SOWISEPLUS🇪🇺

ALT "📬 Stay connected with SOWISE+ – Subscribe to our Newsletter! 🌱♻️ Curious to discover how urban waste can become the starting point for new sustainable materials? The SOWISE+ journey is underway, and we invite you to follow our progress! Through our newsletter, you'll stay informed about: 🔹 Project news, activities and key milestones 🔹 Progress towards our flagship biorefinery 🔹 Innovations in PHBV production and cellulose recovery 🔹 Insights from our European partners 🔹 Upcoming events, opportunities and project results 🌍 You can also join the SOWISE+ Network of Interest and become part of a growing community working towards a more circular and resource-efficient Europe. 📩 Subscribe today and follow our journey from urban waste to sustainable value! https://shorturl.at/EU1fT #SOWISEplus #CircularBioeconomy #biorefineries #WasteToValue #BioBasedMaterials #SustainableInnovation #CBEJU"

ALT SOWISE+ Glossary | What is SSbD? SSbD stands for Safe and Sustainable by Design. It is an approach used to assess safety and sustainability from the early stages of material and product development. In SOWISE+, the SSbD framework will help assess the project’s processes, materials, and applications, including PHBV and recovered cellulose from urban waste. The aim is to support innovation that is not only technically promising, but also safer, more sustainable, and better aligned with future market and societal needs. Learn more about how SOWISE+ applies the “SSbD framework” for more safe and sustainable bio-based materials . 🌐 www.sowiseplus.eu #SOWISEplus #SSbD #WasteValorisation #BioBasedMaterials #CircularBioeconomy #biorefineries

ALT 🏭 The SOWISE+ Flagship | Contarina At the heart of SOWISE+ is a first-of-its-kind multipurpose biorefinery, hosted by Contarina in Treviso, Italy. The flagship will demonstrate how urban waste streams can become valuable resources for the circular bioeconomy. Separately collected urban biowaste will be converted into PHBV, a bio-based and biodegradable polymer, while the wider SOWISE+ system will connect waste management infrastructure with bio-based industrial value chains. During the Kick-off Meeting, partners visited the Contarina premises, gaining a closer look at the real operational environment where the SOWISE+ flagship activities will be developed. ♻️ This is where the project’s ambition becomes tangible: moving from waste treatment towards urban-industrial symbiosis. 🌐 Discover the SOWISE+ flagship plants and explore how innovative technologies are transforming urban waste into valuable bio-based materials: 👉 https://sowiseplus.eu/flagship-plants #SOWISEplus #Circul

ALT 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗢𝗪𝗜𝗦𝗘+ 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 | Wetsus Next in our series is Wetsus, European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology, based in the Netherlands. 🇳🇱 🔬 Within SOWISE+, Wetsus contributes its expertise in biopolymers, material development and quality control, supporting the development of PHBV–cellulose composites and advanced methods for assessing material quality. Wetsus will also help develop composite pellets, optimise formulations and support the validation of materials for future applications, contributing to the transition from waste-derived resources to high-performance circular bio-based products. 👥 Wetsus team: Alan Werker, Team Leader, Thomas Prot and Carlos Contreras Dávila. 🌐 Discover more about Wetsus’ role in SOWISE+: https://sowiseplus.eu/partners/wetsus Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) | Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) #SOWISEplus #CircularBioeconomy #biorefineries #PHBV #Biopolymers #Bio

ALT "𝗦𝗢𝗪𝗜𝗦𝗘+ | 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁 Does the bioeconomy always require large amounts of land and water? The environmental footprint of a bio-based product depends on the feedstock, production process and resources used. While some bio-based pathways may require significant land or water, others create value from materials that are already available, including industrial by-products, urban waste and biological residues. Making better use of these existing resources is a central part of the circular bioeconomy. It helps reduce waste while limiting additional pressure on primary raw materials. 🌱 SOWISE+ is built around this principle. Rather than relying only on purpose-grown resources, the project will transform urban biowaste into PHBV and recover cellulose from post-consumer absorbent hygiene products. 👉 Discover how SOWISE+ is creating value from existing urban waste streams while supporting more resource-efficient and sustainable bio-based production. 🌐 www.sowiseplus.

