InterWASTE

“Second-life” products made from waste materials from the eyewear, furniture and wood industries

Project aim:

The InterWASTE project aims to find alternative uses for production waste from the eyewear, furniture and wood industries, which are deep-rooted industrial sectors in the program area. The project focuses on waste from eyewear production (such as wood chips and ceramics), which currently ends up in landfills and incineration plants, as well as stone dust from processing in the furniture industry and various waste from the wood industry (bark, sawdust), which currently remains unused. It will be investigated how this waste can be managed to produce new innovative materials for sustainable outdoor and indoor applications as well as for eyeglass frames (or parts thereof). During the course of the project, life cycle assessments will be created for the newly developed composites and laminates in order to analyse and optimise their impact on the environment compared to "traditional" products. In order to ensure circular production processes, tests are carried out with regard to the recyclability and biodegradability of the new products. The project will help to reduce the impact of the involved industrial sectors on the environment, move towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals and create new business areas. 

Funding program:

Interreg VI-A Italy – Austria 2021-2027

Project-ID:

ITAT-11-003

Duration:

November 2023 – January 2026

Lead partner:

Certottica Scrl - Italian Institute for the Certification of Optical Products

Project partners:

Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH - Research area Wood & Paper Surface Technologies

Elite Ambiente srl – Industrial waste management company in Northern Italy

Associated partner:

Organoid Technologies GmbH – Manufacturer of natural wall surfaces and interior decor

Project management:

Katrin Fradler

The InterWASTE project – “Second-Life” products made from waste materials from the eyewear, furniture and wood industries (ITAT-11-003) is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and Interreg VI-A Italy-Austria 2021-2027 as well financed with funds from the Carinthian Economic Development Fund (KWF).

Further information about the Interreg VI-A Italy-Austria 2021-2027 program can be found at: http://www.interreg.net