From biowaste to high-value chemicals: How Recell is transforming the industry
Every year, European companies discard 20 million tonnes of cellulose. This valuable resource often ends up as waste—but Recell is changing that. They provide a solution by extracting cellulose from biowaste and converting it into high-value chemical building blocks. Since this is considered a third-generation feedstock, Recell is creating a sustainable alternative to fossil-based materials.
A circular solution for industry
Recell’s process is built on circularity. By using renewable resources (waste streams) instead of first-generation raw materials, they offer low-emission feedstock that can seamlessly replace fossil-based alternatives in existing industrial production. Each ton of Recell’s cellulose has a CO2 footprint of virtually zero. Their products aren’t just a solution for today—they are future-proof, providing a sustainable foundation for new innovations across industries.
To maximize their impact, Recell needed to scale up their process and increase production capacity. That’s where TransitionHERO came in.
Scaling up: From concept to reality
Taking an innovative process from pilot to large-scale production is no small feat. Recell partnered with TransitionHERO to map out the best path forward, leveraging their expertise in concept engineering and optioneering. The goal was clear: evaluate different scaling strategies and feedstock options, ensure industrial feasibility and develop a solid process design for a Flagship Demo Plant.
The first step was creating an overview of possible options, providing Recell with a structured concept, plan, and technical recommendations. Recell then put this plan into action, conducting key testing to validate the process. Based on these results, both teams worked together to finalize the process design and move forward into the basic engineering phase.
One of the biggest challenges? Preparing for a HAZOP (Hazard and Operability Study), a crucial step in developing their Flagship plant. Successfully passing this stage means that Recell is now one step closer to bringing their circular chemical solutions to market on an industrial scale.
Driving the circular economy forward
With the right technical foundation in place, Recell is proving that biowaste isn’t just waste—it’s an opportunity. By scaling up circular solutions, they are reducing carbon footprints, optimizing material use, and making industrial production more sustainable.
Want to know more? Explore our services or get in touch to see how we can help scale your sustainable innovation.
TransitionHERO was responsible for the following activities in the project:
- Optioneering to optimize the design to the best business case
- Optioneering to evaluate different feedstock
- Technology scouting and selection
- Concept engineering
- Plant footprint optimization
- Cost estimating
- Pilot plant test coordination
- Reactor modelling
- Basic engineering
- HAZOP
- Project strategy, planning and project management