Waste 2 Value
Basic information
Project Title
Waste 2 Value
Full project title
Waste 2 Value - valore ai rifiuti
Category
Shaping a circular industrial ecosystem and supporting life-cycle thinking
Project Description
The "Waste 2 Value - valore ai rifiuti" project arises from the awareness that the players operating in the food chain have a lead role in reducing the food waste generated that would not find in other recycling already established. For this reason, Waste 2 Value aims to promote a new circular economy model for the recovery of food waste from the activities of the Centro Nova shopping centre in Castenaso.
Geographical Scope
Local
Project Region
Bologna (BO)
Città di Castenaso (BO), Italy
Città di Castenaso (BO), Italy
Urban or rural issues
Mainly urban
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
EU Programme or fund
No
Description of the project
Summary
Waste 2 Value endeavours to devise an inventive circular economy scheme to retrieve waste coffee grounds and orange peels within a shopping centre by transforming them into "second products" to be reinserted into the centre itself in the guise of products and services. The project thus centres on spreading a sustainability culture which ropes in various entities in the region ranging from companies, like Coop, Igd SiiQ, Camst, that participated actively in W2V, to local authorities, and ultimately, to the local community, particularly children via school programmes.
Waste 2 Value has pioneered a cutting-edge circular economy model, which incorporates the development of a soil enhancer to facilitate the retrieval and repurposing of waste generated during the harvesting, processing, and preparation of food products, specifically those containing coffee and orange juice. The notion for this conditioner emerged during an hackathon that engaged local students with the remit of creating an innovative circular economy that caters to the requirements of the shopping centre. After testing a prototype fertiliser made with a compost of coffee grounds and orange peels, the project proceeded to establish a flower garden in the shopping centre region, cultivated using the fertiliser. The ultimate target of the project is to benefit the community by generating social, economic, and environmental value through waste reduction and food waste awareness-raising. The community will also benefit as consumers of the end-product. Furthermore, La Fraternità, a social cooperative that assists vulnerable people, played an active role in project implementation. The cooperative is responsible for managing the compost bin and garden.
Waste 2 Value has pioneered a cutting-edge circular economy model, which incorporates the development of a soil enhancer to facilitate the retrieval and repurposing of waste generated during the harvesting, processing, and preparation of food products, specifically those containing coffee and orange juice. The notion for this conditioner emerged during an hackathon that engaged local students with the remit of creating an innovative circular economy that caters to the requirements of the shopping centre. After testing a prototype fertiliser made with a compost of coffee grounds and orange peels, the project proceeded to establish a flower garden in the shopping centre region, cultivated using the fertiliser. The ultimate target of the project is to benefit the community by generating social, economic, and environmental value through waste reduction and food waste awareness-raising. The community will also benefit as consumers of the end-product. Furthermore, La Fraternità, a social cooperative that assists vulnerable people, played an active role in project implementation. The cooperative is responsible for managing the compost bin and garden.
Key objectives for sustainability
Waste 2 Value implemented a circular economy model with the aim of involving as many stakeholders as possible by creating a virtuous system between businesses, local authorities and the community:
- The direct involvement in the design and implementation phase of companies that are part of the shopping centre - namely Coop Alleanza 3.0, Igd Siiq and Camst Group - a strategic inclusion of them within circular economy practices by raising their awareness of food waste issues.
- The use of a fertiliser derived from the waste produced in the mall's internal activities through the use of a compost bin installed immediately outside the mall allows the community to directly see the fruits of the circularity process. This ensures a high visibility of the project in the area where it is located by raising awareness of sustainability and circular economy issues among the population.
- The local authority involved, the municipality of Castenaso, not only obtains an extra public garden within a commercial space but can use the surplus of compost obtained from the compost for its own urban gardens.
- The direct involvement in the design and implementation phase of companies that are part of the shopping centre - namely Coop Alleanza 3.0, Igd Siiq and Camst Group - a strategic inclusion of them within circular economy practices by raising their awareness of food waste issues.
- The use of a fertiliser derived from the waste produced in the mall's internal activities through the use of a compost bin installed immediately outside the mall allows the community to directly see the fruits of the circularity process. This ensures a high visibility of the project in the area where it is located by raising awareness of sustainability and circular economy issues among the population.
- The local authority involved, the municipality of Castenaso, not only obtains an extra public garden within a commercial space but can use the surplus of compost obtained from the compost for its own urban gardens.