ALT 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗢𝗪𝗜𝗦𝗘+ 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 | i-Foria Italia Next in our series is i-FORIA, an Italian technology provider bringing advanced expertise in the recycling and valorisation of post-consumer Absorbent Hygiene Products (AHPs). 🇮🇹 ♻️ Within SOWISE+, i-FORIA contributes its proprietary AHP recycling technology, supporting the scale-up of the AHP-to-cellulose value chain and the integration of an advanced purification module into the flagship system. The aim is to upgrade recovered cellulose to high-quality, virgin-like material, opening new opportunities for circular and higher-value applications. 👥 i-FORIA team: Giorgio Vaccaro, Team Leader, Marcello Somma, Giuseppe Landolfo, Marta Schiavoni, Matteo Ferrandino, Sara Luciani and Sara Cantone. 🌐 Discover more about i-FORIA’s role in SOWISE+: https://sowiseplus.eu/partners/i-foria #SOWISEplus #CircularBioeconomy #biorefineries #WasteValorisation #Cellulose #CircularEconomy #CBEJU

ALT "🤝 SOWISE+ | 1st Project Management Board Meeting On 24 September 2026, the SOWISE+ consortium gathered online for its first Project Management Board (PMB) Meeting, coordinated by Contarina S.p.A. 🇪🇺 Following the project's Kick-off Meeting in July, this meeting marked an important step in coordinating activities and preparing for the next phase of implementation. 📋 Key topics on the agenda included: 🔹 Progress updates from Work Package Leaders and priorities for the coming months 🔹 Upcoming deliverables, milestones and project planning 🔹 Project management procedures and implementation risks 🔹 Stakeholder engagement and the establishment of the External Expert Advisory Board 🔹 Preparations for the 2nd General Assembly in January 2027 🌱 Bringing together 25 partners from 9 European countries, SOWISE+ relies on close collaboration and effective coordination to advance its mission of transforming urban waste into valuable bio-based materials. 👏 Thank you to our Project C

ALT 🌍 SOWISE+ at IFIB 2026 in Rome! On 1 October, SOWISE+ was presented at the International Forum on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioeconomy – IFIB 2026, bringing the project into one of Europe’s key meeting points for the bioeconomy community. 🇮🇹 🎤 Marco Mattiello, SOWISE+ Project Coordinator from Contarina S.p.A., presented the project’s objectives, ongoing activities and expected impacts to stakeholders from research, industry and the wider bioeconomy sector. The presentation was also an important opportunity to highlight the innovative SOWISE+ approach to transforming urban biowaste and post-consumer absorbent hygiene products into valuable bio-based materials through an integrated biorefinery model. ♻️🌱 With 25 partners from 9 European countries, SOWISE+ is bringing together expertise across the entire value chain to advance new circular solutions and strengthen collaboration between research, industry and waste management. 🤝 Events such as IFIB provide valuable

ALT 🏙️ 5 October | World Habitat Day This year, World Habitat Day is marked under the theme “Adequate Housing for All”, highlighting the importance of creating cities and communities that are inclusive, resilient and sustainable. urbanoctober.unhabitat.org At SOWISE+, we believe that sustainable cities also depend on the way we manage resources and the waste generated every day. ♻️ Urban waste does not have to represent the end of a material’s journey. Through a first-of-its-kind multipurpose biorefinery, SOWISE+ aims to demonstrate how urban biowaste and post-consumer absorbent hygiene products can be transformed into valuable bio-based materials such as PHBV and recovered cellulose. 🌱 By connecting waste management with biotechnology and industry, the project is developing an urban-industrial symbiosis model that can support more circular and resource-efficient cities. Because building better urban environments also means rethinking how cities use, recover and create value

