Work
Packages

WP1 establishes the regulatory, technical and safety foundations required to construct the SOWISE+ Flagship Plant. The work includes obtaining the necessary construction and operating permits, carrying out site-specific environmental assessments and preparing the End-of-Waste dossier for PHBV produced from urban biowaste. The consortium will complete the basic and detailed engineering of the integrated facility, defining process flows, equipment specifications, plant layouts, piping, instrumentation, utilities and control systems. Safety analyses will identify operational risks and establish the appropriate prevention and protection measures. The engineering activities will cover both principal value chains: PHBV production from urban biowaste and the purification of cellulose recovered from post-consumer absorbent hygiene products. By the end of WP1, the project will have the complete technical documentation needed for procurement, installation, construction and commissioning of the flagship facility.

WP2 will construct, commission and operate the first-of-its-kind SOWISE+ multipurpose biorefinery at Contarina's premises in Italy. Building on the engineering completed in WP1, the partners will procure and install the necessary equipment and integrate the PHBV and cellulose-processing lines into a single industrial system. The facility will convert urban biowaste into PHBV and further purify cellulose recovered from absorbent hygiene products. Following installation, the individual units and the complete plant will undergo start-up, testing and optimisation. Process conditions, resource consumption, product quality and operational stability will be monitored throughout the demonstration period. The plant is designed to produce approximately 230 tonnes of PHBV per year and up to 700 tonnes of high-quality recovered cellulose annually. WP2 will also supply materials to the downstream development activities and assess waste samples from the project's replication regions.

WP3 will transform the PHBV and recovered cellulose produced by the flagship plant into advanced material formulations for different industrial applications. Partners will adapt blends, additives and processing conditions to the specific characteristics of the project's waste-derived materials. Development activities will cover PHBV-based formulations for extrusion and 3D printing, agricultural applications, PHBV and nanocellulose materials for patch applications, cellulose-based construction materials and PHBV–cellulose composites. The Work Package will also investigate solvent-based PHBV extraction and purification routes. Material development will follow an iterative process: initial formulations will be produced and characterised, feedback will be collected from the product-development partners, and the formulations will then be optimised to meet technical, functional and processing requirements. The final materials will be transferred to WP4 for manufacturing and validation as market-oriented product demonstrators.

WP4 will convert the material formulations developed in WP3 into final bio-based products and demonstrators. The products will be manufactured and tested under conditions relevant to their intended applications and markets. Validation activities will cover PHBV-based biomaterials, agricultural applications, PHBV and nanocellulose materials for patch applications, cellulose-based construction products and PHBV–cellulose composites. Partners will assess key characteristics such as mechanical performance, thermal behaviour, processability, functionality, durability and compliance with application-specific requirements. Selected products will also be evaluated for biodegradation and disintegration under relevant environmental and end-of-life conditions. Results from the validation activities will be communicated back to WP3 so that materials can be further improved where necessary. WP4 will demonstrate that PHBV and recovered cellulose originating from urban waste can be used to manufacture technically viable and market-relevant products.

WP5 will assess the safety and sustainability of the complete SOWISE+ value chain, from waste collection and material production to product use and end-of-life. The work follows the European Commission's Safe and Sustainable by Design framework. An initial scoping analysis will map the materials, processes and applications and identify potential safety and sustainability hotspots. The partners will then evaluate chemical safety, occupational exposure, human-health risks and environmental impacts. Environmental Life Cycle Assessment, Life Cycle Costing and Social Life Cycle Assessment will be combined into an integrated Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment. Results will support the improvement of plant processes, material formulations and final products throughout the project. WP5 will also identify data gaps and develop recommendations for applying and advancing the Safe and Sustainable by Design framework for chemicals and materials produced from urban waste.

WP6 will involve stakeholders in the development, assessment and future uptake of the SOWISE+ solutions. Relevant groups include waste-management operators, bio-based industries, product manufacturers, researchers, public authorities, policymakers, citizens and consumer organisations. The Work Package will begin with stakeholder mapping and the establishment of tailored engagement plans. Stakeholders will then participate through the SOWISE+ Stakeholder Panel, co-creation workshops, surveys, interviews, awareness activities and consultations. The project will assess social acceptance of waste-derived materials and investigate factors such as awareness, trust, perceived safety, environmental benefits, affordability and willingness to use the resulting products. WP6 will also evaluate long-term social and economic benefits, including employment, local development, improved waste management and opportunities for municipalities and SMEs. Site visits and policy recommendations will further support uptake and replication.

WP7 will maximise the visibility, use and long-term impact of the SOWISE+ results. Communication and dissemination activities will include the project website, social-media channels, publications, newsletters, press releases, events, conferences and communication materials tailored to different audiences. The Work Package will also establish synergies with relevant European projects and initiatives, including the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative and Hubs for Circularity. Market analyses will examine the commercial potential of PHBV, recovered cellulose and the project's final products. Exploitation plans, intellectual-property strategies, business models and go-to-market pathways will support the transition from demonstration to commercial uptake. In parallel, the replication potential of the SOWISE+ model will be assessed in four European regions, considering feedstock availability, infrastructure, legislation, logistics, stakeholder readiness and economic viability. A replication roadmap will support wider implementation across Europe.

WP8 provides the governance, coordination and monitoring framework required for the effective implementation of SOWISE+. Contarina, as project coordinator, will oversee technical progress, financial and administrative management, internal communication, reporting and interaction with the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking. The project-management structure will coordinate the work of the consortium, Work Package leaders and decision-making bodies. Progress towards objectives, milestones, deliverables and key performance indicators will be monitored regularly, while risks will be identified and addressed through corrective measures. WP8 will also manage project meetings, internal document-sharing procedures and conflict-resolution processes. A Data Management Plan will ensure that project data are handled according to FAIR principles, where applicable. Gender balance, equal opportunities, innovation monitoring and the project's overall impacts will also be followed throughout the five-year implementation period.