Fate2Circle

Motivation

In industrial value chains, by-products are usually regarded as waste. Companies optimize inputs and product value, while by-products are disposed of and thus generate costs instead of creating value.

This is caused by a lack of reliable information on origin, composition, and quality. Fate2Circle changes linear disposal, the “fate” of these materials, into circular utilization pathways, the “circle.” Through verified digital material information, by-products are to be made visible as tradable resources and used more economically in circular value chains.

Objectives and Approach

The Eureka project Fate2Circle develops a modular digital infrastructure for establishing trustworthy circular markets.

To this end, novel semantics-based data models, AI-assisted quality analyses, and an innovative matching module for identifying new applications for secondary raw materials will be developed. Digital product passports and digital twins will be further developed and optimized for circular value creation.

Existing tools such as interfaces and self-declaration functions will be integrated to ensure interoperable data flow. Practical applicability will be demonstrated using industrial demonstrators. Pumice stone and coffee grounds will serve as exemplary secondary raw materials to evaluate technical feasibility and economic potential.

Innovations and Perspectives

The Eureka project Fate2Circle creates, for the first time, an integrated digital infrastructure for circular material flows.

This enables by-products to be systematically assessed, specifically offered, and more effectively utilized in validated and trustworthy business models. Companies can reduce disposal efforts, open up new revenue streams, and address regulatory requirements in a more structured manner. The tools developed are interoperable, transferable to other sectors, and provide a foundation for scalable, data-based circular markets in the future.