BIOREC an integrated circular economy model to transform Green Waste and Artificial Turf into Circular Resources.

Company and project background

Bosque Urbano is a company based in Plasencia, Spain, founded in 2009 and specializing in landscape design, construction, and the maintenance of gardens, green spaces, and sports facilities. The company is committed to sustainability, innovation, and efficient resource management. It also promotes circular economy practices by recycling green waste into valuable resources, helping reduce environmental impact while providing high-quality services to both public and private clients..

Through the BIOREC project, we developed an integrated circular economy model to transform both waste streams into valuable secondary resources. Green waste was converted into high-quality biochar for agricultural and landscaping applications, while artificial turf waste was incorporated into innovative cement-based construction materials.

The project started as part of our commitment to improving sustainability and reducing the environmental impact of our operations. It is fully aligned with our mission of providing environmentally responsible landscaping services while promoting resource efficiency and circular economy principles.

What motivated you to make your business more circular?

Our motivation came from recognising that the traditional way of managing the waste generated by our activities was no longer aligned with our long-term vision for sustainability or with the growing expectations of the market. As a company specialising in gardening, landscaping and sports facilities, we generate significant amounts of green waste and end-of-life artificial turf. These materials were traditionally treated as waste streams requiring disposal, representing both an environmental burden and a lost opportunity to recover valuable resources.

Internally, we wanted to move beyond simple waste management and rethink these materials as potential raw materials for new value-added products. Our objectives were to reduce our environmental footprint, improve resource efficiency, minimise disposal costs, and create new business opportunities by developing circular products such as biochar and recycled construction materials. We also saw circularity as a way to strengthen our competitiveness, diversify our services and position Bosque Urbano as an innovative company committed to sustainable development.

External factors also played an important role. The increasing focus on the European Green Deal and Circular Economy Action Plan, together with stricter environmental regulations and growing customer demand for sustainable solutions, reinforced the need to adopt a more circular business model. At the same time, collaboration opportunities with research centres such as CICYTEX and INTROMAC provided the technical expertise needed to transform this ambition into practical, scalable solutions. Rather than viewing circularity simply as a response to regulatory pressure, we saw it as an opportunity to innovate, differentiate ourselves in the market and create long-term environmental and economic value.

Implementation Process

What were the objectives of your project?

The main objective of the BIOREC project was to transform Bosque Urbano’s waste management model from a linear system based on disposal into a circular model focused on resource recovery, environmental sustainability and long-term business value. Rather than treating green waste and end-of-life artificial turf as waste streams, we aimed to convert them into valuable secondary raw materials through innovative valorisation processes.

More specifically, the project pursued several complementary objectives. Environmentally, we sought to eliminate the open burning of green waste, significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase the reuse of biomass and minimise the amount of waste sent for disposal. Technically, our goal was to validate two circular solutions: the production of high-quality biochar from pruning residues and the incorporation of recycled artificial turf into cement-based landscaping products. From a business perspective, we aimed to create new opportunities for resource valorisation, reduce waste management costs, assess the industrial scalability of the proposed solutions and strengthen Bosque Urbano’s position as a leader in circular economy practices within the landscaping sector.

Several targets were measurable. These included reducing CO₂ emissions, increasing the proportion of green waste reused on-site, producing biochar that complies with the European Biochar Certificate (EBC Premium) standards, improving water retention in growing substrates, and demonstrating the feasibility of incorporating recycled artificial turf into new construction materials. The project also evaluated the potential for industrial-scale implementation, including the capacity to process up to 500 tonnes of artificial turf waste annually and produce 70–75 tonnes of biochar per year from our own biomass.

What activities did you carry out as part of your project?

BIOREC project was implemented through a structured process that combined waste assessment, pilot testing and industrial planning. We first identified and characterised the two main waste streams generated by our activities—green waste and end-of-life artificial turf—to determine the most suitable valorisation routes.

