The transition towards a circular economy is progressing slowly. The EU’s circular material use rate (CMUR) has only increased by 1.1% in 13 years (10.7-11.8% in 2010-2023). The difference among EU countries is also significant, ranging from a CMUR of 30.6% in the Netherlands to 1.3% in Romania.
In Norway, the circularity metric remained unchanged at 2% from 2018 to 2022 (Circularity Gap Report Norway 2025).
Circular economies are a more sustainable alternative to traditional linear economies (take, make, use and dispose), which aim to keep materials in use by reusing, repurposing, recycling and upcycling wastes and waste residues. By increasing value chain circularity, we can use our resources more efficiently, reducing both waste production and CO2 emissions.
In order to boost the transition towards a circularity bioeconomy, the European project PRIMED is developing and demonstrating ten innovative bio-based value chains, spanning five different bioeconomy sectors: forestry, agri-food, livestock, fisheries and industry. We are now reaching the final stage of the validation of the four value chains selected through the 1st Open Call. Also, starting in September, we will begin working with the six end-users selected in the 2nd Open Call, who will lead the validation of six additional value chains.
Within these sectors, bio-based products (including biofertilizers, biomaterials, food and cosmetics) have been selected, in order to promote profitability along the value chains.
“Living Labs” as real-world innovation ecosystems
To support this work, PRIMED is operating in five “Living Labs”, one for each value chain.
The Living Labs comprise real-world innovation ecosystems, bringing researchers and primary producers together with end-users of bio-based products. This way, research and innovation activities in each Living Lab are directly linked with a specific real-world case study, ensuring their relevance for market implementation.
Meet the Living Labs
Led by Alcarràs Bioproductors (Spain) – Through anaerobic digestion, biogas upgrading and composting plants, this lab will produce bio-fertilizers and bio-CNG (compressed natural gas) from pig slurry, cow manure, agricultural waste (rotten fruits, wood, straw) and cuttings from fruit-tree pruning. ALC Bio-Lab is a bio-industry park created by a society of 150 farming families, including more than 500 pig and cattle farms.
Led by the Centre for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (CeNTI) (Portugal) – This lab will produce bio-silica from silica-rich agro-industrial residues like rice husks. High-value end products are also developed through the functionalization of bio-silica nanoparticles, which give them hydrophobic, flame retardant or antimicrobial properties. Both modified and non-modified silica particles can potentially be applied as a substitute for commercial silica in different sectors, such as in textiles, automotive or construction industries.
Led by FILSE (Italy) – This lab is based on an open territorial association, working to connect research, technologies, processes and products (in particular, bio-products). This lab will develop two main value chains: one utilizing fishery waste and side-streams, and one focusing on food and agricultural waste, producing high-value products such as food supplements and skin care products. Additional products may include fertilizers, biodiesel, bioplastics and bio-polymer coating, which provide renewable alternatives to conventional fossil-based plastics for fish boxes and food packaging.
Led by the Irish Bioeconomy Foundation (Ireland) – This lab valorizes forestry residues through biochar production via pyrolysis, with potential applications as a soil enhancer and carbon sink. The biochar is also tested for the development of novel bio-based filtration systems to improve water quality and nutrient management, creating circular solutions for agriculture. An additional value chain is considered for the conversion of dairy by-products (whey permeate from cheese production and dairy sludge), via fermentation into lactic acid for biodegradable plastics, alongside other high-value outputs, such as organic acids, bioactive compounds, and fatty acids.
Led by the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) (Finland) – This lab will valorize sidestreams from agriculture and food processing industry, like potato starch production and berry, fruit and vegetable processing, as feedstock for plant cell cultures. The plant cell culture biomass can be used as novel ingredients in food and cosmetic products. Plant cell culture-based products may provide year-round stock with less batch-to-batch quality and price variations as well as more sustainable alternatives to conventional food and cosmetic ingredients.
Through interviews with key Living Lab partners, researchers in the Bioenergy Group at SINTEF Energy Research have mapped out and reviewed the status and potential of Living Lab value chains. The results were recently presented in a series of open-access fact sheets covering 12 key aspects associated with each Living Lab:
- Biomass feedstocks
- Conversion technologies
- Products/outputs
- Technology providers and reference plants
- Environmental/climate aspects
- Societal/social aspects
- Economic aspects
- Energy aspects
- Specific advantages and limitations/challenges
- Value chain
- Business model
- Living Lab timeline
The fact sheets will be publicly available in autumn 2025 after being formally approved. SINTEF Energy Research is also currently performing technoeconomic evaluations of key Living Lab value chains, in close collaboration with the Living Labs and other R&D partners.
Aligning innovation with market needs
To ensure that the bio-products and ingredients are tested and validated in real-world applications, PRIMED directly involves potential end-users through two open calls. Companies were invited to apply for a €50,000 funding to connect with our 5 Living Labs, thereby gaining access to innovative bio-based products that they can integrate into their operations. This ensures that Living Lab innovations are aligned with actual market needs and industrial challenges. In the 1st Open Call (2024), PRIMED received 17 applications, from which 4 end-user companies were selected.
First open call: four end users selected
Biofabrics will collaborate with the Bio-Silica Lab to produce novel electrospun fibers incorporating bio-silica particles, for textile and medical applications.
Cooperative Armatori Motopescherecci will collaborate with the Liguria Bio-Lab to produce soil enrichment products for agricultural applications for fisheries’ waste.
Zirkulu/LurraBio will collaborate with the BioEire Lab to convert forestry materials into biochar for use as a soil additive in agriculture. This work applies pyrolysis to transform underutilized residues into a carbon-rich product that enhances soil fertility, improves water retention, and supports long-term carbon sequestration. The collaboration is also exploring the role of biochar in developing circular value chains linking forestry and farming, while validating its applications within Irish agricultural systems.
Bonne Juomat will collaborate with the CellFactory Lab to evaluate and integrate novel plant cell culture-based ingredients produced with food industry side streams to their ingredient portfolio.
In the 2nd Open Call (2025), PRIMED received 34 applications, selecting 6 new end-users. The validation phase will run from September 2025 to August 2026.
PRIMED has received funding from the European Union’s HORIZON programme under grant agreement N°101135353. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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