L’obiettivo generale del progetto, nato durante la pandemia COVID19, è la valorizzazione dei rifiuti provenienti dall’uso di dispositivi di protezione individuali (d’ora in poi DPI), anche sanitari. L’obiettivo viene perseguito studiando le fasi chiave di una potenziale filiera circolare per la produzione di tali dispositivi (acquisizione della materia prima e preprocessi, produzione, utilizzo, fine vita), focalizzando l’attenzione sui seguenti obiettivi specifici:

· definizione di un modello produttivo sostenibile di produzione e gestione di DPI di cui si è sentita l’assenza durante la pandemia.

· integrazione di competenze specifiche e capacità produttive

· diffusione di nuove conoscenze (su temi di maggior valore quali: ecodesign, materiali rigenerativi, gerarchia dei rifiuti) trasferibile in diversi ambiti applicativi e altre filiere produttive

· applicazione dei principi di economia circolare in una filiera produttiva integrata territoriale, in accordo al Circular Economy Action Plan promosso dalla UE al fine di accelerare la transizione indicata dall’European Green Deal.

Grazie all’aumento della concentrazione in acidi grassi volatili nel fermentato prodotto presso il nostro impianto pilota siamo riusciti ad ottenere una biomassa con un’alta concentrazione di poliidrossialcanoati. Questo ci ha permesso di produrre dei DPI utilizzando un polimero 100% biodegradabile attraverso un processo di estrusione e la successiva stampa in 3D.

Regione del Veneto – POR FESR 2014-2020

Bando per il sostegno a progetti di Ricerca e Sviluppo realizzati dalle Reti Innovative Regionali e dai Distretti Industriali

ASSE 1 “RICERCA, SVILUPPO TECNOLOGICO E INNOVAZIONE”

OBIETTIVO SPECIFICO: “Incremento dell’attività di innovazione delle imprese”

AZIONE 1.1.4 “Sostegno alle attività collaborative di R&S per lo sviluppo di nuove tecnologie sostenibili, di nuovi prodotti e servizi”

DGR n. 822 del 23 giugno 2020

Reti Innovative Regionali coinvolte:

VENETO GREEN CLUSTER

RIBES PER L’ECOSISTEMA SALUTE E L’ALIMENTAZIONE SMART

VENETIAN SMART LIGHTING

Importo di finanziamento del progetto:

Contributo concesso: euro 2.029.972,00

Spesa ammessa: euro 2.999.460,00

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