VAMOS

Summary

Sugar is one of the most essential raw materials for industrial bioprocessing supply chains. Currently, the sector relies on first-generation sugar from agricultural biomass such as sugar cane, sugar beet and other starch-containing crops. However, this means the supply chain relies on crops that often have a high environmental and social impact and are subject to fluctuations in cost and supply.

Second-generation lignocellulosic sugars can overcome some of these issues. However, these present their own challenges, such as high dilution and low purity, that can push up production costs. In addition, the sugars derived are usually a complex mix that does not offer direct substitution with first-generation sugars. Addressing these issues would establish a fresh, sustainable and renewable resource for the industrial bioprocessing sector.

Second-generation sugars are easily available from sources such as municipal solid waste (MSW), composed of either mixed domestic residual waste or waste rejected from sorting and recycling processes and often contains significant quantities of paper/card (lignocellulosic) based materials.

The VAMOS project aims to showcase, at demonstration scale, the feasibility of producing and valorising these second-generation sugars. The sugar will be utilised in the production of three bio-based products for non-food contact applications, delivering competitive, sustainable, affordable and high-performance bio-based materials from these low-value residual waste sugars. In so doing, the VAMOS project will revolutionise the sector by creating a new value chain.