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Join REVOLVE and Greenovate Europe on a study tour of circular innovations in Norway

Welcome to Europe’s rainiest city. Perched on the Norway’s rugged west coast, the grand old city of Bergen is surrounded by mountains and fjords.  

The hardy locals are embracing the circular economy, and is it any wonder? With the next big city more than 4 hours away, and little agriculture or manufacturing in the region, reusing materials for as long as possible makes perfect sense.  

REVOLVE and Greenovate! Europe visited the region in the context of the HOOP project, a European collaboration that is helping cities and regions improve the circularity of organic materials. Our hosts, BIR, the regional waste management company, have an ambitious strategy to close the loop on food waste. They aim to transform it into sustainable proteins, which can be used as animal feed, for example within Norway’s world-leading salmon farming industry.  

Part of their strategy is partnering with local startups to co-develop technologies to realise this vision. Collaboration and community is at the heart of their circular journey. 

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Bergen has been a site of trading since the 11th century. Today it is Norway’s second-largest city, though some would claim it to be the country’s true capital, due to its historical significance.
The waste management company BIR is responsible for waste handling in Bergen and its six surrounding municipalities, serving over 350,000 inhabitants.
Commercial food waste has been collected separately since the 1970s, but food waste collection from households is only now being rolled out.
The circular strategy in Bergen aims to involve a wide cross section of the community and provide new opportunities for local businesses.
An ambitious ‘Biopark’ is under construction in Voss, a strategic location in the centre of the Western Norway region, on the (very scenic) Bergensbanen railway line.
The nascent Biopark will play host to many circular bioeconomy activities, promoting symbiosis and collaboration among regional stakeholders.
A local start-up – Invertapro – has just moved into the Biopark. They make value from food waste by feeding it to insects, which are then dried and sold as animal feed.
Insects are packed full of protein and can be reared with very little environmental impact. They can be eaten whole, or ground into flour for baking.
Another start-up, Greentech Innovators, has developed a process based on nutrient extraction to convert food waste into a source of protein or omega-3 in fish and livestock feed.
HOOP experts have helped start-ups in BIR with studies and accessing finance. They have provided similar support to changemakers across the eight cities and regions involved in the project.
While conditions differ across Europe, it’s clear that cities and regions are committed to implementing the principles of circular economy in their territory.
The HOOP Network of Cities and Regions has created a forum for experts to exchange experiences and good practices to vitalise Europe’s urban bioeconomy.

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