Turning Green Ideas into Global Impact: AIMPLAS & ITENE in Bio4HUMAN

When science meets compassion, innovation flourishes — and that’s exactly what’s happening in the Bio4HUMAN project. At the forefront of this transformation are Spanish research powerhouses AIMPLAS and ITENE, both renowned for decades of pioneering work in sustainable materials and circular economy solutions.

As key research members of the Bio4HUMAN consortium, these institutes are not just lending their technical expertise — they’re helping to redefine how bio-based solutions can support solid waste management in humanitarian settings. From their roles as investigation line leaders in the project’s scoping of sustainable solutions, to conducting in-depth life cycle assessments (LCA) alongside our experts from WeLOOP, AIMPLAS and ITENE are embedding themselves as central R&D players in shaping a future where waste is minimized, resources are optimized, and help reaches those who need it most, sustainably.

We sat down with Maria Llàcer from AIMPLAS and Carla Bartolomé from ITENE to uncover what drives their involvement, what they’ve learned so far, and how they see the future of bio-based innovation in humanitarian contexts.

What inspired your organization to join the Bio4HUMAN project, and how does it align with your broader mission in sustainable innovation?

Maria: At AIMPLAS, our mission is to drive innovation in sustainable materials, especially through bio-based and circular economy solutions. We are very active in Circular Bioeconomy proposals.

When we were invited to participate in Bio4HUMAN, we saw a unique opportunity to apply our expertise in a context with real human impact. The project perfectly aligns with our strategic focus on using science to address urgent global challenges, in this case, waste management in humanitarian settings. It allows us to contribute meaningfully beyond industrial applications and help bring sustainable innovation to where it’s most needed.

 

Carla: For ITENE, collaborating with the humanitarian sector is a new experience, so for us, Bio4HUMAN brought a unique opportunity to explore this field. At ITENE, we work with a wide range of sectors and with different types of bio-based materials, so we wanted to connect our knowledge and expertise in the bio-based sector with the needs of humanitarian aid.

Can you walk us through your organization’s key responsibilities and unique contributions within Bio4HUMAN so far?

Maria: At AIMPLAS, we are involved in several core areas of the Bio4HUMAN project. Specifically, we contribute to three key work packages:

    • In WP4 (Scoping Exercise), we help identify innovative bio-based solutions that are suitable for solid waste management in humanitarian contexts developed in CBE projects, considering the type of product/technology developed and the end date of the projects, among other factors. We also interview humanitarian aid organizations located in the studied area to understand their needs.
    • In WP5 (Life Cycle Assessment of innovative solutions), we support the environmental evaluation of these solutions through LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) methodologies, in collaboration with WeLOOP and ITENE. Our role ensures that the selected technologies and products offer real sustainability benefits across their life cycle, even in crisis conditions.
    • Finally, in WP6 (Socio-economic and governance aspects), we support the economic and social evaluation of these solutions.

By combining technical validation, environmental impact analysis, and socio-economic evaluation, AIMPLAS helps to ensure that the proposed solutions are not only innovative but also viable and impactful in real-world humanitarian settings.

 

Carla: At ITENE, we are experts in bio-based solutions, materials, and LCA (Life Cycle Assessment). As such, we have made significant contributions to two work packages: WP4 (Scoping exercise) and WP5 (Life cycle assessment of innovative solutions).

In WP4, together with contributions from the Consortium partners, we developed a questionnaire for the Bio-based Industry Consortium (BIC) to identify potential bio-based solutions from BIC member companies. Some of the solutions gathered through this questionnaire were also included in deliverable D4.1 (List of bio-based solutions).  

Also, in WP5, ITENE led the task of data collection on bio-based solutions, in which LCA partners (WeLOOP, ITENE, Universidad de Cantabria and AIMPLAS) searched for the inventory data of the solutions selected in D4.1. This task is the first step in conducting the LCA, and the most time-consuming step. In many cases, the required information was not readily available, so we had to search for it in scientific articles and or various databases.

What specific challenges have you encountered in applying your expertise to humanitarian aid and waste management, and have any surprising insights emerged along the way?

