Introducing Feedstock-Material-Product Combinations: Revaluing Wastewater Into Bio-composite Materials And Meaningful Applications

Abstract

The reuse of waste streams is one of the key principles of a circular economy. Wastewater is a significant waste stream in urban regions, yet largely unexplored for material and product development. We therefore developed a bio-composite using wastewater as feedstock. Consequently, this bio-composite relies on sustainable resources and is biodegradable. As such it is a relevant material for a circular economy. However, a material only becomes of value when suitable applications and end of life options are found. The feedstock, material and product level all influence each other and hence we propose to iteratively consider them during development. The goal of this paper is therefore twofold; we introduce Feedstock – Material – Product combination (FMP-combination) to approach renewable material development in a circular economy, and we introduce Re-plex, as a result of value appreciation of wastewater and example of an FMP-combination. With the development of Re-plex, we prove the value recovery of a major organic waste stream. Due to the iterative process between feedstock, material and product level, we could extend the lifetime of an organic waste stream into a high value material for which interesting applications were found with market parties, i.e. façade panels for the building industry and 3D structures for nature restoration in aquatic settings. From this we conclude that approaching the development of a biobased material for a circular economy as an FMP-combinations places the material in a broader context. This helps to steer the optimization process as it gives insight into which properties are required to meet the envisioned product lifetime and high value recovery.