Organic waste represents around half of municipal waste in Spain, while established treatment routes such as composting or anaerobic digestion often generate limited economic returns. VEGANCELIO addresses this gap by developing processes aligned with circular economy and bioeconomy principles.
Technological approach to waste valorisation
The project develops technologies to transform organic waste into two product streams. The first is vegan leather based on fungal mycelium for use in textile applications. The second comprises chitosan-based microcapsules for cosmetic formulations, designed to encapsulate active substances with antioxidant properties and enable controlled release.
The technical work includes the cultivation of fungal mycelium on organic waste substrates and the extraction of chitosan from fungal biomass using chemical and enzymatic methods. In parallel, the project optimises processing parameters for vegan leather production, including formulation and extrusion. The development of chitosan and hybrid microcapsules is tailored to dermocosmetic requirements.
Industrial collaboration and validation
The project is implemented in cooperation with industrial partners from the textile and cosmetics sectors. These partners contribute application-specific expertise, support process development and participate in validating the resulting materials. This collaboration is intended to ensure that the technologies meet industrial requirements and can be transferred to market conditions.
Regional impact and scalability
VEGANCELIO includes a knowledge transfer component targeting the plastics, textile and cosmetics industries in the Valencian Community. The approach is designed to be transferable to other regions and waste streams with comparable characteristics.
By focusing on organic waste to vegan leather and related materials, the project contributes to reducing waste volumes and associated emissions while supporting the development of bio-based materials. It also aims to reduce dependence on imported raw materials and strengthen regional value chains in sustainable materials development.
Integration into broader innovation activities
The project forms part of a broader portfolio of initiatives led by Aimplas in the field of waste valorisation and material innovation. Through this work, the organisation continues to expand technical approaches for converting waste streams into industrially relevant products.
