Harmonizing and optimising composting plants performances in Europe
Horizon Europe Cluster 6 – Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors
Funding Amount
€2.0M - €2.0M
Deadline
17/09/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution
Trusted by
What is the Harmonizing and optimising composting plants performances in Europe Call?
Grant Description
Support coordination and support actions to harmonise and improve the performance of industrial composting plants in the European Union and associated countries. Scope includes analysing technical and environmental performance with a focus on compostable packaging compliant with standard EN 13432, selecting performance parameters, collecting and assessing best practices at European and global level, identifying innovations (e.g., microbial bioaugmentation), and delivering recommendations to ensu...
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
- Accelerated deployment of innovative circular bio-based materials and sustainable waste management approaches through active involvement of waste management operators.
• Improved territorial deployment and operational capacity of individual and centralised industrial composting plants by local authorities and operators.
• Harmonised performance standards and best practices across EU industrial composting facilities, leading to optimised environmental performance (lower pollutant and odour emissions) and energy efficiency.
• Enhanced quality and safety of compost products, with validated processes for full biodegradation of EN 13432-compliant packaging and robust pathogen control.
• Shared repository of best practices and technical innovations (including microbial bioaugmentation and pollutant biodegradation strategies) accessible to operators in EU and Associated Countries.
• Clear, actionable recommendations guiding the harmonisation of industrial composting processes, supporting a clean, competitive and circular economy and a sustainable bioeconomy in line with European Green Deal objectives.
• Improved territorial deployment and operational capacity of individual and centralised industrial composting plants by local authorities and operators.
• Harmonised performance standards and best practices across EU industrial composting facilities, leading to optimised environmental performance (lower pollutant and odour emissions) and energy efficiency.
• Enhanced quality and safety of compost products, with validated processes for full biodegradation of EN 13432-compliant packaging and robust pathogen control.
• Shared repository of best practices and technical innovations (including microbial bioaugmentation and pollutant biodegradation strategies) accessible to operators in EU and Associated Countries.
• Clear, actionable recommendations guiding the harmonisation of industrial composting processes, supporting a clean, competitive and circular economy and a sustainable bioeconomy in line with European Green Deal objectives.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
- Address separate bio-waste collection obligations in EU Member States (per Waste Framework Directive, effective 31 December 2023).
• Focus on industrial composting treatment of packaging materials compliant with standard EN 13432.
• Perform both EU-level and global analyses of composting plant performances.
• Cover a full range of environmental performance metrics: pollutant emissions (air/water/soil), odours, energy use.
• Include detailed assessment of compost quality and safety: pathogen removal efficacy and microbial community shifts.
• Define and justify specific performance parameters (e.g. temperature profiles, retention times, microbial indicators) to benchmark full biodegradation of compostable packaging.
• Collect and evaluate best practices and operational case studies across diverse industrial composting facilities.
• Identify and validate promising technical innovations (e.g. bioaugmentation, pollutant biodegradation) applicable across variable composting contexts.
• Formulate actionable recommendations for harmonisation of process parameters, operational protocols and environmental control measures across EU industrial composting plants.
• Focus on industrial composting treatment of packaging materials compliant with standard EN 13432.
• Perform both EU-level and global analyses of composting plant performances.
• Cover a full range of environmental performance metrics: pollutant emissions (air/water/soil), odours, energy use.
• Include detailed assessment of compost quality and safety: pathogen removal efficacy and microbial community shifts.
• Define and justify specific performance parameters (e.g. temperature profiles, retention times, microbial indicators) to benchmark full biodegradation of compostable packaging.
• Collect and evaluate best practices and operational case studies across diverse industrial composting facilities.
• Identify and validate promising technical innovations (e.g. bioaugmentation, pollutant biodegradation) applicable across variable composting contexts.
• Formulate actionable recommendations for harmonisation of process parameters, operational protocols and environmental control measures across EU industrial composting plants.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
- Funding under a single-stage Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Action (CSA), lump sum model grant agreement (HORIZON-AG-LS).
• Proposals must select and integrate the relevant Destination description and expected impacts from the 2025 Work Programme (Part 9: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment).
• International cooperation is required; projects must involve multiple actors, including municipal waste managers and waste management operators from EU Member States and Associated Countries.
• Adhere to eligibility, admissibility, evaluation and award criteria as set out in Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes (Annexes A–G).
• Comply with lump sum grant guidance (Decision of 7 July 2021) and use the detailed budget table for lump sums (HE LS).
• Use the standard HE CSA application and evaluation forms available in the Submission System.
• Seek synergies with relevant EU partnerships and initiatives (e.g. Circular Bio-based Europe JU, Circular Cities and Regions Initiative, New European Bauhaus, EU Mission on Soil, etc.).
• Participants must meet country eligibility rules (Annex B) and financial/operational capacity requirements (Annex C).
• Proposals must select and integrate the relevant Destination description and expected impacts from the 2025 Work Programme (Part 9: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment).
• International cooperation is required; projects must involve multiple actors, including municipal waste managers and waste management operators from EU Member States and Associated Countries.
• Adhere to eligibility, admissibility, evaluation and award criteria as set out in Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes (Annexes A–G).
• Comply with lump sum grant guidance (Decision of 7 July 2021) and use the detailed budget table for lump sums (HE LS).
• Use the standard HE CSA application and evaluation forms available in the Submission System.
• Seek synergies with relevant EU partnerships and initiatives (e.g. Circular Bio-based Europe JU, Circular Cities and Regions Initiative, New European Bauhaus, EU Mission on Soil, etc.).
• Participants must meet country eligibility rules (Annex B) and financial/operational capacity requirements (Annex C).
Important dates
Open from: 06/05/2025
Deadline:17/09/2025
Application period has ended
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