The target of the project, born during the COVID19 pandemic, is the valorisation of waste from the use of personal protective equipment (henceforth PPE), including medical PPE. The objective is pursued by studying the key phases of a potential circular supply chain for the production of such devices (raw material acquisition and pre-processing, production, use, end-of-life), focusing on the following specific objectives
– definition of a sustainable production model for the production and management of IPRs, which, in the context of the COVID19 pandemic, has clearly shown its absence
– integration of specific skills and production capacities that are now fragmented and dispersed across the territory
– generation of new knowledge (on more valuable topics such as: ecodesign, regenerative materials, waste hierarchy) that can be transferred to different fields of application and other production chains
– application of circular economy principles in an integrated territorial production chain, in accordance with the Circular Economy Action Plan promoted by the EU in order to accelerate the transition indicated by the European Green Deal.
The study made clear the criticalities and specific opportunities with respect to the state of the art of knowledge and industrial technologies that are really applicable, and indicated specific areas where industrial investment is worthwhile in the short, medium and long term. The target of the project, born during the COVID19 pandemic, is the valorisation of waste from the use of personal protective equipment (henceforth PPE), including medical PPE. The objective is pursued by studying the key phases of a potential circular supply chain for the production of such devices (raw material acquisition and pre-processing, production, use, end-of-life), focusing on the following specific objectives
– definition of a sustainable production model for the production and management of IPRs, which, in the context of the COVID19 pandemic, has clearly shown its absence
– integration of specific skills and production capacities that are now fragmented and dispersed across the territory
– generation of new knowledge (on more valuable topics such as: ecodesign, regenerative materials, waste hierarchy) that can be transferred to different fields of application and other production chains
– application of circular economy principles in an integrated territorial production chain, in accordance with the Circular Economy Action Plan promoted by the EU in order to accelerate the transition indicated by the European Green Deal.
The study made clear the criticalities and specific opportunities with respect to the state of the art of knowledge and industrial technologies that are really applicable, and indicated specific areas where industrial investment is worthwhile in the short, medium and long term.
By increasing the concentration of volatile fatty acids in the fermented product at our pilot plant, we were able to obtain a biomass with a high concentration of polyhydroxyalkanoates. This allowed us to produce PPE using a 100% biodegradable polymer through an extrusion process and subsequent 3D printing.
Veneto Region – POR FESR 2014-2020
Call for proposals to support Research and Development projects carried out by Regional Innovative Networks and Industrial Districts
AXIS 1 ‘RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE: “Increasing the innovation activity of enterprises”.
ACTION 1.1.4 “Support for collaborative R&D activities for the development of new sustainable technologies, new products and services”.
DGR no. 822 of 23 June 2020
Regional Innovative Networks involved:
VENETO GREEN CLUSTER
CURRANTS FOR THE ECOSYSTEM HEALTH AND SMART FOOD
VENETIAN SMART LIGHTING
Project funding amount
Granted contribution: € 2,029,972.00
Allowed expenditure: € 2,999,460.00
BIOGAS
WATWER TREATMENT 
PROCESS ANALYSIS 
