Circular Harvest 2020

Project overview

An overview of all the projects

 

Students from various departments of the Hogeschool Rotterdam have worked on circular challenges and opportunities in practice. All projects described below, will participate in the circular networking exhibition, which is organised in the former swimming pool. 

 

Projects of the Fieldlab CEBI

 

Economic domain

 

Technical domain

 


 

Implementation plan for circular strategies of lamp posts

Student researchers: Emma Andrejeva, Junior Matias and Vincent de Weerd

A&M recycling is well-known for its recycling approaches in the metal industry. The company’s mission is to maximise its circularity through its metal approaches and strategies. A&M Recycling collects and separates different types of metals and sells them afterwards. A&M recycling procures waste or resources from a variety of sources. One of these sources concerns the waste from infrastructural projects, in this case, “street lampposts”.

The main research objective was to create a scope of four possible applications namely, options playgrounds, windmills, gym equipment and sound barrier walls.

The students researched several aspects, e.g. legal and financial, regarding the four options to assess whether one or more of them are circular and economic viable as well.

Based on their research, the students concluded that none of the four options offered both a circular and economically viable solution to the waste of lampposts.

 

Peer 2 Peer Energy Sharing at Halfweg Molenwatering Business Park Spijkenisse

Student researchers: Razvan Cojocaru, Orlin Dimitrov, Christine Engelmoer, Axl Vinck

The primary purpose of this minor CE project was making a business model and looking at the feasibility of a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) energy sharing system and researching the manageability, applicability and profitability of such a system for companies at the Halfweg Molenwatering Business Park at Spijkenisse and specifically for the consultancy company Enerless. Students investigated which stakeholders should be involved, regulations to be considered, risks involved and calculated the cost price to see if this solution for setting up a P2P energy sharing grid is interesting enough for participants involved.

The ultimate goal of the project was to assess the viability of business model for a P2P energy sharing system at the Halfweg Molenwatering business park where the price for selling and buying electricity by companies between each other, is lower compared to the current situation.

An interdisciplinary project team consisting of business and financial students, combined desk research and interviews with experts in the field about P2P energy smart grids to get a deeper understanding of the subject and to investigate the role of blockchain as a possible solution for the administrative and financial control of a P2P energy system. Also, various P2P energy sharing business cases were researched. Finally, a cost price calculation was made for the initial investment and operational costs to set up and maintain a P2P energy grid.

The results of the project are threefold:

  • A business model involving a P2P energy sharing smart grid at Halfweg Molenwatering business park and a description of the roles for all stakeholders involved;
  • A cost price calculation with 3 scenario’s (best case, medium case and worst case scenario);
  • A roadmap to implement such a P2P energy sharing system with recommendations for further research.

 

Circular Business plan for Nature Education Centre in Zwijndrecht

Student researchers: Raina Khan, Chifaa El Bazzaz, Loïc Pierre Henry Rebillard

The Nature Education Centre is currently constructed in a nature park in the city of Zwijndrecht. It is a building that is constructed from recycled materials and according to circular principles. It is developed and constructed by a local NGO in collaboration with stakeholders such as the municipality of Zwijndrecht, Hogeschool Rotterdam and the nearby hotel Ara. When it will be finished the building will serve both as an education centre for children of local schools as well as a bar and a venue for events of the nearby Ara hotel. The project provides the organisation with advice on how to run the centre as circular as possible. Particular attention is paid to the events, such as weddings, the hotel wants to host there. Advice is given on how to organise those in a circular way.

 

Multiple value creation in the renovation of a circular neighbourhood

Student researchers: Miks Podnieks, Luis Halabi, Sophie Hamoir

In previous research done by students of SUS-Ateliers, students proposed a plan to renovate a post-war neighbourhood, involving 34 houses in the Rotterdam area according to the principles of the circular economy. The project is to restore the facades and attach greenhouses to create a new living environment. Also, two new systems for sustainable heating and electricity were developed. The installation can be powered with renewable sources such as geothermal heating, solar and wind energy. Circularity considered four systems, namely electricity, heating, water, and ecology.