Key objectives for aesthetics and quality
Waste 2 Value is a project concerned not solely with the circular economy, but also with the renovation and upgrade of public space. Consequently, it was crucial, with the backing of the firms participating in the project and situated in the shopping centre, to enhance the centre as a location for daily gatherings for the Castenaso community. Starting from these assumptions, we aimed to ensure that the garden resulting from composting the centre's waste possessed an aesthetically pleasing appearance for visitors. Waste 2 Value aimed to establish a connection between the project and the community by presenting a clear and well-defined image. Consequently, a competition was organised amongst artists to decorate the compost bin utilised in the project. Finally, participating schools were given the chance to bring their classes to the project's closing event. The objective was to educate and raise awareness of sustainability among young people through a tour of the garden that was created thanks to Waste 2 Value.
The end result demonstrated how reimagining a space must be a comprehensive process that fully engages all stakeholders, from the business to the community, which ultimately remains the end user. Waste 2 Value has incorporated the principles of circular economy into its project design, aiming to enrich urban spaces through cultural, educational, and artistic means.
The end result demonstrated how reimagining a space must be a comprehensive process that fully engages all stakeholders, from the business to the community, which ultimately remains the end user. Waste 2 Value has incorporated the principles of circular economy into its project design, aiming to enrich urban spaces through cultural, educational, and artistic means.
Key objectives for inclusion
Waste 2 Value has prioritised social inclusion in its design by linking it to the renewal of urban surroundings through the circular economy. The company has also introduced innovative approaches to rethink the idea of the collective good by aligning it with the notion of sustainability.
The flower garden adjacent to the Castenaso shopping centre serves as a prime example of the company's commitment to promoting accessibility and community engagement. The garden is open to all individuals who wish to learn about the workings of the circular economy.
• The garden's management is now integral to the inclusive space-rethinking process, involving the social cooperative 'La Fraternità', committed to providing support and employment opportunities for those with social fragility. The daily upkeep of the flower garden, including the operation of the compost bin, is carried out by the cooperative's staff, who are frail individuals.
• The collaboration between businesses, the co-op, the community and local government has facilitated the establishment of a forum, not only in a tangible sense, for fostering collective welfare by incorporating all societal participants.
The flower garden adjacent to the Castenaso shopping centre serves as a prime example of the company's commitment to promoting accessibility and community engagement. The garden is open to all individuals who wish to learn about the workings of the circular economy.
• The garden's management is now integral to the inclusive space-rethinking process, involving the social cooperative 'La Fraternità', committed to providing support and employment opportunities for those with social fragility. The daily upkeep of the flower garden, including the operation of the compost bin, is carried out by the cooperative's staff, who are frail individuals.
• The collaboration between businesses, the co-op, the community and local government has facilitated the establishment of a forum, not only in a tangible sense, for fostering collective welfare by incorporating all societal participants.
Results in relation to category
The project aimed to create a groundbreaking circular economy blueprint that employs a soil enhancer to recover and repurpose food collection, processing and preparation waste (coffee and orange juice) for sustainable use. In general, the project's beneficiary was the community, as it gained socio-economic and environmental value through the process of raising awareness and consciousness on waste reuse and food waste reduction. Furthermore, the product's beneficiaries also reaped the rewards.
The benefits and results achieved are as follows:
• Patrons of the shopping centre and visitors to the flower garden gain increased awareness regarding circular economy and reuse issues.
• The participation of schools has raised sustainability and circular economy awareness among the younger generation.
• The project has garnered greater recognition for the involved organizations among their customers and has improved their image.
• The Centre offers sufficient training to its employees engaged in gathering organic material for fertiliser manufacturing.
• By partnering with a local social cooperative, the Centre recognises the contributions of individuals residing in vulnerable circumstances. This acknowledgement would not be possible if the electric composter managed the composting processes automatically. The social cooperative employs each community worker for around 10 hours every week.
• The local government has obtained a greater amount of soil conditioner to utilise within the urban gardens established in the vicinity. The reward is established by preventing expenses and potential direct benefits for the residents, alongside developing a newfound understanding of creating compost.
• Since the full implementation and completion of the project activities, the activities in the Nova Centre have resulted in the collection of 5kg of food waste daily.
The benefits and results achieved are as follows:
• Patrons of the shopping centre and visitors to the flower garden gain increased awareness regarding circular economy and reuse issues.
• The participation of schools has raised sustainability and circular economy awareness among the younger generation.
• The project has garnered greater recognition for the involved organizations among their customers and has improved their image.
• The Centre offers sufficient training to its employees engaged in gathering organic material for fertiliser manufacturing.
• By partnering with a local social cooperative, the Centre recognises the contributions of individuals residing in vulnerable circumstances. This acknowledgement would not be possible if the electric composter managed the composting processes automatically. The social cooperative employs each community worker for around 10 hours every week.
