Use Cases
The Theseus Hub for Circularity (H4C) will demonstrate its innovative solutions through three targeted pilot use cases, each addressing specific material flows with high potential for circularity. These pilots integrate advanced technologies, governance models, and cross-sectoral collaborations to showcase scalable solutions.
Pilot 1
Bio-based materials and Packaging flow implementation
Objective
To establish symbiotic flows for bio based materials and packaging, integrating waste streams into high-value circular products.
Key Activities
- Upcycling municipal solid waste (MSW) into biobased packaging materials.
- Testing innovative waste-to-product pathways to produce sustainable alternatives for packaging industries.
- Demonstrating the scalability of circular packaging solutions across Attica.
Expected Impact
- Enhanced resource efficiency and reduced reliance on virgin materials.
- Strengthened collaboration between waste management facilities and packaging manufacturers.
Pilot 2
Textiles Flow
Objective
To revolutionize the lifecycle of textiles by implementing advanced sorting, recycling, and upcycling technologies, reducing waste and increasing reuse potential.
Key Activities
- Sorting textile waste with multi-sensor and robotic technologies to improve purity and quality.
- Converting recovered textiles into secondary materials for reuse in manufacturing.
- Engaging local industries to validate new products derived from textile recycling.
Expected Impact
- Significant reduction in textile waste sent to landfills.
- Creation of sustainable supply chains for the fashion and manufacturing industries.
Pilot 3
CDW & Glass Flow
Objective
To optimize the recycling and reuse of construction and demolition waste (CDW) and glass waste, transforming it into new building materials.
Key Activities
- Sorting and processing CDW to recover high-value materials like concrete and metals.
- Developing and validating secondary construction products such as recycled aggregates and eco-bricks, using waste glass as binder.
- Collaborating with the construction industry to promote the adoption of recycled materials.
Expected Impact
- Reduced environmental impact of the construction sector.
- Increased adoption of circular practices in urban development.
Pilot 4
Energy Flow
Objective
To harness and optimize energy flows through innovative technologies and symbiotic systems, enhancing energy efficiency and promoting renewable energy integration.
Key Activities
- Implementing solar thermal technologies, including advanced high-vacuum flat panels (HVFPs), for dual-mode district heating and cooling applications.
- Integrating waste heat recovery systems into industrial processes to enhance energy utilization.
- Developing business models such as Heat-as-a-Service (HaaS) and Cold-as-a-Service (CaaS) to scale up renewable energy adoption.
- Establishing symbiotic energy exchanges between urban and industrial systems to minimize energy waste and promote decarbonization.
Expected Impact
- Reduction in carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels with increased energy efficiency in industrial and urban applications.
- Creation of replicable models for renewable energy integration and symbiotic energy flows across regions.
Pilot 5
Water Flow
Objective
To enhance the sustainable management and valorization of water resources by integrating innovative decentralized and centralized solutions, promoting circular water use, and mitigating water-related environmental challenges.
Key Activities
- Implementing decentralized water reuse systems, such as sewer mining, to repurpose reclaimed water for urban irrigation and industrial applications.
- Integrating Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) for rainwater and stormwater harvesting to enhance water availability and reduce urban flood risks.
- Demonstrating advanced treatment processes like fast pyrolysis and torrefaction to recover energy and value-added products from sewage sludge.
- Developing a Strategic Regional Master Plan for Circular Water Management in Attica, aligning with EU regulations and sustainability goals.
Expected Impact
- Increased availability of reclaimed water for agriculture, urban use, and industrial processes.
- Reduction in water-related environmental impacts, including flood risks and wastewater discharge.
- Creation of sustainable water management frameworks that align with regional and EU strategies.
Replication Potential:
These pilots are designed not only to address local challenges in Attica but also to provide replicable models for other European regions. Through iterative feedback and collaboration with replication hubs in Sweden (Malmö) and Norway (Mo), the Theseus pilots aim to serve as a blueprint for scaling circular solutions across Europe.
Funded by the European Union through the Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions programme under grant agreement No 101095303, under topic HORIZON-CL4-2024-TWIN-TRANSITION-01-38 – Hubs for circularity for industrialised urban peripheral areas (Processes4Planet partnership) (IA). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HADEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