We then tested two innovative circular solutions. Green waste was converted into biochar through controlled pyrolysis and evaluated for its quality and agricultural performance, while artificial turf waste was incorporated into several cement-based formulations to develop a modular garden-edging prototype. We also carried out a carbon footprint assessment to measure the environmental benefits of the new circular management model.

The project was developed in collaboration with two specialised research centres: CICYTEX, which supported the biochar studies, and INTROMAC, which led the development of recycled construction materials. Finally, an industrial feasibility study and dissemination activities were carried out to prepare the solutions for future scale-up and share the project’s results with stakeholders.

What feedback did you receive from stakeholders (customers, suppliers etc.)?

We received positive feedback from customers, public authorities, research organisations and other SMEs. Stakeholders particularly valued the practical approach to transforming green waste and end-of-life artificial turf into valuable resources, demonstrating that circular economy solutions can be both environmentally and economically beneficial.

Our research partners, CICYTEX and INTROMAC, provided continuous technical support, helping us optimise the biochar production process and the development of recycled construction materials. Their expertise was essential to validating the project’s outcomes.

Although the project’s objectives remained unchanged, the close collaboration with our partners allowed us to refine the technical solutions throughout the project. The strong interest shown during dissemination events and technical workshops also confirmed the potential for future industrial implementation and replication by other organisations.

Impact & Outcomes

What are the main results and outcomes of the project for your company?

The BIOREC project has significantly strengthened Bosque Urbano’s transition towards a more sustainable and efficient business model. By replacing traditional waste management practices with circular solutions, we have improved operational efficiency, reduced waste management costs and identified new opportunities to create value from materials that were previously considered waste. The project has also laid the foundations for the future commercialisation of innovative products and services, opening new business opportunities aligned with circular economy principles.

Beyond the economic benefits, BIOREC has enhanced our reputation as an innovative and environmentally responsible company. The collaboration with specialised research centres has strengthened our technical capabilities and fostered a culture of innovation within the organisation. In addition, the project has increased our visibility among customers, public authorities and other stakeholders, positioning Bosque Urbano as a regional reference in circular resource management and reinforcing our long-term commitment to sustainability and continuous improvement.

Did you detect a positive impact of circular transition for your company and for the environment?

We monitored several key performance indicators throughout the project. Greenhouse gas emissions were reduced from 582.23 t CO₂ to 3.76 t CO₂, avoiding 578.47 t CO₂ and achieving a 99.35% reduction compared with the previous management model. In addition, 28.2% of green waste was reused on-site as mulch, improving resource efficiency and reducing transport requirements.
The project also validated the production of high-quality biochar, which achieved 84.5% organic carbon content and complied with the European Biochar Certificate (EBC Premium) standards. Agronomic tests showed that biochar increased water retention in growing substrates from 49.85% to 74.43%. We also developed a modular garden-edging product incorporating recycled artificial turf, recovering approximately 7.2 kg of plastic waste per 10 metres installed.

Which changes have you already implemented?

The BIOREC project has enabled us to successfully test and validate innovative circular valorisation routes for both green waste and end-of-life artificial turf. Through the project, we demonstrated the technical feasibility of converting these waste streams into valuable products and gained the knowledge needed to assess their potential for future industrial implementation.

Although these valorisation models have been technically validated, they have not yet been fully integrated into our daily operations. At present, the market is not sufficiently mature, and the regulatory framework is still evolving, making it difficult to establish a viable and profitable business model. In addition, the investments required to industrialise these processes can only be justified with significantly higher volumes of waste than those currently generated by the company.

Nevertheless, the project has provided a solid technical foundation and a clear roadmap for future implementation. It has also strengthened our internal expertise and confirmed that, once market conditions and scale are favourable, these circular solutions can become an integral part of our business model.

Leassons learned

What key lessons did you learn regarding circular innovation?

The main lesson we have learned is that the circular economy is not only about managing waste differently, but about completely rethinking how resources are generated and used within business activities.

