In Europe today, each inhabitant generates an average of 0.5 tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) per year. Around 40-50% of it is organic waste, which mainly contains carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, all useful raw materials to be converted to valuable products. Digestion and composting have contributed to the reduction of the biodegradable fraction of MSW sent to landfill. However, the low economic value of compost and biogas is limiting the sustainable implementation of separate sourcing systems. New bio-based products obtained from waste treatment can contribute to the environmental and socio-economical sustainability. 

URBIOFIN is an innovation project funded by the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) under the EU Horizon 2020 programme and coordinated by Perseo Biotechnology S.L. (PERSEO).

The aim of the project is to demonstrate the techno-economic and environmental viability of an integrated and innovative biorefinery for the transformation of the organic fraction of MSW into new marketable bioproducts, chemical building blocks, biopolymers and additives for different markets like agriculture and cosmetics.