In previous research done by students of SUS-Ateliers, students proposed a plan to renovate a post-war neighbourhood, involving 34 houses in the Rotterdam area according to the principles of the circular economy. The project is to restore the facades and attach greenhouses to create a new living environment. Also, two new systems for sustainable heating and electricity were developed. The installation can be powered with renewable sources such as geothermal heating, solar and wind energy. Circularity considered four systems, namely electricity, heating, water, and ecology.

The primary stakeholder is a housing corporation that owns the majority of the houses. At the same time, an essential collaborator for the execution of this project is the municipality mainly concerning the permissions for construction. Besides housing corporation and the municipality, there are a few other stakeholders, for instance, the tenants and the providers of electricity and heating.

The present project focuses on the creation of social, economic and environmental value for the different parties on board. Students investigated definitions used, indicators, impacts and risks for the four systems of water, electricity, heat and ecology. The research gave insight into the multiple values created for all stakeholders involved.

 

Circulearn (Circular venture)

Student researchers: Mario Bortolozzo, Tom van der Spek, Max Morée, Andy van Hoeven

Circulearn, a startup founded by de student researchers, aims to contribute to a sustainable curriculum in educational programs of primary and secondary schools. The researchers found out that educators often lack time and knowledge to develop this themselves.

Circulearn offers pre-packaged lessons and materials that teachers or others use in the lessons. The pre-packaged lessons consist of presentations, brochures and sustainable products or materials to create interactive materials to raise awareness about sustainability with students so that they can take up their role in a circular economy.

Two types of research were conducted. The participants started with an analysis of stakeholders with a focus on competitors and potential customers. Based on these outcomes, a Minimum Viable Product (MPV) was constructed to find a proof of concept. Two test rounds based on scripts were organised to collect feedback on the real value proposition. The feedback served as input for the next test round.

The results indicate that the first proof of concept. Revenue models and scaling are still a challenge.

 

Reducing the ecological footprint of the Dutch Design Foundation

Student researchers: Christine Beck, Sebastian Marmolejo, Jente de Kwaasteniet, Juan Barinago Ascasibar Osinalde

The Dutch Design Foundation organises every year in October the Dutch Design Week, which with over 350,000 visitors and 2,600 exhibitors spread over 110 venues, is the largest design event in Europe. Over nine days, visitors from all over the world take notice of the latest design trends, which increasingly incorporate sustainable aspects.

In line with this development, and the vision of the organisation, the Foundation would like to know how high their environmental footprint is as an organisation in itself and how high their ecological impact is the Dutch Design Week.

For this project, the students applied the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach to assess the impact of food and beverage consumption, transportation, exhibition materials and accommodation of both the event and the organisation itself. In collaboration with the organisation Think Big Act Now, and Ecochain, the student researchers validated significant assumptions on which LCA conclusions are based. Several recommendations are made to reduce the environmental footprint.

 

Investigating sustainable solutions for the Dutch football club Excelsior

Student researchers: Sierra Swaisland, Ravesh Soemai, Maurice Bakker

Excelsior is a football club based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands that was founded in 1902 by a group of friends from Kralingen. Over the years, the company has been offering devoted fans and attendees football games and hospitality services in the 4,500-capacity stadium. Excelsior would like to become the first stadium in the Netherlands operating on circular principles and in order to do so, must investigate various sustainable solutions and initiatives.

To provide Excelsior with sustainable suggestions, the project team underwent the first two stages of a sustainable, strategic development process namely a baseline analysis and vision building. To achieve this, the project team conducted interviews with key stakeholders, drafted a life cycle assessment of stadium operations and hosted a vision building workshop with Excelsior management.

 

Circular Flower Parade

Student researchers: Iris Ravesteijn, Michelle Verhey, Wilmer van Heinsberg, Glenn Ehigiene

How to make the yearly Flower Parade in Zundert more sustainable? One way of doing that is to develop new products from the unused dahlias in the fields, for instance, by developing colouring methods for textiles, and textiles based on cellulose. Another possible solution is to use the flowers for decoration-purposes. Besides this, there are also possibilities of using Dahlia flowers in pharmaceutical products.

What are viable and scalable business models for products based on dahlia flowers and stems (in fine-chemicals, materials, pharmaceuticals)?

