
With the Interreg project “GrasGoed – Natural Green as Resource” nature organizations, companies and research institutes in Flanders (Belgium) and Southwest Netherlands are giving the remains of nature management a second life. The GrasGoed project has ended successfully and we are happy to share the results with you. Center of Expertise Biobased Economy has meant a lot in this project in the field of inventory, LCA, LCC, GIS, economic analyzes and online learning modules.
At the start of the project, we first looked at the types and quantities of residual flows that are released in nature reserves in Flanders and Southwest Netherlands. The results of the inventory can be viewed on this map. You can also read the report (Dutch).
Cost-benefit model of grass value
We also developed the “cost-benefit model for grass valuation”. This is a tool with which nature managers, transporters and processors of natural grass can estimate the financial costs and benefits of their product across the entire chain (mowing, transport, processing). The tool is intended to be able to make a rough estimate of the financial feasibility of a product based on natural grass.
Because each type of grass has different properties and therefore a different business case, it is possible to indicate per type of grass the available amount of grass and the possible application. In many cases not all parameters will be exactly known; that is why the user has the choice to enter case-specific values himself or to choose a “default value”. These default values are based on the experience and knowledge of the various GrasGoed partners.
Three versions of the tool can be downloaded (Dutch):
Environmental impact of biobased GrasGoed products
arious products from natural clippings have been developed in the GrasGoed project. For two of these products, insulation mats from natural grass and proteins from natural grass, the Center of Expertise Biobased Economy performed an life cycle analysis (LCA). The insulation mats from natural grass were compared with insulation mats made of rock wool. The proteins from natural grass were compared to soy proteins.
This research has shown that proteins from grass, which are intended for chicken feed, score better than soy proteins in all three areas. Natural grass insulation mats also score better in all three areas than mineral wool insulation mats. It thus appears that the useful application of grass clippings is positive for the environment. More detailed information about the studies is described in LCA reports and presented on infographics.
Environmental life cycle costing (LCC) is a method to calculate the environmental impact related costs for a product or service. This method is similar to the concept of life cycle assessment (LCA), but less common and less developed. Within GrasGoed, the possibilities have been investigated as to whether and how LCC could be applied.
- LCA – grass fiber insulation versus stone wool insulation
- LCA – Grass Protein vs Soy Protein
- LCC study
MOOC GrasGood started
A lot of new knowledge was gained during GrasGoed. The Center of Expertise Biobased Economy has developed new course material with this knowledge. This online course, the MOOC GrasGoed, examines how biomass residual flows can be inventoried, which machines can be used to harvest natural cuttings, how this natural cuttings can be stored or pre-processed, how you can process natural grass into various products and what the opportunities are within this grass value chain. The MOOC can be followed at any time.
GrasGoed may be officially completed, but the reports and tools developed within the project remain available to everyone. Whether you are a nature manager, product developer or just interested, you can get started. The total overview with results can be found on www.grasgoed.eu. Also stay informed by following GrasGoed on Facebook.
Who supports the project?
Interreg Flanders-Netherlands subsidizes cross-border projects for smart, green and inclusive growth. It is funded from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The project also receives a significant subsidy from the province of Antwerp as well as the province of Noord-Brabant and is currently still looking for additional funding for the project. http://www.grensregio.eu/
More information on www.grasgoed.eu

Martijn Zieverink appointed as professor for the Biobased Transitions Research Group at MNEXT

In memoriam: Max Drath

Educate more professionals for the energy transition

Lunch & Learn: Energy Holacracy

The Biobased Innovation Student Challenge – Europe

BIO-CAPPP

Energy(k) Eductation

BIO-CAPPP

GESCHIKT: energy transition on business parks

Rapid Renewable Materials: the next step in sustainable construction.

Mycelium on Board

From orange waste to a green future

Blueprint of fungal genomes

BioGov.net

Water-resistant mycelium composites

Sustainable Particle Board

Circular Emergency Shelters

FACET

Totally Nuts: Circular Biobased Thermosets from Cashew Nutshells

Biodegradation Coatings Stahl

Green Hub: Information hub value chains green residual flows

Acceleration of nature-inclusive area development

Reflow

Biobased Insulation – Lifespan Determination (BILD)

Setting up and performing biodiesel trials in a coaster ship

Mythic

PyroCHEM: Waste2Chem Innovation Cluster

Membrane Technologies

Flestic

Direct extrusion of PHA-rich biomass

Production of bioplastics from residual streams (WoW! Capitalisation)

Powering Agrifood

Smart Circular Bridge

Fungal Colourants

Learning Network Biobuilders

Orange in the Sea

Amino Acids!

Building on Mycelium

Follow-up S4G

Colour Application Centre

Making disposables disposable

Making shipping more sustainable (Russia – Benelux)

Zircular Seaweed food

Extraction of pectins from onion skins

Growing Leather

Learning Community Renewable fuels

PHA accumulation capacity of Sewage Treatment Plant

NACO – Zero Waste Collective Oosterhout

Bio Iso (RAAK MKB)

Design with RRM (rapidly renewable materials)

Resin biodegradation

Biobased gadgets

Biobased foam

Biobased flocculants for water purification

Viberscrete – biobased concrete

Innovation Traineeships

Building light

BioADD

CurCol

Learning community

Professors’ platform Biobased Economy

Porter’s lodge Delfland

Smart Circular Bridge

Biobased, circular Christmas bauble with packaging

Mycelium boards

Coloring Mycelium

Back to the Materials of the Future

National Biobased Database

Structural Health in Biobased Constructions

Beauti-Fully Biobased Fibers

Coffee Silverskin Biomass Utilization

Sustainable solid biofuels

Biobonding: Improved biocomposites

ZCORE (from Seaweed to COating Resin applications)

Cashing cashew

Material research for 3D printing

Seaweed Sterols

Onion deserves more

Circling in construction

Biomass flows in the province of South Holland

Circular Bio-based Construction Industry (CBCI)

Biodegradability of biopolymer and biopolymer composites

BBM+

Opportunities for composting in Brazil

Stadsjutters Breda

Innovation tables

Tomatozyme

MAA’s from algae

Sensor wise Biobased

Pyrolysis Experimental Garden South

Grassification

REFAWOOD

Valuable ONION

Biobased Network

Living Lab Biobased Brazil

Biopolymer Application Center

Borderless Biobased Education

Living Colors

Mycelium

BioCOLOUR

BioCannDo

Blue Chain

WOW!

Green Growth

Biobased Challenge

Biobased bridge

Pure Nature: 100% Biobased

National Biobased Knowledge Network