ALT 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗢𝗪𝗜𝗦𝗘+ 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 | SiPHÀ - Sustainable Innovative PHA Next in our series is SiPHA’, an official spin-off of Sapienza University of Rome, founded in 2025 to scale up more than 30 years of research on PHA production from microbial mixed cultures. 🇮🇹 🧪 Within SOWISE+, SiPHA’ acts as a technology provider for PHA production, building on experience from the H2020 RES URBIS project. Working closely with Contarina and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, SiPHA’ contributes to the engineering, construction, commissioning, start-up, optimisation and operation of the PHA production process, while also supporting process control and product quality. 👥 SiPHA’ team: Mauro Majone, Co-founder, Claudia Vona, Communication Manager, and Lionel Nguemma. 🌐 Learn more about SOWISE+ and meet the partners behind the project: www.sowiseplus.eu Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) | Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) #SOWISEplus #Circul

ALT 🌍 29 September | International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste Food should never become waste. But when unavoidable food residues are generated, can we turn them into a resource instead of simply discarding them? ♻️ This year’s International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste highlights the “Transformative Potential of Reducing Food Loss and Waste” and the importance of building more sustainable and resource-efficient food systems. 🌱 This challenge is closely connected to the vision of SOWISE+. While preventing food loss and waste must always come first, SOWISE+ demonstrates how urban biowaste, including food and meal residues, can be valorised through an innovative multipurpose biorefinery. The project aims to transform these urban waste streams into PHBV, a bio-based polymer that can be used in the development of new sustainable materials and products. From food residues to valuable bio-based resources, SOWISE+ is helping demonstrate how circular solu

ALT "🎓 New PhD opportunity within SOWISE+! Our partner Wetsus is looking for a PhD researcher to work on sustainable-by-design circular composite bioplastics as part of the SOWISE+ project. 🌱♻️ The research will explore how PHBV and high-quality recovered cellulose can be combined into high-performance bio-based composite materials, while addressing key aspects such as material properties, processing, quality control and impurity monitoring. 🔬 The work will combine polymer science, chemical engineering and hands-on research at laboratory and pilot scale, contributing directly to SOWISE+ activities aimed at demonstrating how waste-derived materials can become valuable resources for new circular applications. The PhD researcher will work within the Wetsus Biopolymers from Water research theme and collaborate closely with Dutch and international SOWISE+ partners. 👉 Interested in contributing to the next generation of circular bio-based materials? 🔗 Read more about the PhD position a

ALT 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗢𝗪𝗜𝗦𝗘+ 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 | Fondazione Università Ca'​ Foscari Next in our series is Fondazione Università Ca’ Foscari (FCF), affiliated partner of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, supporting knowledge transfer, higher education, cultural activities and the dissemination of research results. 🇮🇹 ⚙️ Within SOWISE+, FCF supports the technical development of the flagship plant, contributing to its preliminary design, process parameters, mass and energy balances, equipment sizing and integration with existing facilities. It also supports the preparation of engineering documentation for procurement, construction and commissioning, analyses data during plant start-up and long-term operation, and contributes to Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) and Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) activities. 👥 FCF team: Petra Scanferla, Head of the Knowledge Transfer Unit, and Eleonora Costanzo, Communication Manager. 🌐 Learn more about SOWISE+ and meet

ALT SOWISE+ Glossary | What is urban-industrial symbiosis? Urban-industrial symbiosis means connecting cities and industries so that resources from one system can be used by another. In SOWISE+, urban waste streams become inputs for industrial bio-based production. This approach supports a more circular model, where cities are not only consumers of resources but also providers of valuable materials for new sustainable products. Learn more about how SOWISE+ is connecting cities and industries, to turn urban waste streams into valuable bio-based materials 🌐 www.sowiseplus.eu Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) | Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) #SOWISEplus #WasteToValue #BioBasedMaterials #CircularBioeconomy #biorefineries