Students worked together with chemical students for an analysis of all the materials in the flowers. They went to the fields to cut flowers for investigation. They researched the literature and contacted several companies (Italy, among others) to look for existing solutions. Based on these findings, the students came up with multiple suggestions, including using the pigment for colouring textile bags or t-shirts. These bags or shirts should ideally be made from hemp or nettle, instead of cotton. Students contacted a large retail chain that might be interested in buying the flowers to produce decoration items for households. The use of Dahlia flowers for pharmaceutical applications requires further investigation.

 

An innovative business model for a multimodal exotic crop

Student researchers: Angelien van der Ende, Yamili Maduro, Aleksander Mantov and Yunfan Yuan

This project is part of a collaboration agreement with the title “key processes in the production of plant-based compounds for food, pharma and exotic fruits”. Stichting Wageningen Research, Hogeschool Rotterdam and several business partners work together to perform research to meet the need for new business models in the Dutch horticulture sector.

A group of four International Business students cooperated with two chemistry students to examine the possibilities for extracting useful compounds from different parts of an exotic crop (for example leaves, fruits, stems and/or flowers). By researching financial feasibility with the input from 2 finance students and market attractiveness for the different possible products, they have been able to provide insight into the highest potential value for the exotic crop and consequently developed an innovative business model for potentially interested cultivators.

 

Financial Consultants – support of the Circular Economy project teams

Student consultants: Tom van Mill, Michelle van der Made, Renoushka Gerardus, Houke Verboom, Mark van Zuuren, Chris Olsthoorn, Cornelis Ambachtsheer.

These seven auditing and accounting students acted as financial consultants for the ten innovative Circular Economy projects and supported the several teams based on the needs pe project. The main expertise of the auditing and accounting students is related to financing, cost-pricing & revenue models, measuring of key performance and implementation of an accounting information system-and internal control activities.

Findings

The research is based on several theoretical models (LCC, business models, cost-pricing models) which are combined with the practical needs of the project teams. Two weekly consults with the project teams are held to acquire research data, to fine-tune the needs and to discuss outcomes of the results. For most projects the team supported by preparing Lifecycle-cost-analysis (LCC) and cost-price calculations. The consultants also prepared break-even analyses and set-up a financial administration. Furthermore, the students supported with legal advice on organization types and consulted on fiscal effects of several decisions of the project teams.

Recommendations

The financial consultants prepared a format for LCC-analysis which can be used for several projects. This is a first draft model which can be improved in the projects to come. These models should help project teams to have a focus on the financial aspects of the projects and to improve the quality and added value of financial consultants.

 

A bag made out of old jeans and beeswax

Student consultants: Niels Kölder

The fashion industry is the second-largest polluter, just behind the oil industry. We buy way more clothes and wear them less. With social media platforms like Instagram, fast-fashion has almost become the norm; clothes are made poorly and under harsh conditions. Unfortunately, that is a bigger problem that isn’t solved that easily. The one thing we could change a lot easier is what we do with the clothing we throw away. With this in mind, I started my project.
For my minor, at the Hogeschool Rotterdam, I researched if it is possible to make a bag made out of old jeans. I started with shredding the jeans until only the fibres are left. With these fibres, I could make a felt. The biggest problem of the project was to figure out how to make felt water-resistant without losing recycling options of the fabric at the end of its life?”   


After many experiments, I discovered that when you soak the fabric with beeswax you get a leather-like feeling. By pressing different shapes in the material, I could alter the way the fabric behaves, and by using a laser cutter, I could give the fabric all other types of brandings. All these methods you can find in the bag or in the samples.

 

The Plastic Recycle Machine

Student researchers: Puck Zwaan
 
‘Where does my plastic waste go to after my separated disposal?’ 
I noticed at home that my plastic waste was adding up way quicker than any other. Last year I did an internship at Better Future Factory here in Blue City, which opened my eyes in seeing the potential of plastic material, and that’s why I decided to come up with a way to recycle my plastic waste at home. 
 
