How Circular Bio-Economy Can Be Adopted within the Agro-Industry in Denmark by Cascading and Coupling Biomass Residues

This paper investigates how to facilitate a green transition by use of biomass residues from the ago-industry in Denmark, exemplified through materials flow analysis (MFA) within the slaughterhouse industry. The proposed system suggests how circular bioeconomy can be addresses at the local level, by deploying internal circulation (IC) and anaerobic digestion (AD) biogas reactors digesting wastewater and biomass residues from the slaughterhouse industry, as well as the local community. Thus, by cascading and coupling activities, including supply of organic household waste and manure from the local community and agriculture, this paper shows how various environmental benefits can be achieved, as for example production of biogas substituting fossil fuel usage, reduction of waste generation and lower air emissions. The proposed system relies solely on local renewable resources being produced and re-used within a narrow geographic area, as opposed to the existing system, limiting energy distribution losses and long transportation distances of biomass residues, as well as the extraction of and further processing of raw materials, etc. The new system emphasize local bound solutions, meets and supports local stakeholder interests and development opportunities.