Persephone: Waste & cycles

Persephone

To keep things clear, Stichting SOLAR has grouped all its future projects into themes. Persephone covers the projects on waste & cycles. Below you can read what the foundation plans to research.

Who is Persephone? Persephone is the daughter of Demeter and the queen of the underworld. Hades took her to his realm, and because she ate pomegranate seeds there, she must return to him for part of every year. While she is below, her mother grieves and it is winter; when she returns, spring comes and everything grows again. That yearly cycle stands for our projects that turn waste back into raw material.

Research into circular waste processing

Stichting SOLAR researches innovative methods of waste processing and uses circular principles to reuse raw materials as much as possible. The research focuses on separating, processing and upgrading waste streams into reusable materials, looking at efficient sorting techniques, chemical and mechanical recycling methods and minimising residual waste.

Through technological innovation and collaboration across the chain, the foundation encourages the shift from a linear to a circular economy, in which waste is seen as a valuable raw material.

Recovering critical and scarce raw materials

The foundation researches how to recover critical and scarce raw materials from electronic devices, construction waste and industrial residual flows. It uses advanced separation techniques, material analysis and process optimisation to make valuable metals and minerals available for production again.

The aim is to reduce dependence on primary raw materials, lower environmental impact and keep strategic materials within the economy. In this way the foundation contributes to resource security and sustainability.

Innovation in bio-based and compostable materials

Stichting SOLAR researches alternative materials that are recyclable, reusable or biodegradable, and uses sustainable design principles to reduce waste streams structurally. This includes bio-based plastics, packaging, modular product designs and circular production chains, with the emphasis on what happens to products at the end of their life: recycling or composting. Bio-based building materials fall under Hephaistos.

Through research, pilot projects and knowledge sharing, the foundation encourages systems in which products and materials stay in use for a long time, combining waste reduction with innovation and social impact.

A small composting and digestion set-up

We want to research how much biogas a small digester running on organic waste produces, and what compost and manure are worth for plants. We will do this safely and on a small scale, with partners experienced in digestion.

Nutrients back to the growing systems

We want to research how compost and residues from digestion can feed the growing systems of Demeter, so waste becomes a raw material again.

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