A feasibility study, to investigate and verify the commercial and industrial viability of a wastewater processing solution to generate bioplastics from agri-food and municipal wastewater sources.

Project Information

EggPlant

Grant agreement ID: 718097

DOI

10.3030/718097

Project closed

EC signature date 29 February 2016

Start date 1 February 2016

End date 31 May 2016

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

EGGPLANT SOCIETA A RESPONSABILITA LIMITATA
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EggPlant (A feasibility study, to investigate and verify the commercial and industrial viability of a wastewater processing solution to generate bioplastics from agri-food and municipal wastewater sources.)

Reporting period: 2016-02-01 to 2016-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The objectives of the report were to define the minimum viable product, process engineering, and preliminary industrialisation plan for the EggPlant PHA Process, an innovative water treatment process which separates contaminants from agri-food wastewater and uses them to produce bioplastics, completely valorising the wastewater in the process. The feasibility study also intended to scout industrial partners to fill out the supply chain, assess market size, establish a go-to-market strategy based on the results of those investigations, and build up 5-year financial projections. Based on those, the commercial feasibility of the project was to be decided, a risk assessment was carried out for commercialisation, and an IP management strategy was to be built up.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

A partner for the future development of the system was secured to aid in process design and optimisation for the minimum viable product, and an SME subcontractor was secured to carry out the construction of a pilot plant. Letters of support and letters of intent were secured from agri-food bodies and plastic compounders, thus completely validating the value chain and obtaining commercial interest. In-depth market research was carried out to identify trends and build up a picture of the conditions both in wastewater management and in bioplastics. Projections were build up after deciding on the charge for the service (waste valorisation) and product (bioplastics), both well below their competitors' prices, but sustainable according to the financial projections.

An IP management strategy was built up around defending the entire EggPlant process, and a landscape IP search was carried out to ensure that commercialisation would not lead to infringement on existing IP. A risk assessment was assembled, with mitigation and correction measures designed to ensure minimal overall impact on the process. Risks investigated included both technical and business risks.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Total valorisation of agri-food wastewater, with contaminants used to produce 100% bio-based, biodegradable, compostable plastics, bringing the plastics and agri-food industries closer to circular economy, and making both more sustainable.

The Value Chain of EggPlant