Spain: Cooperative to convert potato processing waste into bioplastics

Also participating are the Aragonese company Tecnopacking, an expert in sustainable packaging, and the AITIIP technology center, which specializes in plastics processing. 

This initiative includes the construction and commissioning of a pilot plant for extracting starch from potato byproducts, which can be transformed into biodegradable thermoplastic. This component is then used in the development of biodegradable films for flexible packaging and agricultural soil mulch, thus contributing to replacing conventional plastic materials with circular and locally sourced solutions.

• The core of the project is the construction and commissioning of a pilot plant for the extraction of starch from tuber by-products.

This proposal is part of the European Brilian project, funded by the Circular Bio-Based Europe (CBE JU) initiative within the framework of Horizon Europe, which has officially launched its Spanish pilot project in Udapa/Paturpat. The project seeks to demonstrate how the circular bioeconomy can become a driver of sustainable development and generate new industrial opportunities in rural areas, placing primary producers at the center of the transition. 

Coordinated by the Aragonese technology center Circe, Brilian aims to transform these challenges into opportunities, promoting sustainable cooperative business models that allow agro-industries and farmers to diversify their income by valorizing agri-food byproducts and waste. 

The project will validate a total of 10 bio-based value chains in Spain, Italy, and Denmark, focusing on local raw materials such as cardoon, sunflower, rapeseed, and potatoes, with applications in high-value-added sectors such as bioplastics, biolubricants, bioadhesives, animal feed, and biofertilizers. With a budget of over six million euros, it involves 13 partners from six countries.