The technology corporation Tecnalia is leading the international Transbio project, which will use biotechnology solutions such as fermentation and enzymatic processes to obtain new high-value products like new materials to replace current plastics, food ingredients and enzymes for use in detergents from raw materials and unused products from the fruit- and vegetable-processing industry.

Around 192 million tonnes of fruit and vegetable waste are produced in Europe every year. These products are renewable materials with great industrial potential and a low environmental impact. “We are searching for new raw materials different to those currently used that can be re-used after their useful life”, notes Mari Carmen Villarán, Head of Bioprocesses and Conservation at Tecnalia.

The continued use of crude oil as a raw material is a huge obstacle for sustainable industrial development as it results in damage to the environment, harms supply security and contributes to the depletion of non-renewable raw materials.

This project will improve the overall sustainability of the biomass production and processing industry. In order to ensure full exploitation of the by-products, those that cannot be used in the biotechnology processes, together with the waste materials generated by fermentation, will be assessed for use as raw materials in biogas production.

The 16 participants in the Transbio project come from Spain, a further five European countries, namely Belgium, Germany, Italy, Portugal and Romania, and three from South America, namely Costa Rica, Argentina and Mexico.