Maria: A key realization was that in humanitarian aid, timing and affordability are everything. A solution is only truly viable if it can reach the people who need it, when they need it, and at a price that fits within the constraints of humanitarian operations. This required us to shift our perspective and prioritize simplicity, scalability, and local adaptability.

Another significant challenge has been the lack of data. For environmental, economic, and social assessments to be meaningful, we need accurate and complete inventories. In many cases, especially for newer or under-documented bio-based products, this data simply wasn’t available, so part of the work involved filling those gaps and building reliable datasets.

Engaging with humanitarian actors and local communities early in the process has been eye-opening. It has helped us question assumptions, validate ideas on the ground, and design solutions that are not only technically sound, but also practical and context sensitive.

 

Carla: In our view, the most complex challenges to overcome and that we have encountered in Bio4HUMAN are the lack of recycling infrastructure, limited education and awareness within local communities and the difficulty of developing local circular economy models. As a result, the search for bio-based solutions had to consider the humanitarian context and its many specificities, which has proven to be a significant challenge.

How important is the multi-actor approach in projects such as Bio4HUMAN, which combine experts from the bio-based sector and the humanitarian sector?

Maria: It’s absolutely essential. Technical solutions alone are not enough. They must be co-developed with those who understand the field realities: NGOs, field practitioners, and local authorities, among others. This collaborative model allows us to balance scientific rigor with operational relevance.

The diversity of perspectives in the Bio4HUMAN consortium is one of its greatest strengths, and it’s what makes the project so innovative.

 

Carla: A multi-actor approach is essential for this kind of project. On the one hand, the bio-based sector brings knowledge of potential solutions and materials, as well as the technical feasibility of their production. On the other hand, the humanitarian sector deeply understands the local context, including the specific challenges faced, cultural sensitivities, logistical constraints and how communities might receive and adopt a given solution. In this sense, their experience in working with vulnerable populations and navigating complex field conditions is crucial. Therefore, collaboration between both sectors is key to ensuring the success and sustainability of the project, and its replicability in humanitarian contexts.

Among the bio-based solutions explored in Bio4HUMAN, which ones do you find most promising or impactful, and why?

Maria: While it’s early in the selection process, we see great potential in biodegradable packaging, compostable hygiene products, and modular biowaste processing units.

These types of solutions directly reduce the environmental burden of aid operations and can be more easily managed within temporary or mobile waste systems. What makes them impactful is not just the material itself, but how well they integrate with existing logistics and local waste handling capabilities.

 

Carla: In Bio4HUMAN, two types of solutions are being explored: bio-based products and technologies for managing solid waste. In our view, changing a product, such as packaging for aid kits, tends to be more complex. This is due to several challenges: the cost of bio-based alternatives, changes in logistics, limited acceptance and compliance with the functionalities of conventional benchmarks. In contrast, the technologies presented in Bio4HUMAN, such as digester systems and black soldier fly solutions, appear to be more easily implementable.  

These technologies allow the valorization of organic residues and their transformation into valuable products: organic fertilizers, biogas, and animal proteins. In this sense, the local production cycle is promoted, creating economic opportunities. Most of these technologies can be adapted to different scales and to different geographical and cultural contexts. These solutions can positively impact local environments and offer employment opportunities to communities.

Do you see the humanitarian sector evolving into a significant new market for bioeconomy innovations? What would it take to make that happen?

Maria: Yes, we believe the humanitarian sector represents an emerging market for bio-based innovations. But it will require stronger links between humanitarian actors and R&D centers, as well as policy support and financing mechanisms that value long-term sustainability over short-term cost.

Clearer environmental guidelines in aid procurement and better education on biodegradable technologies could also accelerate this transition.

 

Carla: The humanitarian sector, like many other economic sectors, will evolve to incorporate bio-based solutions into its value chain. Therefore, yes, it has the potential to become a significant emerging market for bioeconomy innovations.

However, this evolution is not easy, as several conditions must be met to make that happen:

    • Affordability of bio-based solutions for more efficient use of limited resources in humanitarian contexts.
    • Collaboration between bioeconomy actors, humanitarian organizations and local stakeholders. This way, it is ensured that the solutions are context- appropriate and accepted.
    • Capacity building and knowledge transfer to empower local communities to adopt, maintain and benefit from these innovations.
    • Supportive policy framework and funding mechanisms to encourage bioeconomy innovations.

