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Transforming by-products to financial valuable products (rendering)
Published on 30 November 2018
Greece
Dytiki Makedonia
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
Gioras S.A. is an integrated unit for animal by-products treatment. The unit has a capacity of treating 200tn/day of slaughterhouse and meat industries by-products, from which they produce (a) raw pet food material (80% of treated material) which is delivered to pet food production company and (b) treated animal fat from which biodiesel is produced and delivered to local fuel stations.
Also the unit is reusing its wastewater for watering the green spaces of its plant, saving 43m3/d of municipal water supply.The animal by-products are transferred to the unit by slaughterhouses and meat industries from all over Greece (almost 300 involved companies) and the produced products are promoted to the three biggest production industries of pet food, again all over Greece. The ecosystem was created spontaneously due to the legislation requirements for treating waste in more environmental friendly ways. The industrial ecosystem faced problems mainly at its start up and most of them were overcome. The lack of geographical proximity and the large cost resulting from it cannot be overcome because the ecosystem needs to be expanded in all the country. The good transportation infrastructure enables the ecosystems function, at least on timesaving.
Also the unit is reusing its wastewater for watering the green spaces of its plant, saving 43m3/d of municipal water supply.The animal by-products are transferred to the unit by slaughterhouses and meat industries from all over Greece (almost 300 involved companies) and the produced products are promoted to the three biggest production industries of pet food, again all over Greece. The ecosystem was created spontaneously due to the legislation requirements for treating waste in more environmental friendly ways. The industrial ecosystem faced problems mainly at its start up and most of them were overcome. The lack of geographical proximity and the large cost resulting from it cannot be overcome because the ecosystem needs to be expanded in all the country. The good transportation infrastructure enables the ecosystems function, at least on timesaving.
Resources needed
The cost of the initial investment was about 9.000.000€ from which 1.000.000€ was funded from the National Development Program. The maintenance cost is at the same magnitude and is covered from the sold products and a fee from the co-operating parts. 30 employs work in the factory.
Evidence of success
■ Legal and political support (the obligations from the environmental legislation obliged the companies to participate in such industrial ecosystem) ■ Adequate funding (supported from national funds at the start up played an important role) ■ Balance of power between partners (large number of involved partners balances their power and shares the risk cost) ■ Active participation and commitment (cost of treating by-products as waste, without producing a financial valuable product much larger)
Potential for learning or transfer
■ Use of standardised technology solutions and processes
■ Needs addressed are common among industries, organisations and different regions/countries.
■ Demonstrated achieved benefits outweigh investment costs by far
■ Small change in daily operations, low risk of organizational resistance
■ Legal requirements
There are other three companies in Greece working in the same field in similar ways, all viable. The industrial ecosystem can replicated in other countries, but in Greece the market is covered.
■ Needs addressed are common among industries, organisations and different regions/countries.
■ Demonstrated achieved benefits outweigh investment costs by far
■ Small change in daily operations, low risk of organizational resistance
■ Legal requirements
There are other three companies in Greece working in the same field in similar ways, all viable. The industrial ecosystem can replicated in other countries, but in Greece the market is covered.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
Organisation
Gioras
Greece
Dytiki Makedonia
Contact
Environmental Engineering