Research project CP/45 (Research action CP)
Context
Planetary reheating and climate change have led to Kyoto Protocol adoption. It aims to a collective reduction of green house gases emissions. Moreover, the progressive depletion of fossil resources within the next half-decade involves energetic diversification and decrease of European energetic dependence towards these resources.
Belgium engagements with respect to these conventions result in a reduction of about 14% of the emissions by 2010 compared to those of 1990 and new global policy within the framework of sustainable strategy implementation.
Project description
Objectives
In this context, raw materials from agricultural feedstock can substitute the petrochemical raw materials for the manufacturing of products.
The project “Sustainability through renewability” is dedicated to the study of renewable raw materials as an alternative to non-renewable raw materials particularly in chemicals and material industries. We want to propose to the federal authorities measures that could be implemented in Belgium and that would be suited to its particularities in order to understand, develop and promote renewable resources.
Methodology
First, we will make a general analysis of the issues linked to the development of renewable resources. Case studies of surfactants and polymers will illustrate this overview.
These objectives will be achieved by on-site data work, interviews with representative persons in different sectors.
Secondly, case studies will illustrate general view of the problem to the reality of the actors.
A measure campaign on-site will evaluate environmental impacts of residual surfactants in natural water.
Consolidation of Belgian scientific network interested with the managerial and economic aspects of sustainable technologies like “green chemistry” and setting in the beginning of the networking project of a user committee will aid active collaboration in order to promote the multidisciplinary and exploitation research.
Thirdly, participation to scientific meeting and conference towards the industry’s R&D valorise the research themes.
Interaction between the different partners
These objectives will be reached through three inter-disciplinary researches.
The "Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques de Gembloux" (FUSAGx), co-ordinator of the project, focuses on primary production and environmental aspects, with speciality on natural surfactants. The "Université de Mons-Hainaut" (UMH) works on biodegradability properties of materials and composites and studies the polymer case. The "Facultés Universitaires Notre Dame de la Paix" (FUNDP) is specialised in industrial management of innovation and will accomplish the socio-economic study.
General analysis of the issues linked to the development of renewable resources will be carried out with close collaboration between the three partners at the beginning of the project.
FUSAGx and UMH investigate technological and environmental evaluation of surfactants and polymers respectively. In this task, the renewable molecule(s) will be compared with the non-renewable corresponding one considering its technological properties, production methods and consumption and disposal modes.
FUNDP does the socio-economical evaluation by analysing the supply chain and the socio-economical impacts of their spreading on the rural sector in the framework of European common Agricultural Policy and on the industrial sector and the final consumers.
Finally, the three partners will realise the research valorisation.
Expected results and/or products
This study will provide decisional arguments to policy makers and contribute to the implementation of sustainable development programs and the promotion of renewable resources at the level of final consumers as well as at the level of industries waste treatment plants. Educational tools for children from primary schools and teenagers from secondary schools will be developed for an advocacy campaign on sustainable issues.
Partners
Activities
CBI - FUSAGx
ensures the close cooperation between all partners and the active collaboration between users ‘committee and partners. It is mainly working on surfactant production and their property studies. Its main task in this project is the technological and environmental evaluation of a natural surfactant.
Gestion-FUNDP
works on socio-economic and industrial management of innovation. Its main task is the socio-economical evaluation of the project.
SMPC – UMH
is specialised in polymers and composites. It works on novel materials with environmental respect and will study biodegradation of biopolymers in comparison with fossil derived ones.
Contact Information
Co-ordinator
Michel Paquot
Faculté Universitaire des Sciences Agronomiques de Gembloux (FSAGx)
Unité Chimie biologique industrielle
2, passage des Déportés
B-5030 Gembloux
Tel: +32 (0)81 62 22 29
Fax: +32 (0)81 62 22 31
paquot.m@fsagx.ac.be
http://www.fsagx.ac.be/cb/
Partners
Annick Castiaux
Facultés Universitaires Notre-Dame de la Paix de Namur (FUNDP)
Département des Sciences en Gestion
61, rue de Bruxelles
B-5000 Namur
Tel: +32 (0)81 72 48 80
Fax: +32 (0)81 72 48 40
annick.castiaux@fundp.ac.be
http://www.fundp.ac.be
Philippe Dubois
Université de Mons-Hainaut (UMH)
Service des Matériaux Polymères et Composites (SMPC)
20, place du Parc
B-7000 Mons
Tel: +32 (0)65 37 34 80
Fax: +32 (0)65 37 30 54
philippe.dubois@umh.ac.be
http://www.umh.ac.be/SMPC/
Users committee
Users committee includes institutions with a real interest for sustainable project. Through their networks we will meet the key persons who will provide us with the day-to-day reality of the different actors involved in the process that we want to study.
Carrez Dirk (Belgobiotech)
Stassin Fabrice (Agro-Food Valley)
Schenkel Yves (Valbiom)
Doyen Odette (Cabinet du Ministre Wallon de l’Agriculture et de la Ruralité)
Stevens Christian (Université de gand)
Rousseau Catherine (OIVO-CRIOC)
Sorel Nathalie (Réseau Eco-consommation)
Développement durable et ressources renouvelables : rapport final
Rabetafika, H.N. - Paquot, M. - Janssens, L. ... et al Bruxelles : Politique scientifique fédérale, 2006 (SP1572)
[To download]
[To order]
Développement durable et ressources renouvelables : annexe
Bruxelles : Politique scientifique fédérale, 2006 (SP1618)
[To download]
Duurzame ontwikkeling en hernieuwbare hulpbronnen : samenvatting
Brussel : Federaal Wetenschapsbeleid, 2007 (SP1782)
[To download]
Développement Durable et Ressources Renouvelables : résumé
Bruxelles : Politique scientifique fédérale, 2007 (SP1783)
[To download]
Sustainability through Renewability : summary
Brussels : Federal Science Policy, 2007 (SP1784)
[To download]