Looking beyond the project, what is the key to success for scaling and replicating Bio4HUMAN’s solid waste management solutions in other humanitarian locations?

Maria: Scalability depends on three key factors: local adaptability, cost-effectiveness, and policy integration. The solutions must be modular and flexible enough to work in diverse geographies, from refugee camps to urban crises. They also need to prove value, not only environmentally, but also economically, in terms of logistics, health impact, or local job creation. Lastly, collaboration with humanitarian agencies and alignment with global sustainability frameworks will be essential for broader uptake.

 

Carla: The key to replicability and scalability of Bio4HUMAN solutions lies in adaptability, local ownership and cross-sector collaboration. While the solutions proposed in Bio4HUMAN are promising, their long-term impact depends on how well they can be tailored to the specific needs, constraints and cultural contexts of each humanitarian setting. To enable this, the following factors are essential:

    • Flexible design of technologies allows them to be adapted to different scales, climates and resource availabilities.
    • Capacity building and training: to ensure local actors can maintain and lead the implementation of these solutions.
    • Integration of the solutions with livelihoods and communities, so that it becomes a part of a circular economy strategy that benefits the community.
    • Strong collaboration across sectors, such as humanitarian organizations, local authorities, private and bioeconomy sectors. This collaboration ensures long-term support and knowledge exchange.
    • Demonstration of the environmental, social, and economic benefits of the solutions. This can attract further investment and replication.

As Europe accelerates its Green Deal ambitions, how do you see your role — and that of research institutes like yours — evolving in driving systemic change?

Maria: Research institutes like AIMPLAS have a growing responsibility to act as bridges between science, industry, and society.

The Green Deal gives us both a mandate and a momentum to innovate with purpose. In the context of humanitarian aid, this means not only developing greener technologies, but ensuring that they are inclusive, accessible, and adapted to the people who need them most.

We believe our role is not just to generate knowledge, but to ensure it becomes impactful.

 

Carla: As Europe advances with Green Deal objectives, ITENE is becoming increasingly strategic in enabling systemic change. Currently, we support companies in adapting their processes and products to align with sustainability goals. This includes areas such as the development of bio-based materials, recyclability strategies,, SSbD (Safe and Sustainable by Design), and logistics optimization.

Looking ahead, our role will evolve from technical advisors to becoming key enablers of innovative ecosystems. In this sense, research centers like ITENE will be essential to:

    • Bridge the gap between science and industry, translating research into scalable, market-ready solutions.
    • Support policy implementation by providing data-driven insights and methodologies to assess environmental and social impacts.
    • Foster cross-sector collaboration, connecting stakeholders from academia, industry, and the public sector to co-create circular and climate-resilient solutions.
    • Empower local and regional actors through capacity building and knowledge transfer, ensuring that the green transition is inclusive and just.

In short, research institutes will be essential in turning the Green Deal from a policy vision into a practical, measurable, and impactful reality.

We thank the teams at AIMPLAS and ITENE for sharing their insights and for their ongoing contributions to the Bio4HUMAN project. Their expertise and commitment to sustainable innovation are helping to shape practical, bio-based solutions with real-world impact.

As the project continues to evolve, their work stands as a strong example of how science and collaboration can drive meaningful change in the humanitarian sector and beyond.

Bio:

AIMPLAS is a technology centre based in Spain with over 35 years of experience in the plastics industry. It supports companies in developing sustainable, innovative, and competitive solutions. Their team of more than 260 professionals, accredited laboratories, and specialized pilot plants enables us to provide R&D, testing and analysis, training, and technical consultancy services. Their focus areas include circular economy, recycling, sustainability, and process and material improvement. They collaborate with over 3,500 companies, assisting them in addressing technological and environmental challenges.

ITENE is primarily a research center based in Valencia that offers innovative solutions to companies through R&D&I, consulting, testing, and training activities. Its capabilities are grouped into four key areas: Sustainable materials and circular economy, packaging, exposure the chemicals and air quality and logistics and smart mobility.