Green Assist: Transforming olive waste into sustainable materials

Andaltec, a Spanish leading technology centre in plastics and innovation, is taking a big step towards a circular and sustainable economy. Already collaborating with companies across more than 20 countries, Andaltec sought Green Assist’s support to overcome investment challenges. This initiative follows their partnership with the LIFE COMP0LIVE project aimed at scaling their sustainability efforts and reducing environmental impacts.

Their long-term goal is to build a large-scale biorefinery that transforms olive pruning waste into sustainable biocomposites and other bio-based materials. These innovative materials provide a more eco-friendly option compared  to traditional plastics, which are typically derived from fossil fuels - a conclusion supported by a Life Cycle Assessment from the LIFE COMP0LIVE project.

Leveraging its experience in European R&D projects and advanced pilot facilities, Andaltec is well-equipped to succeed. However, it faces key barriers to implementation. Scaling up production to handle large volumes of bio-based material requires substantial investment and robust technical planning. In addition, securing financing for the construction and operation of the biorefinery, along with developing efficient logistics for biomass inflow, remain critical challenges.

That’s where Green Assist came in. From July to October 2024, an expert from Green Assist collaborated with Andaltec to shape their investment plan and logistics model, ensuring the project is financially viable and aligned with EU sustainability goals.

“Green Assist’s support was instrumental in helping us move forward with confidence. Their expert helped us refine our financial strategy and provided us with the tools needed to build a business plan,” said Dr. Francisco Javier Navas Martos, Senior Researcher at ANDALTEC and Coordinator of the LIFE-COMP0LIVE project at Andaltec.

Thanks to this collaboration, Andaltec is now in a stronger position to transform waste into sustainable material solutions, contributing to Europe’s transition to greener industries and a circular economy.

Green Assist aims to build a pipeline for high-impact green investment projects in sectors related to biodiversity, natural capital and circular economy, as well as in non-environmental sectors. 

Learn more about how Green Assist can help you get free tailored support for your green project or contact us at cinea-green-assistec [dot] europa [dot] eu (cinea-green-assist[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu). To request advisory services from Green Assist, simply fill out this short form.