Fraunhofer Institute for Interfacial Engineering and Biotechnology IGBFor a sustainable and resource-efficient economy, residual and waste materials are recycled and fossil raw materials are replaced by renewable and secondary resources – the core of the circular bioeconomy. Waste, wastewater, and emissions are mainly generated in urban environments, with responsibility lying at the municipal or regional level. Fraunhofer IGB supports cities and regions in this transformation: Using the “urban BioEconomyLab” methodology, the institute analyzes the potential for creating value from previously unused residual materials and closing material cycles, as well as for designing regional and resilient supply chains in order to achieve a resource-efficient and sustainable economy based on biomass and the circular economy.
Urban Bioeconomy: Regional Strategies and Material Flow Analyses for Circular Economy and Climate Protection
Using waste materials instead of discarding them: the path to sustainable strategies for regions, cities, and companies
In light of noticeable climate change and the current geopolitical situation, our economy and society are facing enormous challenges: Fossil fuels must be replaced by renewable energy sources as quickly as possible, dependencies on interlinked international supply chains must be reduced, and the resilience of our economy must be strengthened.
Use of resources: for a resilient economy and climate protection
The bioeconomy approach offers a sustainable alternative to our current largely linear economic model, in which raw materials are used and then disposed of after use – usually without high-quality or complete recycling. Renewable resources replace fossil raw materials and residual materials are recycled as completely as possible in line with a sustainable and climate-neutral circular economy.
In densely populated cities and metropolitan areas, as well as in industrial regions, material turnover is particularly significant: on the one hand, the demand for raw materials is high, while on the other hand, large quantities of waste, wastewater, and CO2 emissions are generated.
Our approach
Using material flow and potential analyses to develop recommendations for action for a circular bioeconomy in the regional economy
Fraunhofer IGB supports cities and regions – as key players at the municipal level – in identifying concrete options for action based on material flow and potential analyses, with which the regional economy can be transformed into a circular bioeconomy and additional value added can be created.
With our BioEconomyLab methodology, which we developed as part of the “urban BioEconomyLab” project funded by the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of the Environment, we enable cities and regions to
- close material cycles,
- identify previously untapped potential,
- make supply chains sustainable and resilient to geopolitical risks, and thus
- promote a climate-neutral and sustainable economy based on biomass and the circular economy in the region.
The “urban BioEconomyLab” methodology: A comprehensive and systematic approach
Our comprehensive and systematic approach not only takes individual processes into account, but also considers the economic area of a city or region in its entirety for the first time. In doing so, we not only evaluate data, but also identify obstacles and drivers for transformation.
The systematic approach of Fraunhofer IGB comprises the following steps:
- Recording the current status of the municipality/region
- Dieser erfolgt mittels einer spezifischen Analyse und Datenerhebung zur Evaluierung von Bioökonomie-Indikatoren (z. B. Bevölkerungsdichte, Anteil Bioökonomie-Unternehmen bzw. Anzahl Bioraffinerien, Recyclingquote).
- Analysis of material flows
- The material flow analysis identifies previously untapped potential for recycling or converting waste materials into new raw materials in all urban and industrial areas:
- Secondary resources such as waste, wastewater, and exhaust air
- Industrial by-products
- Municipal enterprises
- The material flow analysis identifies previously untapped potential for recycling or converting waste materials into new raw materials in all urban and industrial areas:
- Involvement of relevant local stakeholders from municipalities/authorities and companies/businesses through interviews, which provide valuable contributions to local solutions thanks to their specific perspective.
- Identification of specific fields of action and their influencing factors on society, the environment, and the climate (cascade use, biodiversity, recycling, public participation, economic supply chains, energy efficiency)
- Evaluation of data, derivation of strategic measures, and presentation in the form of a cross-departmental and cross-sector roadmap
On this comprehensive basis, we develop measures for a bioeconomy strategy that serves as a basis for action and decision-making for local actors.
Your benefit as a municipality or region
- Bioeconomy strategy with concrete options for action based on comprehensive data
- Circular economy: higher-value use of residual materials instead of disposal
- Cost savings
- Increased economic resilience through regional value creation networks
- Production of energy (biogas) and (secondary) raw materials
Applications and areas of use: Where you can create additional added value
Our bioeconomy strategy provides local stakeholders with options for (better) utilization of wastewater, biowaste, residual materials, and CO2 to generate additional value, for example in the following areas:
- Higher-value utilization of green waste from municipal areas
- New approaches for the economic operation of biogas plants
- Recovery of important nutrients: phosphorus and nitrogen
- Utilization of used cooking fats and oils
- Water recycling for irrigating urban green spaces
- Higher-value material recycling of biowaste
Tabbed contents
Range of services and collaboration
Range of services and collaboration
Range of services
- Identification of relevant stakeholders in the city/municipality/region and conducting interviews
- On-site visits to relevant municipal or regional supply and disposal companies, e.g., sewage treatment plants, waste management companies, biogas plants, etc.
- Material flow analyses to identify and quantify biogenic waste streams and CO2 emissions, e.g., in sewage treatment plants, waste recycling plants, shredding facilities, urban green spaces, industrial and commercial enterprises
- Potential analyses to identify the recycling and recovery potential of previously unused waste streams
- (Support in) the development of a bioeconomy strategy with strategic measures and the evaluation and prioritization of identified fields of action and measures
- Demonstration or tour of potentially suitable pilot plants (belonging to Fraunhofer IGB and industry partners) on site
Collaboration
If you are keen to explore the potential of your municipality/region for implementing a resource-efficient and circular regional economy, please get in touch! We would be happy to explain our approach in an initial, informal meeting and provide you with a tailor-made offer.
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References
References
As part of the urban BioÖkonomieLab project, we have supported selected municipalities and regions in Baden-Württemberg in developing a bioeconomy strategy:
- ZirBioS – Circular bioeconomy strategy for the state capital Stuttgart
- RE²source bioeconomy strategy for the Karlsruhe Technology Region
- KommBÖ4MRN: Municipal and urban bioeconomy strategy for the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region
- InBioRegS – Industrial bioeconomy strategy for the Stuttgart region
In addition, we have already been active for other municipalities and regions:
Video: Possibilities, approach, and examples for the “urban BioEconomyLab” methodology
The video is available in German.
Privacy warning
With the click on the play button an external video from www.youtube.com is loaded and started. Your data is possible transferred and stored to third party. Do not start the video if you disagree. Find more about the youtube privacy statement under the following link: https://policies.google.com/privacyThe bioeconomy enables a climate-neutral and sustainable economy based on the renewable raw material biomass. In the “urban BioEconomyLab” project, Fraunhofer IGB has developed the first transformation model and real-world laboratory to find bioeconomic solutions for the sustainable design of cities and municipal industry. To this end, IGB has collaborated with urban pilot regions in Baden-Württemberg, working hand in hand with local companies and authorities.