BIOREC has demonstrated that materials traditionally considered waste, such as plant residues or end-of-life artificial turf, can become valuable raw materials when the right technology is available and the right partners are involved.

We have also confirmed the importance of collaboration between companies and research centres. The participation of organisations such as CICYTEX and INTROMAC has been fundamental in technically validating the solutions developed and reducing the uncertainty associated with innovation.

Another important lesson is that technical feasibility, although essential, does not by itself guarantee the implementation of a solution. Market conditions, sufficient scale, and a regulatory environment that supports the use of circular materials and products are also necessary.

Did you encounter any challenges?

The main challenge has been translating the positive results obtained into potential implementation at industrial scale.

From a technical perspective, we successfully validated both the production of high-quality biochar from plant residues and the incorporation of recycled artificial turf into new construction materials. However, for these solutions to be economically competitive, larger volumes of material and more established demand are required.

We have also encountered challenges related to the development of markets for circular products and the evolution of regulations applicable to certain secondary raw materials.

Nevertheless, the project has significantly reduced technical risks and provided valuable information for future stages of development.

If you could do your project again, what would you do differently?

We would probably dedicate more effort from the early stages to the commercial validation of the solutions developed.

The experience has taught us that technological innovation and market readiness need to progress in parallel. Involving potential customers, public authorities, and end users earlier would have allowed us to identify sooner the conditions required for the future implementation of the products developed.

We would also seek to establish partnerships from the outset that could facilitate the future scalability of the model, particularly regarding waste supply and the commercialisation of the new circular products.

Future plans & Recommendations

What are your next steps towards circular transition?

BIOREC has represented a very important first step in our sustainability and innovation strategy.

Our objective is to continue exploring opportunities to valorise waste and improve the circularity of our activities, paying particular attention to solutions with the potential to generate both environmental and economic benefits. We will also continue collaborating with technology centres and research organisations to identify new applications for recovered materials and analyse the conditions that would enable the solutions developed within the project to be implemented on a larger scale in the future.

Is there any advice you would give to other SMEs looking to implement a circular project?

We would recommend looking at waste and by-products from a different perspective. In many cases, what represents a management cost can become an opportunity for innovation and value creation.

We would also recommend starting with small-scale pilot projects that allow companies to learn, validate technologies, and reduce risks before making larger investments.

Collaboration with technology centres, universities, and other companies can significantly accelerate the process and provide access to knowledge and capabilities that many SMEs do not have internally.

The circular economy should not be seen solely as an environmental requirement, but also as an opportunity to improve competitiveness and differentiate a business in the market.

How can policymakers or financial institutions better support businesses in adopting circular practices?

Circular economy innovation requires significant investment and development timelines that can be difficult for SMEs to manage.

For this reason, public funding for R&D&I plays a fundamental role, as it helps share the risks associated with developing new technologies and accelerates the market uptake of innovative solutions.

However, financial support alone is not enough. It is also necessary to develop regulatory frameworks that facilitate the use of secondary raw materials, promote green public procurement, and stimulate demand for products with demonstrated environmental benefits.

The transition towards a more circular economy requires innovation, financing, and regulation to evolve in a coordinated manner.

Provide a quote/short statement about the project, highlighting its impact.

“BIOREC has demonstrated to us that waste is not the end of a process, but the starting point for new opportunities. Transforming plant residues and artificial turf into useful resources confirms that the circular economy is a real pathway to generating environmental, economic, and social value.”

Do you have any additional comments or reflections about your participation in the Up2Circ project?

Participating in Up2Circ has allowed us to go beyond research and demonstrate, in a real-world environment, the potential of circular solutions applied to our activities.

The results achieved, particularly in reducing emissions, valorising waste, and developing new materials, reinforce our conviction that sustainability and innovation must be part of business strategy.

Although challenges remain before these solutions can be implemented on a large scale, BIOREC has laid solid foundations for continuing to move towards more efficient, resilient business models aligned with the principles of the circular economy.