Room: Yangtze 2
Date: Thursday, 21 May 2026
Time: 11:30 - 12:45 CEST
Session code ICO.2
Production of biomaterials, bioproducts & biochemicals in industry
Scaling Circular Chemistry: Industrial-Scale Production of Lactic Acid and PLA from Food Waste via the CIRCLE Flagship Project
Short Introductive summary
The CIRCLE project marks a significant advancement in bio-based chemical engineering by successfully scaling the conversion of third-generation organic food waste into high-purity lactic acid and polylactic acid (PLA). By retrofitting existing anaerobic digestion infrastructure, TripleW’s proprietary process valorizes 100,000 tonnes of annual waste through a patented, gypsum-free fermentation pathway that eliminates traditional calcium sulfate byproducts and streamlines downstream purification. Technical validation alongside partners like Sulzer confirms that these waste-derived monomers can produce high-performance bioplastics with a 75% lower carbon footprint than fossil-based alternatives. This framework not only proves the economic viability of replacing crop-based feedstocks but also establishes a truly circular material loop through chemical depolymerization, allowing PLA products to be recycled back into their original building blocks without compromising quality.
Presenter
Maarten CAMPMAN
TripleW, THE NETHERLANDS
Presenter's biography
Maarten is a Chemical Industry and scaleup expert with 15+ years dedicated to scaleup validation and implementation of new biobased processes. At TripleW, Maarten leads the commercialization of the world's first food waste to Lactic Acid technology.
Biographies and Short introductive summaries are supplied directly by presenters and are published here unedited
Co-authors:
A. Zyskind, TripleW, Antwerpen, BELGIUM
M. Campman, TripleW, Antwerpen, BELGIUM
Session reference: ICO.2.2