Bel ons Locaties

Circular economy

Bringing raw materials back into the cycle. More and better. We are consistently trying to take the next step to close the chain and produce the highest grade of raw materials possible from waste and biomass. That is our challenge for a sustainable society.

What is a circular economy?

In the most ideal world, our world is fully circular. Waste no longer exists and all raw materials are reused. These raw materials stem from waste that we process in such a way that we can reuse them for new products. For example, for food, housing, clothing and electrical appliances. At present, a stream of residual waste is left over that we are unable to do anything with. Meanwhile, everyone acknowledges that something needs to be done and we in the EU have all agreed on one ambition: to be 100% circular by 2050.

Conserving fossil raw materials

The more raw materials we extract from waste and bring back into the cycle, the more we conserve fossil fuels. This means using less gas, oil, wood or metals. We preserve our earth by doing this.

Twence & the circular economy

Twence is at the centre of the circular chain. If waste no longer exists in the future, then we have to start thinking today about how we can turn waste into new raw materials and energy. We are at the very beginning of the transition, and it will take years before we are anywhere near achieving this global ambition. We are on the right track. We are focusing on waste processing, generating and supplying sustainable energy and making circular raw materials.

Recovering more raw materials How can it be done?

VFG waste is processed into compost, which we then bring back to the land to improve the soil. Clean, washed bottom ash, which is left over after incinerating residual waste, is used in road construction. Metals are recovered and find their way, for instance, into the steel construction industry. Sand, gravel, plaster, concrete, wood and plastic are sorted out from bulky household waste and construction and demolition waste. These streams are reused by buyers in their own production process for new materials. And did you know that we capture the CO2 that is emitted when incinerating waste? We turn it into raw materials for use in our own processes and we liquefy it to sell to, for instance, greenhouse horticulture. We also process regional manure surpluses into fertiliser substitutes and soil enrichers, which, in turn, the agricultural sector can use to their advantage. And that's not all. We make pyrolysis oil from wood chips, a raw material that can replace petroleum in industrial production processes. So there you have it. We turn every waste stream into a new raw material. This is how we work to make the region more sustainable.

Have a look at Our processes to see how we turn waste into new raw materials and sustainable energy.

Our innovations for a circular economy

At Twence, we are constantly seeking ways to bring our waste streams back into the cycle as effectively as possible. Take a look below at the innovations we are currently working on.

CO2 capture

We capture CO₂ from our flue gases. Our CO₂ capture plant makes new products out of this.

Using bottom ash

Bottom ash is left behind during the incineration process. This forms the basis for new raw materials and for the reduction of the use of raw materials. Clean, washed bottom ash is used in road construction.