The ELLIPSE project seeks to optimise the use of two heterogeneous waste streams of which plentiful amounts are generated across Europe: slaughterhouse waste (bellygrass) and paper and pulp sludge. The project will produce cost-efficient polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) for the agricultural and packaging sectors by co-processing these waste streams with other organic ones such as glycerol from the biodiesel industry and sludge from the dairy industry.

Integrating these waste streams as biorefinery feedstocks will reduce the volume of waste destined for landfill or anaerobic digestion. It will also open up new avenues for platform chemicals and bioplastics production, while creating additional revenue for the related industries generating the waste. The process has the added advantages of recycling water and decreasing soil degradation, groundwater pollution and methane emissions.

The selected ELLIPSE feedstocks are locally available and renewable, leading to nearly 100% renewably sourced personal care packaging and agricultural products. The ELLIPSE project will be able to cope with at least 100 tonnes of slaughterhouse waste and 20 tonnes of wastewater sludge derived from the pulp and paper industry. The ELLIPSE technology will have an impact on the European bio-economy by reusing 20 000 tonnes of rumen content waste and 50 000 tonnes of paper sludge each year.