WaterProof: A Processes4Planet Project for a Future-Proof Europe

Context

Cleaning products, hand creams and leather goods are products found in every household. However, the production of such consumer goods has a considerable impact on the environment, as it is resource-consuming, often based on fossil resources, and the packaging is incinerated after use. To achieve the climate goals of the European Union, alternative feedstock, innovative technologies and new business models are needed. 

WaterProof: a P4Planet Project

To address the traditionally linear value chain model and support the European Union’s ambition to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, the WaterProof project (full title: ‘urban WAste and water Treatment Emission Reduction by utilizing CO₂ for the PROduction Of Formate derived chemicals’) proposes an alternative circular model.

The project is an RIA - Research and Innovation Action, and kicked off in June 2022 and is funded by Horizon Europe under a Processes4Planet call. WaterProof is expected to end on 31 May 2026.

Waste and wastewater treatment currently emit large amounts of CO₂. In the WaterProof project, CO₂ is captured from waste incineration and wastewater treatment plants and turned into formic acid, which will later be used for fish leather tanning—to sustainably produce fish leather—and will be tested in consumer cleaning products.

Furthermore, formic acid is a feedstock for the production of Acidic Deep Eutectic Solvents (ADES), used to extract precious metals from water treatment sludge and incinerator ash.

Goals and Vision

In a nutshell, the WaterProof project proposes a resource-efficient solution to convert CO₂ emissions from waste(water) processing into green consumer products. The CO₂ generated after the products are used is again captured and deployed, thus creating a fully circular model.

The technology at the heart of the WaterProof concept—which turns the captured CO₂ into formic acid—is an electrochemical process. This reaction is paired with the generation of high-energy oxidants, which are used to remove persistent contaminants from wastewater, thereby contributing to a clean water cycle with zero waste. The energy to run the electrochemical process is provided by the waste incineration facility. 

The Success Story

The WaterProof technology could lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions through the utilisation of CO₂, the replacement of fossil feedstocks, and industrial electrification.

In the WaterProof project, a TRL 6 plant is constructed, including innovative downstream processing. The conversion of CO₂ from wastewater treatment and the CO₂ captured at a waste incinerator is demonstrated in two consecutive campaigns.

To maximise the impact of the WaterProof technology, lifecycle assessments and a full business case analysis were initiated in the early stage of the project to provide targets for technology development. A marketing and deployment strategy is developed to ensure social acceptance of the WaterProof technology.

An intermediate life cycle analysis indicates that the technology developed in the WaterProof project has less than half the climate change impact of the fossil-based alternative, demonstrating clear potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions if implemented.

‘Besides the reduction of GHG emissions, WaterProof will have a societal impact by creating awareness through interaction with policy makers and civil society and the creation of new jobs in innovative fields. By targeting an industry as essential as waste(water) treatment, WaterProof aims to create a concept that can impact society and climate on a big scale,’ the project team told us.

WaterProof is implemented by a dedicated and diverse team of experts.

The coordinator and scientific coordinator are women, and four of the five work packages are led by women.

The consortium counts eleven European partners, of which two are SMEs.

The Coordinator’s Angle

Asked about what makes WaterProof a success story, a representative from Avantium (the coordinator) points to the fact that the project will demonstrate and prove the full value chain of a closed carbon cycle: CO₂ from wastewater and consumer waste incineration will be converted into formic acid to make new bio-based consumer products—a unique and novel technology.

A.SPIRE considers WaterProof a success story and an ambitious multi-faceted initiative aiming to turn CO₂ from waste into valuable, sustainable products, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and replacing fossil resources. Through proven technology, societal impact, and a circular, climate-friendly model, WaterProof can demonstrate how innovation can drive Europe toward climate neutrality.

Download the leaflet for more information about this success story.

Visit the WaterProof project’s website. 

For more information about A.SPIRE, the Processes4Planet Partnership, and the Success Stories, contact the team.