Agro2Circular (A2C) is a European project funded by the Horizon 2020 programme, active from 2021 to 2025. Coordinated by CETEC – Centro Tecnológico del Calzado y del Plástico de la Región de Murcia – it has brought together 41 partners from 12 EU countries with the goal of transforming agri-food and multilayer plastic waste into valuable resources through a systemic, territorial, and circular approach.
An urgent environmental and economic challenge
The starting point could not be more pressing. In Europe, up to 40% of fruits and vegetables are wasted. Added to this is the difficulty in recycling multilayer plastics, which are omnipresent in fresh product packaging but extremely complex to separate and reuse.
On top of this situation is the lack of a sustainable value chain for the reuse of this waste, which impacts both the environment and the economy of the sector. In this context, the circular economy is seen as a key strategy to reverse this situation. Agro2Circular was born precisely to fill this gap, developing replicable solutions that increase the environmental, social, and economic sustainability of the agri-food sector.
A multidimensional intervention focused on the territory
The A2C approach is based on a circular and multidimensional model that promotes the adoption and scaling of systemic solutions at the territorial level. This model advocates for regenerative, inclusive, and fair interventions that strengthen urban and regional economies, encourage the participation of all involved actors, and stimulate the shift toward sustainable practices.
The main implementation took place in the Region of Murcia (Spain), where most of the demonstrators were developed over the project’s duration. In parallel, two strategic replication cases were established in the Lombardy Region (Italy) and the NUTS-2 region of Lithuania, which made it possible to test the versatility of the A2C model in different European contexts.
Technology and innovation for valorisation
One of the project’s major technical achievements has been the development of innovative valorisation routes that make it possible to obtain high-value bioactive compounds from fruit and vegetable by-products. These routes have achieved higher extraction yields, as well as components with the purity and stability required to be integrated into new food, cosmetic, and nutraceutical formulations.
At the same time, the project developed advanced technologies for the recycling of multilayer plastics, incorporating separation and treatment processes that allow these materials to be reintroduced into new production cycles. These solutions reduce dependence on virgin raw materials and contribute significantly to lowering the environmental footprint of the agri-food sector.
Key results and cross-cutting tools
Agro2Circular has reached important milestones at various levels. On the technical side, the improvements in the recycling processes of complex materials and the efficient extraction of bioactive compounds stand out. But the impact of the project goes beyond technological innovation. Cross-cutting outcomes have been generated that consolidate the A2C model as a comprehensive proposal:
- Development of a multidimensional model for adoption, replicability, and scalability
- Creation of a self-assessment tool to support decision-making
- Launch of the DIS Tool (Data Integration System)
- Generation of learning and awareness materials on circular economy
- Know-how: sustainability assessment of the solution in its three dimensions, following life cycle analysis methodology
- Development of policy recommendations and communication materials such as documentaries, interviews, and brochures
- Implementation of community innovation schemes, such as the one developed in the Alhama market
- Publication of a catalogue of good practices and development of three CEAPs in Murcia, Lombardy, and NUTS-2
Overcoming obstacles and shared lessons
Various challenges have emerged during the project, generating valuable lessons. One of the most notable was encouraging citizen participation, which required tailored campaigns and differentiated strategies depending on the target audience, including gamification techniques to increase social engagement.
Another key learning was the need for close collaboration between science, business, and government. The creation of working groups at regional and European levels facilitated knowledge transfer and the consolidation of alliances for future replications of the model.
From a technical perspective, the project highlighted the importance of deeply understanding material flows before starting any data collection process. This prior understanding, along with the early integration of economic variables, was key to increasing the accuracy and usefulness of the analysis.
At the same time, the social dimension brought to light the need for more structured and participatory evaluation tools capable of faithfully reflecting how technological innovations interact with existing social systems. This more holistic vision proved essential to adapt solutions to different contexts.
The replication cases in Lombardy and Lithuania provided valuable territorial insights. In the Italian case, the data generated will support policymaking with technical evidence and multidimensional analysis. In Lithuania, the bottom-up approach enabled the design of a circular economy plan adapted to the community, which could even influence the National Bioeconomy Strategy.
Kveloce’s role in Agro2Circular
At Kveloce, we led Work Package 7 “A2C systemic solution adoption, replication and scalability.” This work package aimed to thoroughly define the A2C systemic solution model and its transferability, analysing multidimensional impacts, costs, drivers, and success factors to create a validated framework for the adoption, replication, and scaling of sustainable territorial circular economy solutions in different European contexts.
Within this work package, we were responsible for:
- Designing the multidimensional model and defining the self-assessment tool
- Analysing social and economic factors to facilitate solution adoption
- Public engagement and coordination of citizen participation and community-based approaches
- Evaluating the scalability and transferability of the model to other European territories
What’s next?
After more than three years of work, the results of the Agro2Circular project do not mark an endpoint, but rather a solid foundation on which to keep building. With the knowledge gained and the tools developed, the path is open to extend its impact beyond the pilot territories.
The experiences in Lombardy, Lithuania, and Murcia have shown that, when good planning is combined with effective stakeholder engagement strategies, the solutions developed can be adapted and scaled to very different contexts.
The multidimensional model and the self-assessment tool will continue to play a key role in this process, enabling territories to assess their circular economy maturity and identify areas for improvement before implementing concrete solutions.
In addition, a promising avenue is opening to apply A2C technologies to other waste streams beyond agri-food, such as conventional plastics, textiles, or construction materials. This significantly expands the project’s potential impact and strengthens its role as a benchmark in the transition toward a circular economy on a European scale.
Transformative impact
Beyond tangible results, Agro2Circular has clearly demonstrated: the shift toward a more circular model is possible when technological innovation, territorial vision, and collective commitment come together.
The project’s greatest achievement has been to show that two complex problems – agri-food waste and multilayer plastics – can be turned into real economic and environmental opportunities. Thanks to its systemic and territorial approach, successfully implemented in Spain, Italy, and Lithuania, Agro2Circular has laid the foundation for a new circular paradigm in the agri-food sector.
The continuity of this kind of initiative is crucial to moving toward more sustainable and resilient models capable of addressing today’s climate and social challenges without losing sight of future opportunities.
