ReJuice

The project focuses not only on roadside clippings and grass but also other common green waste streams such as tomato stems, leek waste, flower stems and duckweed. This means reuse (Re) of sap streams (Juice), but also more efficient use of raw materials (Rejuice = Reduce).

Specific objectives:

developing a green residue calendar
optimising the refining process
optimise promising products in various application areas (namely alternative proteins, microalgae, biodegradable plastics (PHA plastics), bio-fertilisers and biogas)
improving logistics
testing fermentation techniques
applying for end-of-waste status.

ReJuice aims to build a bridge between knowledge institutions, industry, government and citizens, with co-creation clusters and an advisory board. The opportunities for circular and bio-based economy, as well as the importance for achieving climate goals, make this project crucial for both Flanders and the Netherlands.

Midway through the project: current status

Over the past two years, the ReJuice project has made significant progress in the valorization of green residual streams by pressing them into nutrient-rich juices. Various biomass streams proved suitable for the ReJuice process, including grass, leek leaves, maize leaves, flower stems, and plants from peppers, cucumbers, zucchini, and tomatoes. Pressing these materials was successfully tested at both pilot and full scale, with attention given to juice yield, composition, and seasonal influences. Further processing of these juices yielded promising results for applications such as biogas production, fertilization, bioplastics (PHA), and the cultivation of microalgae.

In addition, three collaborations with interested companies were established to increase market acceptance of the ReJuice process. The next phase of the project focuses on scaling up to pilot and full scale, further process optimization, and the development of concrete bio-based products.