Dutch people discard over half a kilo of plastic waste per day. About 18% of the discarded waste is Polypropylene (PP) or Polyethylene (PE). This waste can be recycled together without excreting toxic gases, so I decided to work with these for now. 
 
In the plastic recycle machine I first used a variety of products like pots, pans, cooking plate, oven, a shredder for garden waste and a citrus press. I noticed that the result depends on the mould used. I’ve made wooden moulds, moulds of concrete plywood and aluminium moulds. 
As a plastic product, I opted for a kind of building block because the complexity of the product should not be too high, and it had to retain its value. The brick meets these requirements, but it might be getting worn out after extended usage. That’s why I want to build a community around the product, where people can submit their moulds to reach a wider variety of products you can make with ‘The Plastic Recycle Machine’.

 

Superuse of building materials

Student researchers:  Jelke Blanksma, Maaike de Boer, Annabel Fortuin, Ties van der Werf en Olivier van Wilsem (Stage-atelier)

How can residual materials from production processes or buildings to be demolished be used for a new function or as a building material?

 

Circular Nature Pool M4H

Studenten: Daan Spits, Berrak Uzun, Daish Druiventak, Roy van der Heijden en Sarah Kramer (Stage-atelier)

Technical design of a pop-up nature pool for a new waterpark in Merwevierhavens, 


Circular renovation of district Schokhaven, Zwijndrecht

Student researchers:  Aakash Budhram, Tjiko de Gooijer, Patrick Heijna en Jasper Huijsman (Stage-atelier)

Technical design, and circular material applications for renovating parts of the district of Schokhaven in Zwijndrecht. 


Nature Education Centre, Zwijndrecht

Student researchers: Linda Gerlag, Hasan Muhiyidin en Michael Hobo

Work preparation, harvesting of materials and implementation of the circular construction of this project.


Circulaire Park Kade te Rotterdam Heijplaat

Student researchers:  gemeenschappelijk project van 30 studenten van de minor SUS en leerbedrijf SUS 

Design of the circular residential area of the future where sustainable interventions in the outdoor environment are integrally combined with sustainable building materials and green, water and energy systems.

 

Circular renovation of the district Schokhaven, Zwijndrecht

Student researchers:  gemeenschappelijk project van 30 studenten van de minor SUS en leerbedrijf SUS 

Design of the circular renovation district in Zwijndrecht. A circular plan with large greenhouses as a common space for meeting, playing and food production.

 

Research “Growing districts”

Student researchers: Wessel Geysels 

The neighbourhoods, experience declining value and quality of life, while not being able to participate in new developments. 
Previously, these neighbourhoods would be demolished to rebuild. However, this strategy is not suitable for all districts. It would be better if areas would develop and adapt to the challenges still to come. The search is for the right foundation, while, retaining value through new business models and injections, to ensure the quality of life and self-reliance of the district. 

 

Research Circular material usage

Student researchers: Fabiana Rodrigues

The aim of this research is to provide ideas about the various circular building measures that can be taken in the field of material use and to inspire them to work towards them; to give the opportunity to set and discuss circular ambitions at the start of projects.

 

Research Spaanse Polder

Student researchers: Wessel Geysels en SUSateliers

This research aims to describe an approach and trajectory how Construction & Innovation, SUSateliers and the Circular Economy lectorate can investigate the area at the various scale levels and develop a circular plan from it. This part is a significant project in the new minor Circular Built Environment.
 

Glucose from Biomass via enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulose 

Student researchers: Rick Stant, Bob Ravesteijn and Stijn Kruf

Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (RUAS) investigates how green waste flows from regional agri-/horticulture can be valorized in a most complete way according to the cascade principle of the value pyramid for biomass compounds.
This biomass research will be done by RUAS students from different technical course like Biology and Medical Laboratory research (BML), Chemistry, Chemical Technology, Industrial Product Design and students from Willem de Kooning Academy.  Besides student from Rotterdam Business School and Logistic Management will investigate the economic viability and logistic organization. Students will be supervised by research lecturers at RUAS. In this multi-interdisciplinary research project there is close collaboration with lectors of the Research Centre for Sustainable Port Cities and Research Centre for Business Innovation from RUAS. This multi-/interdisciplinary research is funded by  SIA/NWO (HBOPD.2018.02.040).