• The local government has obtained a greater amount of soil conditioner to utilise within the urban gardens established in the vicinity. The reward is established by preventing expenses and potential direct benefits for the residents, alongside developing a newfound understanding of creating compost.
• Since the full implementation and completion of the project activities, the activities in the Nova Centre have resulted in the collection of 5kg of food waste daily.
How Citizens benefit
Citizens are the primary beneficiaries of the Waste 2 Value project, benefiting from reduced CO2 emissions and increased awareness of sustainability and circular economy issues. The project's focus was on changing the perspective of companies, enabling them to pursue common goals with their customers. By reusing food waste, the companies established a stronger connection with the locality, allowing citizens to receive direct benefits such as a circular economy model that reduces food waste and emissions. Moreover, they transformed an area which was traditionally consumed by citizens into an upgraded space where they are now users.
Civil society is now more aware of the issues surrounding sustainability and recycling and their impact on the wellbeing of the community, thanks to the educational initiatives, such as the flower garden and school visits. The Municipality of Castenaso plays a crucial role in raising awareness through its communication efforts on urban gardening, using soil enhancers made from the food waste produced by the Nova Centre.
Civil society is now more aware of the issues surrounding sustainability and recycling and their impact on the wellbeing of the community, thanks to the educational initiatives, such as the flower garden and school visits. The Municipality of Castenaso plays a crucial role in raising awareness through its communication efforts on urban gardening, using soil enhancers made from the food waste produced by the Nova Centre.
Physical or other transformations
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Innovative character
Waste 2 Value adopted a multistakeholder approach by constructing a novel relational network to unite businesses with local authorities, the third sector and the local community. This virtuous system, integrated into the proposed circular economy model, binds the public-private partnership to the restoration of a common good exemplified by the flower garden. This proposed local-level relational ecosystem demonstrated the possibility of applying circular economy models that can have a positive impact on the territory, not only in terms of reducing waste or CO2 emissions, but also in terms of proposing new social and governance models.
This multi-stakeholder involvement has enabled a way to collect and select ideas for the recovery of food waste and discards, inspired by the principles of open innovation. Indeed, Waste 2 Value has also introduced technological advancements by suggesting the use of a novel composter during the composting stage, which is also user-friendly for novices.
Even the prototype phase of the soil enhancer, developed after an hackathon with student groups, revealed that the proposal of novel circular economic models requires the participation of socio-economic partners and technical experts to achieve a collaborative solution that can be effectively applied and adapted to various contexts.
This multi-stakeholder involvement has enabled a way to collect and select ideas for the recovery of food waste and discards, inspired by the principles of open innovation. Indeed, Waste 2 Value has also introduced technological advancements by suggesting the use of a novel composter during the composting stage, which is also user-friendly for novices.
Even the prototype phase of the soil enhancer, developed after an hackathon with student groups, revealed that the proposal of novel circular economic models requires the participation of socio-economic partners and technical experts to achieve a collaborative solution that can be effectively applied and adapted to various contexts.
Disciplines/knowledge reflected
The Waste 2 Value project enlisted professionals and technicians from diverse industries, blending a range of expertise to realise a feasible circular economy model. The Waste 2 Value project enlisted professionals and technicians from diverse industries, blending a range of expertise to realise a feasible circular economy model. The project was comprehensive, encompassing technical fields spanning from strict circular economy principles to the environmental engineering sphere, as well as extending to business relations and the design of innovative circular economy pathways. To elaborate:
- Future Food Urban Coolab partnered to cover the area of food wastage and recovery, providing their expertise from the initial phase of the soil enhancer development using coffee grounds and orange peels. They conducted a feasibility study in association with other project partners.
- Concerning composting and recycling, the Hera Group and the Centro Agricoltura Ambiente (CAA) showcased their expertise at a technical meeting attended by all project partners. They offered their facilities and skilled personnel for the second phase of prototyping and testing of the soil enhancer.
Thanks to Impronta Etica, Waste 2 Value had the opportunity to embark on a virtuous path with companies. Additionally, the association possesses certified experience in modelling circular economy paths.
The offices of the Municipality of Castenaso played a cross-functional role, encompassing both the field of environmental engineering and community relationship management.
- The support of sustainability contact persons from the involved enterprises has been paramount in the realm of enterprise-circular economy relations.
Throughout all phases of the project, partners and technical experts have worked together to combine diverse competences, crafting a virtuous system that optimises the circular economy model's feasibility and efficacy.
