PROJECTS

MAIN OBJECTIVE

Development of ecological substrates

SCOPE

Today's society is constantly changing, due to population growth, industrialisation and global consumerism, which has led to an exponential increase in waste. On the other hand, the growth of urban centres has led to the disappearance of green areas within cities with terrible social and environmental consequences. Thus, proper waste management represents one of the major challenges of modern societies, as well as the use of green roofs as part of the urban and environmental strategy of large cities. The EGR – EcoGreenRoof project aims to develop ecological substrates, through the selection and use of industrial waste (inorganic and organic), for application in green roofs.

MAIN OBJECTIVES

Development of ecological substrates, through the use of inorganic and organic waste from different industrial sectors, for application in green roofs, with the following objectives:

- Reuse and valorisation of resources - use of waste with different compositions and origins;

- Development of added value and eco-efficient products - development of substrates with recycled materials that can replace conventional products, which is aligned with the concept of circular economy;

- Economic improvement of the green roof sector - use of alternative raw materials with the aim of substantially reducing the cost of substrates, which will also reduce the final cost of green roofs;

- Analysis of the feasibility of other applications - evaluation of the feasibility of applying the selected recycled materials in the production of substrates for gardening or plant nurseries, thus increasing the range of potential customers;

- Environmental improvement and reduction of carbon emissions - wide dissemination of the project results with the aim of generalising the use of green roofs in green infrastructures in cities, promoting a better environmental quality of urban spaces.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND EXPECTED RESULTS

- Preliminary studies - identification, characterisation and selection of residues that will be subject of study, as well as identifying the technical requirements or specifications that the different formulations must present. Identification and selection of different types of vegetation that will be submitted to experimental campaigns, in laboratory and under real conditions. A set of documentation will result from this activity, that indicates all the necessary assumptions and requirements for the correct development of the project.

- Laboratory tests - development and preliminary characterisation of substrates formulations containing the organic and inorganic residues selected in the previous activity, on a laboratory scale.

- Process definition - description of the system to be developed, as well as all technical and safety requirements. The technical drawings (CAD and/or SolidWorks), of the various components that comprise the solution, as well as the processes involved, will be presented.

- Prototype construction - acquisition and assembly of all components, modules and other elements that make up the installation proposed in the EGR - EcoGreenRoof project. After setting up and completing the proposed pilot installation, initial tests will be carried out with the aim of validating and optimising all individual components and the unit as a whole. A document will also be prepared for requesting industrial licensing for experimental and research purposes with the relevant authorities.

- Semi-industrial production tests and validation – production of substrates for green roofs, in quantities that allow their experimentation in real conditions, as well as test the performance of these substrates under the same conditions and identifying and correcting procedures in the production process and in the application of the materials on site.

- Environmental and life cycle analysis - assessment of the environmental performance and life cycle of the products developed in the previous activities, in order to be able to optimise their performance from an eco-efficiency perspective, and sustainability from a resource efficiency perspective in terms of products and processes.

- Validation of technical requirements and certification - analysis of the results obtained in its technical and economic component, based on the European recommendations for this type of product. Standard product data sheets or certified product sheets are planned to be developed, for the introduction of these substrates in the national and international market.