In this project three CHM students have done research on the valorization of rose stems for fine chemicals. Therefore they have done research on the development of a sustainable method for the enzymatic hydrolysis of stem based cellulose to obtain free sugar molecules. This project is in collaboration with The Ruiter (Amstelveen).


Living colour: Dyeing textile using pigments from bacteria

Student researchers: A. Bijsterbosch, D. Dunk, D. den Hertog, J. Singh, A. van der Giessen, F. Mohammad, T. Bilman and J. Korver

The textile and fashion designers Laura Luchtman and Ilfa Siebenhaar have started the research project “Living Colour” to develop a sustainable dyeing method for the textile industry by using pigment producing bacteria. Therefore they collaborate with Biology and Medical Laboratory research (BML) from Rotterdam University of Applied Science (RUAS).
 
In this project nine BML students have done research on different pigment producing bacteria. For these bacteria they have developed methods for pigment production, extraction and analysis. Besides, they have developed a method to dye different types of fabrics with the extracted pigments.


Extraction of polyphenols from waste Dahlias for application in medicine

Student researchers: A. Reitsma, B. de Jong, J.R. Grover, L. van Rijn and M. Jacobse

Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences (RUAS) investigates how green waste flows from regional agri-/horticulture can be valorized in a most complete way according to the cascade principle of the value pyramid for biomass compounds.
This biomass research will be done by RUAS students from different technical course like Biology and Medical Laboratory research (BML), Chemistry, Chemical Technology, Industrial Product Design and students from Willem de Kooning Academy.  Besides student from Rotterdam Business School and Logistic Management will investigate the economic viability and logistic organization. Students will be supervised by research lecturers at RUAS. In this multi-interdisciplinary research project there is close collaboration with lectors of the Research Centre for Sustainable Port Cities and Research Centre for Business Innovation from RUAS. This multi-/interdisciplinary research is funded by  SIA/NWO (HBOPD.2018.02.040).

In the project five BML students have done research on the valorization of Dahlia for application in pharma. Therefore they have developed methods to extract and analyze valuable compounds from different Dahlia varieties. This project is in collaboration with Corso Zundert, Groei Balans and Vicoe for the Dahlia’s and the Erasmus Medical Center for testing the bioactivity of the plant extracts. Besides the BML students have cooperated with International Business students.


Valorization of tomato stems for application in textile industry

Student researcher: D. de Nooijer

The largest green waste flow in the region of Rotterdam is the tomato plant. At the moment all the tomato plants are used for compost. BlueCity Lab and Biology and Medical Laboratory research (BML) from Rotterdam University of Applied Science (RUAS) do research on the valorization of tomato stems for application in the textile industry.

In her graduation project BML student Danitsja de Nooijer will investigate whether it is possible to make textile from tomato stem based cellulose. Therefore she will develop a reproducible and sustainable method to purify cellulose from tomato stems. 

This project is in collaboration with GreenPort West Holland, Duijvesteijn Tomaten, Renewi and KCPK.

 

Circular vegetable garden

Student researchers: Sarah Samson and Gaston Metselaar

Antes BV is a mental health care organisation specilised in psychiatric and addictions related care. Part of the day care program are social activities like preparing the lunch and evening meals. As Antes has access to garden patches, the idea grew to develop a ‘food cycle’. In this cycle the patients participate in growing vegetables and support the processing of food waste to compost for the gardens.

 
Rationing plastic used in rations

Student researchers: Marco Kluver and Jaap Rutten

The Dutch Royal Navy, Dutch Marine Corps, has to follow the governmental goals for waste reduction set for 2030 and 2050. Marco and Jaap investigated the waste flow of rations that are used for missions world wide. Main focus was to reduce the plastic waste from packaging. They have worked out several options to reduce the overall waste print of the rations.

 

Re-use and recycle water valves

Student researchers: Rishika Kandhai and Prabjot Bains

Kropman Installatietechniek BV is an installation engineering company, amongst their competitors assigned with the immense task to prepare buildings for energy transition. Rishika and Prabjot have investigated the waste flow of their main projects and choose the water valves as an example for reuse.