUP project_Catalogue of urban biowaste solutions and good practices examples

The aim of this report is to show a catalogue of urban biowaste valorisation solutions and good practices that are taking place in the different European countries.

Collection, Pilot projects, Sorting

WaysTUP project_Report on urban biowaste composition & physicochemical characteristics

After having established a common laboratory analysis protocol and methodology for executing waste analysis campaigns in deliverable 1.1, this report (deliverable 1.2) aims to report upon urban biowaste composition and physicochemical characteristics based on this common protocol.

Collection, Pretreatment, Sorting

WaysTUP project_Laboratory analysis protocol and methodology for executing WAC

The objective of this report is to outline the development of a representative methodology for the conduction of Waste Analysis Campaigns (WACs) of all different types of urban biowaste that are used as feedstocks for the biobased products within the WaysTUP! project.

Collection, Households, Sorting

Zero Waste Europe_Community Composting: A Practical Guide for Local Management of Biowaste

This report is a guide for the implementation of community composting.

Behaviour change, Stakeholder engagement

SCALIBUR project_Stakeholder engagement plan per pilot municipality

The Horizon 2020 SCALIBUR project aims to develop new circular economy approaches to recycle urban biowaste. This report illustrates SCALIBUR’s understanding of and approach to stakeholder engagement.

Behaviour change, Stakeholder engagement

SCALIBUR_National Action Manual for local uptake (Spain)

The purpose of this manual is to guide the user through the process of engaging stakeholders in their cities’ biowaste value chain. It is based on the experience gained by CSCP in Madrid (Spain) in the framework of the SCALIBUR project.

Behaviour change, Stakeholder engagement

SCALIBUR_National Action Manual for local uptake (Italy)

The purpose of this manual is to guide the user through the process of engaging stakeholders in their cities’ biowaste value chain. It is based on the experience gained by CSCP in Albano Laziale (Italy) in the framework of the SCALIBUR project .

Behaviour change, Stakeholder engagement

SCALIBUR_National Action Manual for local uptake (Greece)

The purpose of this manual is to guide the user through the process of engaging stakeholders in their cities’ biowaste value chain. It is based on the experience gained by CSCP in Kozani (Greece) in the framework of the SCALIBUR project.

Behaviour change, Citizen awareness, Consumer acceptance, Stakeholder engagement

VALUEWASTE project_First insights on social acceptance

The VALUEWASTE project proposes an integrated approach in urban biowaste upcycling for the production of high-value bio-based products. A way objective of VALUEWASTE is to improve the perception of citizens on urban biowaste as a local source of valuable materials.

Behaviour change, Citizen awareness, Consumer acceptance, Stakeholder engagement

WaysTUP project_Setting the scope of the behavioural change campaign

This report provides a behavioural change approach for the collection of urban biowaste and acceptance of biowaste derived products with citizens and communities.

Citizen awareness, Stakeholder engagement

VALUEWASTE project_Evaluation of the citizen awareness campaign

The VALUEWASTE project proposes an integrated approach in urban biowaste upcycling to produce high-value bio-based products. This report presents the work done within the task 10.3 Citizens awareness campaign.

Stakeholder engagement, Urban metabolism

UrbanWINS project_A Guide on Urban Metabolism and Participatory Processes

This toolkit provides decision makers with relevant information to improve waste prevention and management policies and programs in their cities, based on research and practical work conducted through the UrbanWINS project.

Stakeholder engagement

FORCE project_Handbook for Value Chain Based Partnerships

A practical guide for cities to promote resource efficiency and circular economy policy implementation.

Behaviour change, Citizen awareness, Stakeholder engagement

FORCE project_A Handbook for Citizen Involvement on Circular Economy

The FORCE project aimed to minimise the leakage of materials from the linear economy and work towards a circular economy. This report identifies five criteria for reaching the objectives of citizen involvement: strategic planning; inclusivity; transparency; continuity and resources dedicated.

Behaviour change, Citizen awareness, Stakeholder engagement

BLOOM project_Outreach & Engagement Guidebook

The BLOOM project aims to raise awareness of bioeconomy innovation among EU citizens. This guidebook gives an overview of the participatory outreach and engagement methodologies that the Bloom bioeconomy hubs followed.

Behaviour change, Circular strategies, Citizen awareness, Consumer acceptance

SCALIBUR project_Multi-level stakeholder engagement analysis, including gender, and impact analysis

This report illustrates the multi-stakeholder engagement approach, process and tools adopted in the framework of the SCALIBUR project.

Circular business models, Circular strategies, Urban metabolism

Ellen MacArthur Foundation_Cities and circular economy for food

This report from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation highlights the critical importance of cities in triggering the shift towards a regenerative system fit for the long term.

Circular business models, Circular strategies, Collection, Legislation, Sorting, Urban metabolism, Valorisation technologies

EEA_Bio-waste in Europe — turning challenges into opportunities

This report provides an overview of bio-waste prevention, generation, collection and treatment in Europe. It aims to support countries by sharing experience and best practice.

Circular business models, Circular strategies, Financing, Incentives, Investment

Circle Economy_The Role of Municipal Policy in the Circular Economy

This report explores the connection between municipalities pursuing circular economy policy and investments in circular business that create jobs. Municipal circular policies, especially strategy, targets, loans and subsidies, are conducive to generating employment.

Circular business models, Circular strategies, Investment

WBCSD_Circular bioeconomy: The business opportunity contributing to a sustainable world

The shift to a sustainable, low-carbon, circular bioeconomy represents a business opportunity worth USD $7.7 trillion. This report supports companies through case studies and guidance to overcome the sustainability trade-offs associated with circular bioeconomy business models.

Financing, Incentives, Investment

EIB_Access-to-Finance Conditions for Investments in Bio-Based Industries and the Blue Economy

The study collects information on the investment and access-to-finance conditions for Bio-based Industries and Blue Economy projects and companies in the European Union, and evaluates the need and potential for dedicated public financial instruments as well as for other policy actions.

Circular strategies, Urban metabolism

Urban Agenda for the EU_Indicators for circular economy transition in cities

This Issues and mapping paper on indicators for circular economy (CE) transition in cities was developed under the framework of the Urban Agenda and the Partnership on Circular Economy.

Circular business models, OFMSW, Sorting, Urban metabolism

Ellen MacArthur Foundation_Cities and Circular Economy for Food

This report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation aims to highlight the often underappreciated role urban food actors can play in driving food system transformation, and to spark a global public-private effort to build a circular economy for food.

Collection, OFMSW, Sorting, Valorisation technologies

Zero Waste Europe_Bio-waste generation in the EU: Current capture levels and future potential

This report estimates the current and future availability of bio-waste in the EU28. There are two major types of bio-waste: garden and food waste. This report focuses on food waste in particular, although calculations also cover bio-waste as a whole.