The Horticultural Residual Flows Platform has entered a new phase. Following the development of seven circular value chains based on residual flows, the collaboration continues. Dozens of new value chains are now ready for rollout. In this phase, the focus shifts from supply-driven to demand-driven.
The platform was founded by the growers' associations Fossa Eugenia, ZON, SunFresh, and the Limburg Agricultural and Horticultural Association. Together with innovation partner SIGN, consultancy Arvalis, and Bluehub, they are pooling their knowledge and experience. The goal is to convert residual flows such as foliage, stem material, tomato foliage, film, and twine into valuable products. This way, they are turning circularity into a new revenue model and giving residual flows a function beyond waste.
In an earlier phase, seven circular chains were designed. Practical examples include the conversion of tomato leaves and grass into protein-rich feed products, the processing of horticultural plastic into sheet material or regranulate, and the production of biochar from green plant material that can sequester carbon in the soil for the long term.
A notable example is the use of bell pepper stems. ECOR, Drupl, and Fresh Peppers jointly investigated whether stems can be processed into sustainable panel material. A panel has now been created that consists of 40 percent bell pepper foliage and 60 percent recycled paper. This material can be used in walls, ceilings, or furniture.
Bluehub is now coordinating the platform, with support from LLTB. The focus is on demand-driven collaboration. Together, partners in the southeast Netherlands, from food, feed, biobased materials, soil improvement, or energy generation, are exploring the opportunities offered by residual flows. This makes the supply chains more concrete, modern, and scalable.
Opportunities in various market fields
Various themes are being addressed. In the food sector, participating companies are focusing on biorefining to extract proteins from grass, tomato foliage, and leeks. Feed applications for animal feed are also being developed. Composting or pyrolysis produces biochar that improves soil quality and retains CO₂ longer. In the chemistry and extraction of nutrients, extracts from flowers or leaves, such as nutrients, colorants, or other valuable molecules, are being explored. The platform is seeking partners who can further develop and market these products.
Impact for growers and society
For growers, this initiative requires a shift in thinking. Residual flows like film or foliage currently represent costs. In the circular approach, they take on a new role. Grower and entrepreneur Ad Gubbels of SunFresh puts it succinctly: By taking responsibility, waste is reduced and returns increase. Circularity thus becomes part of daily business operations and the license to produce.
Furthermore, pooling the supply side creates greater leverage. The platform is one of the largest aggregators of growers supplying residual flows in the Netherlands. This is the only way to develop robust supply chains and collaborations with buyers. This paves the way for investors and companies looking to utilize residual flows profitably.
Restart to demand-driven valorization
While the valorization of residual flows used to be primarily supply-driven, the platform is planning a new step. Bluehub and LLTB are actively seeking partners based on specific needs in various sectors. The call is clear: Are you active in food, feed, biobased raw materials, soil improvement, or energy generation? Can you utilize residual flows? Get in touch. This is how residual flows become products that matter. For today and the future.
This course means that dozens of supply chains are about to be activated. The focus is no longer solely on processing residual flows. The primary question now is what these residual flows can yield – socially, economically, and ecologically. This partnership in horticultural residual flows is thus entering the next phase of circular entrepreneurship, connecting multiple sectors and societal layers.
Photo: from left to right: Ad Gubbels (SunFresh), Bart Verlegh (Bluehub), Peter van Bree (ZON), Marcel Dings (Fossa Eugenia) and Fons Kersten (LLTB).
Source: Horticultural Waste Flows Platform
