Ab-initio Biowaste Loop (ABEL)

ABEL (Ab-initio Biowaste Loop) is a collaborative research project funded under the Dutch Research Agenda (NWA). The project aims to transform low-grade organic waste into high-value, sustainable biomaterials, reducing dependence on fossil resources, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthening the Dutch circular bioeconomy.

Led by TU Delft, ABEL brings together universities, industry, policymakers, and societal partners to develop innovative solutions for upgrading organic waste streams. The project focuses on applications in the construction, aviation, household product and agriculture sectors, helping to build a more sustainable and circular waste value chains.

Biomass Research, together with Avans Hogeschool/MNEXT, contributes to Work Package 3 (WP3). Within this work package, the team is developing a comprehensive database of low-grade biomass feedstocks, creating spatially explicit maps of biomass availability across the Netherlands, and developing scenarios that explore pathways for converting low-grade organic waste streams into sustainable and circular biomaterials by 2040.

Latest News & Project Updates

July, 2026

WP3 Consultation Workshop on Mapping Low-Grade Biowaste in the Netherlands

The Ab-initio Biowaste Loop (ABEL) project brought together partners and stakeholders to discuss the progress on low-grade biowaste resources mapping across the Netherlands led by Avans Hogeschool and Biomass Research.

During the workshop, we presented the methodology for identifying, characterising, and spatially mapping biomass resources, as well as the development of an integrated database that will support future scenario modelling. The preliminary findings suggest over 8 million tonnes of dry low-grade residues is available mainly from animal manure and feedstocks such as sewage sludge cereal straw, GFT waste, potato peelings, leaves, stems and effluent, paper sludge, sugarbeet leaves and pulp, orchard prunings and greenhouse vegetable residues.

The discussions generated valuable feedback on biomass availability, logistics, sustainability, and future technology pathways. Participants suggested to include biomass streams like cocoa husks, flax shives, shellfish wastes, and cigarette butts.