- Future Food Urban Coolab partnered to cover the area of food wastage and recovery, providing their expertise from the initial phase of the soil enhancer development using coffee grounds and orange peels. They conducted a feasibility study in association with other project partners.
- Concerning composting and recycling, the Hera Group and the Centro Agricoltura Ambiente (CAA) showcased their expertise at a technical meeting attended by all project partners. They offered their facilities and skilled personnel for the second phase of prototyping and testing of the soil enhancer.
Thanks to Impronta Etica, Waste 2 Value had the opportunity to embark on a virtuous path with companies. Additionally, the association possesses certified experience in modelling circular economy paths.
The offices of the Municipality of Castenaso played a cross-functional role, encompassing both the field of environmental engineering and community relationship management.
- The support of sustainability contact persons from the involved enterprises has been paramount in the realm of enterprise-circular economy relations.
Throughout all phases of the project, partners and technical experts have worked together to combine diverse competences, crafting a virtuous system that optimises the circular economy model's feasibility and efficacy.
Methodology used
Following an analysis of the context that highlighted the potential for actors in the food chain to prevent and reduce food waste, Waste 2 Value embarked on involving such stakeholders in the development of an innovative circular economy model, based on the recognition that designing sustainability pathways for food waste reduction can be the basis of a new model for global competitiveness and growth. The project revolves around the realization that the development of sustainable paths for waste reduction can serve as a basis for a new model that can increase global competitiveness while promoting sustainable growth. The direct involvement of the economic and social actors in the local area occurred through a partnership-based approach rather than as a start-up.
The goal was to formulate a 'second product' that would render the project viable and expandable. To achieve this, one hackathon was arranged from a methodological perspective, engaging student groups in generating such a second product utilizing food waste. This led to the concept of producing a soil conditioner from coffee grounds and orange peel waste, the most readily recoverable waste streams from the shopping centre businesses. Two prototyping phases followed with feasibility analyses and testing carried out in partnership with Future Food Institute's technical professionals.
During the project implementation phase, technical professionals and all partners and stakeholders involved in Waste 2 Value remained engaged in monitoring and coordinating ongoing activities. The proposed methodology allowed for presenting a scalable project that can be transferred to other contexts by including a technological aspect, a new soil enhancer and composter, as well as building a network of relationships and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
The goal was to formulate a 'second product' that would render the project viable and expandable. To achieve this, one hackathon was arranged from a methodological perspective, engaging student groups in generating such a second product utilizing food waste. This led to the concept of producing a soil conditioner from coffee grounds and orange peel waste, the most readily recoverable waste streams from the shopping centre businesses. Two prototyping phases followed with feasibility analyses and testing carried out in partnership with Future Food Institute's technical professionals.
During the project implementation phase, technical professionals and all partners and stakeholders involved in Waste 2 Value remained engaged in monitoring and coordinating ongoing activities. The proposed methodology allowed for presenting a scalable project that can be transferred to other contexts by including a technological aspect, a new soil enhancer and composter, as well as building a network of relationships and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
How stakeholders are engaged
Waste 2 Value involved a wide range of local stakeholders who played an important role in all phases of the project, from its inception to its implementation and closure.
- The Municipality of Castenaso was the project leader, acting as a collector of the initiatives of the other project partners. This gave Waste 2 Value the opportunity to directly influence local policies on sustainability and public space management.
- The companies Igd SiiQ, Coop Alleanza 3.0 and Camst Group were active and involved in all phases of the project as partners and as part of the Waste 2 Value target shopping centre. Thanks to Impronta Etica's coordinating role as an association to which the involved companies belong, the partners' ideas, opinions and roles were valued throughout all stages of the Waste 2 Value implementation.
- Social Cooperative "La Fraternità": for the realisation of the project it was decided to involve a social cooperative for the realisation of the concrete activities related to the composting process, the management of the compost heap and the maintenance of
- Universities. Both in the brainstorming phase and during the numerous testimonials within university courses, some lecturers and Unibo Launchpad were directly involved in the project for their technical-scientific expertise.
Moreover, the local community had an active involvement in all project activities. During the initial stage, a hackathon was held where local student groups presented their circular economy projects for prototyping. This served as the foundation for the project's operations. Additionally, it was actively involved in educating on sustainable practices and circular economy matters during the implementation and monitoring phases, which continues to this day.
- For mall customers looking for a space that goes beyond mere consumption and instead offers an opportunity to be part of a novel economic and social paradigm.
- The Municipality of Castenaso was the project leader, acting as a collector of the initiatives of the other project partners. This gave Waste 2 Value the opportunity to directly influence local policies on sustainability and public space management.