ALT 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗢𝗪𝗜𝗦𝗘+ 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 | Università Ca'​ Foscari Venezia Next in our series is Ca’ Foscari University of Venice (UNIVE), one of Italy’s leading universities, founded in 1868 and home to more than 23,000 students. 🇮🇹 🔬 Within SOWISE+, UNIVE plays a key scientific and technical role, supporting permitting and End-of-Waste procedures, and taking responsibility for the design, construction and commissioning of the pilot plant operating alongside the demonstration plant. The university will also monitor both plants, manage pilot-scale testing and lead the assessment of the entire value chain through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) approaches. 👥 UNIVE team: Paolo Pavan, Unit Coordinator, Enrico Costa, Communication Manager, Elena Semenzin and Ricerca DAIS. 🌐 Learn more about SOWISE+ and meet the partners behind the project: www.sowiseplus.eu Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) | Bio-based

ALT 🤝 Connecting projects, sharing knowledge, advancing the circular bioeconomy SOWISE+ was represented at the Kick-off Meeting of the European project PHACTUS, held on 3–4 September at Sapienza University of Rome. 🇮🇹 Our Project Coordinator, Marco Mattiello from Contarina S.p.A., presented SOWISE+ and its ambition to transform urban waste streams into valuable bio-based materials through a first-of-its-kind multipurpose biorefinery. PHACTUS brings together 20 international partners to develop, at pilot scale, an innovative biotechnology process for converting urban organic waste and sewage sludge into biodegradable PHA polymers for applications in construction, agriculture and packaging. ♻️ With both projects working on innovative pathways for PHA production and circular waste valorisation, opportunities for knowledge exchange and future synergies are especially valuable. We look forward to strengthening connections across the European bioeconomy community and creating n

ALT 𝗦𝗢𝗪𝗜𝗦𝗘+ | 𝗕𝗶𝗼𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝗰𝘁 Can the bioeconomy be truly sustainable? A sustainable bioeconomy must work with nature, not against it. This means managing biological resources responsibly and prioritising waste, residues and by-products wherever possible, rather than increasing pressure on primary raw materials. Sustainability does not depend only on whether a material is bio-based. It also depends on how its resources are sourced, processed, used and managed throughout their lifecycle. 🌿 SOWISE+ follows this circular approach by using urban waste streams as valuable resources. The project will valorise urban biowaste into PHBV while recovering cellulose from post-consumer absorbent hygiene products, creating new opportunities for sustainable bio-based applications. 👉 Discover how SOWISE+ is applying circular bioeconomy principles to turn urban waste streams into valuable resources for sustainable bio-based applications. 🌐 www.sowiseplus.eu

ALT 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗢𝗪𝗜𝗦𝗘+ 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 | Contarina S.p.A. We begin our series with Contarina S.p.A., Coordinator of SOWISE+ and host of the project’s TRL8 flagship biorefinery in Treviso, Italy. 🇮🇹 ♻️ Contarina provides integrated waste management services to 49 municipalities and around 560,000 inhabitants, bringing extensive expertise in circular waste management, biowaste treatment and industrial-scale demonstration. Within SOWISE+, Contarina coordinates the project and leads the permitting, engineering, construction, start-up and operation of the flagship plant, supporting the transformation of urban waste streams into PHBV and recovered cellulose. 👥 Contarina team: Marco Mattiello, Gabriella Cuccu, Andrea Favalessa, Gianluca Monego and Giorgia Casellato. 🌐 Learn more about SOWISE+ and meet the partners behind the project: www.sowiseplus.eu #SOWISEplus #CircularBioeconomy #biorefineries #WasteValorisation #IndustrialSymbiosis #IndustrialInnovation #CBEJU

ALT SOWISE+ Glossary | What is a biorefinery? A biorefinery is a facility that converts biological resources into useful products, materials, energy, or chemicals. In SOWISE+, the flagship biorefinery will valorise urban waste streams into bio-based outputs such as PHBV and recovered cellulose. Think of it as a circular production system: instead of relying only on fossil-based raw materials, it uses renewable or waste-derived resources to create new value. Discover how the SOWISE+ flagship biorefinery is transforming urban waste streams into sustainable bio-based value: 🌐 www.sowiseplus.eu Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) | Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) #SOWISEplus #biorefineries #CircularBioeconomy #Biorefinery #WasteToValue #PHBV #BioBasedMaterials