RESOLUTE will actively contribute to the development of sustainable bioeconomy value chains in Europe. Project impacts are in line with the BBI-JU roadmap, the SIRA, which sets out the main technological and innovation challenges to developing sustainable and competitive bio-based industries in Europe.
RESOLUTE’s impacts are also expected to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established by the United Nations (UN). RESOLUTE contributes to SDG5 “Gender Equality”, SDG8 “Decent Work and Economic Growth”, “Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure”, SDG12 “Responsible Consumption & Production”, SDG13 “Climate Action”, SDG14 “Life Below Water” and finally SDG15 “Life on Land”
To achieve that ambition, RESOLUTE will:
Economical impacts
IMPACT
Create new cross-sector interconnections in the bio-based economy
KEY FIGURES
6 new cross-sector interconnections
JUSTIFICATION
New connections will be established between different sectors (energy, high-performance, pharmaceutical, waste water treatment, electronics, research and the pulp & paper sector) and will result in new partnerships and business models.
UN SDG and global challenges : SDG 9
IMPACT
Create new bio-based value chains
KEY FIGURES
6 new bio-based value chains
JUSTIFICATION
Li-ion batteries, metal coatings, high-performance composites, pharmaceuticals products, ultra-filtration membranes and printed electronic products.
UN SDG and global challenges : SDG 9 & 12
IMPACT
Create a new source of growth for the pulp and paper sector and the chemicals sector
JUSTIFICATION
The production of valuable chemicals from wood biomass such as CyreneTM represents a major opportunity for paper mills (commonly located in rural areas) to diversify into new business areas plus safeguard and/or create jobs in and around the mills.
In parallel, the EU chemicals sector is facing increasing regulatory pressure to replace chemicals that are unsafe for humans and the environment (NMP, DMF and DMAc) CyreneTM is an opportunity for the EU chemicals sector to develop new products and new markets based ono the unique structures and properties of bio-derived chemicals that are non-accessible from petroleum.
UN SDG and global challenges : SDG 8 & 9
IMPACT
Create new bio-based applications that meet market requirements
KEY FIGURES
4 new bio-based applications
JUSTIFICATION
CyreneTM will demonstrate that it meets the market requirements for these applications (polyamide-imide coatings production, graphene processing, ultrafiltration membrane production, chemical synthesis)
UN SDG and global challenges : SDG 9
Environmental impacts
IMPACT
Reduce dependence of solvent-using industries on non-renewable resources
KEY FIGURES
Carbon footprint of solvent (versus petrol based):
JUSTIFICATION
CyreneTM is derived from renewable, waste wood (e.g sawdust) and non-food (e.g. crop residues) biomass ressources.
UN SDG and global challenges : SDG 13
IMPACT
Optimise resource efficiency (and therefore support the EU Circular Economy action plan)
KEY FIGURES
Volume of industrial process waste generated: 0kg per metric ton of solvents produced.
“Zero waste” industrial process
JUSTIFICATION
Applying “zero waste” strategy thanks to an optimised production process and valorasing CyreneTM production residues (bio-char) by converting them into activated carbons.
UN SDG and global challenges : SDG 12
IMPACT
Increase the protection of the environment
KEY FIGURES
Global warming potential (GWP) of CyreneTM produced using Cica’s process is over 3 times lower than of NMP.
JUSTIFICATION
The cradle-to-gate global warming potential of CyreneTM is based on an independent LCA comissioned by Ramboll.
CyreneTM can be recycled without any issues by distillation under reduced pressure – the process typically ised to recycle NMP, DF and DMAc. CyreneTM does not contain any N heteroatoms (unlike NMP, DMF and DMAc) or S heteroatoms (unlike DMSO), meaning that polluting NOx and/or SOx emissions are avoided during use or at the end of its life, if combusted.
CyreneTM has been proven to be readily biodegradable and have no adverse effects on fish, aquatic invertebrates, cyanobacteria and microorganisme.
UN SDG and global challenges : SDG 13, 14 & 15
IMPACT
A process with an extremely low water demand
KEY FIGURES
The volume of wastewater coming out of a FuracellTM plant is around 0.6 m3 per tonne of biomass consumed (versus = 20 m3 per tonne of fibre of a typical newsprint manufacturing plant)
JUSTIFICATION
The small volume of water that is used is in the vacuum, cooling and heat exchanger systems, much of which is recirculated within the system.
UN SDG and global challenges : SDG 12
Social impacts
IMPACT
Increase the protection of human health
JUSTIFICATION
The use of CyreneTM instead of NMP, DMF and DMAc in various processes and products will generate direct health benefits to workers usually exposed to traditonal reprotoxic (dipolar aprotic) solvents (e.g. chemicals plant operators, farmers, professional cleaners).
UN SDG and global challenges : SDG 8
IMPACT
A source of new jobs
KEY FIGURES
+ 40 direct jobs + 120 indirect jobs
JUSTIFICATION
ReSolute aims to create a significant impact on the employment in North East France near the Carling site, thus contributing to the regeneration of the Vosges region which is still suffering from the decline of the wood industry.
UN SDG and global challenges : SDG 8
IMPACT
Gender Equality and Local Communities Support
JUSTIFICATION
ReSolute has an equal opportunity employment policy that will be applied during recruitment to ensure gender balance.
UN SDG and global challenges : SDG 5
SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
SDG 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
SDG 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources
The following impacts will be monitored during the project
- Increase resource efficiency
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Increase the share of sustainable and efficient bio-based materials in the field of high-volume consumer products
- Foster the future market uptake of Circa’s bio-based materials for high-volume consumer products
More information soon!