- The companies Igd SiiQ, Coop Alleanza 3.0 and Camst Group were active and involved in all phases of the project as partners and as part of the Waste 2 Value target shopping centre. Thanks to Impronta Etica's coordinating role as an association to which the involved companies belong, the partners' ideas, opinions and roles were valued throughout all stages of the Waste 2 Value implementation.
- Social Cooperative "La Fraternità": for the realisation of the project it was decided to involve a social cooperative for the realisation of the concrete activities related to the composting process, the management of the compost heap and the maintenance of
- Universities. Both in the brainstorming phase and during the numerous testimonials within university courses, some lecturers and Unibo Launchpad were directly involved in the project for their technical-scientific expertise.
Moreover, the local community had an active involvement in all project activities. During the initial stage, a hackathon was held where local student groups presented their circular economy projects for prototyping. This served as the foundation for the project's operations. Additionally, it was actively involved in educating on sustainable practices and circular economy matters during the implementation and monitoring phases, which continues to this day.
- For mall customers looking for a space that goes beyond mere consumption and instead offers an opportunity to be part of a novel economic and social paradigm.
Global challenges
At the core of Waste 2 Value lies a commitment to devising, trialling, and actualising feasible, scalable resolutions whereby processed and organic waste - which would typically go unused within traditional supply chains - can be repurposed into useful products and/or services via a sustainable, circular economic model. Reducing food waste is a significant global challenge that also contributes to emissions reduction. The reuse of organic waste is an integral part of addressing this problem. Waste 2 Value aligns with SDG 12 of the 2030 Agenda by promoting "Responsible consumption and production" through recycling and reuse targets. This encourages businesses and public bodies to commit to sustainability and reduce food waste at the retail and consumer levels.
By proposing a local model of circular economy based on organic waste, Waste 2 Value strives to address major global challenges at a micro level by harnessing the various economic and social forces within the local community. Therefore, it is crucial to encourage both a pragmatic approach to reusing and recycling through the composting stage, whilst also instilling a culture of sustainability and a circular economy at all levels - from educational institutions to shopping centres - through active and participatory engagement.
The project aims to quantify the reduction of emissions by applying organic waste recycling methods to comply with the emission reduction goals outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement.
By proposing a local model of circular economy based on organic waste, Waste 2 Value strives to address major global challenges at a micro level by harnessing the various economic and social forces within the local community. Therefore, it is crucial to encourage both a pragmatic approach to reusing and recycling through the composting stage, whilst also instilling a culture of sustainability and a circular economy at all levels - from educational institutions to shopping centres - through active and participatory engagement.
The project aims to quantify the reduction of emissions by applying organic waste recycling methods to comply with the emission reduction goals outlined in the 2015 Paris Agreement.
Learning transferred to other parties
Since its inception, the project has aimed to be both replicable and transferable to diverse contexts. Concentrating the project activities in a specific locale allowed Waste 2 Value to catalyse a novel approach to developing circular economy models centred on engaging multiple stakeholders, ranging from businesses to the local community. The intention is to establish a virtuous system within a given region. This is a straightforward approach that can be easily replicated and applied to comparable situations, where corporations, regional councils, third sector groups, and local communities collaborate towards a more sustainable and circular economy.
From a technological point of view, the project has successfully achieved its objectives by prototyping and implementing a soil enhancer that utilises organic waste, coffee grounds and orange peels derived from processing at Centro Nova's premises. The composting mechanism in place has led to minimisation of generated waste, thereby adding value to these materials. This approach, with its straightforwardness and clarity due to the implementation of technical measures, emphasises its ability to be effortlessly duplicated and expanded upon in comparable circumstances.
The hackathon model, as a means of collaboratively designing and engaging with younger generations, generates novel approaches to recovering and reusing organic waste from commercial activities. It is notable that the modus operandi leading to this solution is also replicable, rather than only the end product being so.
From a technological point of view, the project has successfully achieved its objectives by prototyping and implementing a soil enhancer that utilises organic waste, coffee grounds and orange peels derived from processing at Centro Nova's premises. The composting mechanism in place has led to minimisation of generated waste, thereby adding value to these materials. This approach, with its straightforwardness and clarity due to the implementation of technical measures, emphasises its ability to be effortlessly duplicated and expanded upon in comparable circumstances.
The hackathon model, as a means of collaboratively designing and engaging with younger generations, generates novel approaches to recovering and reusing organic waste from commercial activities. It is notable that the modus operandi leading to this solution is also replicable, rather than only the end product being so.
Keywords
Circular economy
Food waste
Sustainability
Local community
Cooperation between public and private stakeholders
