AlgaeVALOR

AlgaeVALOR is an ambitious European collaboration project within the Interreg North-West Europe programme that focuses on valorising residual flows from the seaweed industry. While seaweed is already recognised as a promising source of sustainable raw materials, up to 50% of the processed material ends up as waste. This residual flow is often incinerated, which causes CO₂ emissions and means a waste of valuable substances.

The project unites knowledge institutions, circular entrepreneurs and seaweed producers from the Netherlands, Belgium and Ireland to develop new products from these residual flows. In doing so, AlgaeVALOR not only wants to reduce the environmental impact of the seaweed sector, but also create new economic opportunities.

• Avoiding waste by using all parts of seaweed
• Developing textile paint based on natural seaweed pigments (Zeefier)
• Producing biodegradable building materials (BlueBlocks)
• Conducting research into the growth and composition of Ulva seaweed (Ghent University)
• Developping measuring instruments for circularity (Spaak Circular Solutions)
• Stimulating circular innovations in the European seaweed sector.

AlgaeVALOR runs until June 2025 and strives to provide a blueprint for a fully circular seaweed chain in which no part of the algae goes to waste.