The headquarters of Andaltec Technology Center of Martos (Jaen) has hosted the presentation of the Operational Group OLICOMP3D which aims to convert, through 3D printing, by-products from the olive industry in a material that is part of the packaging of olive oils. This event was chaired by the mayor of Martos, Emilio Torres; the manager of Andaltec, José María Navarro; and the principal investigator of the project, Francisco Javier Navas.
The consortium of this project is composed of Andaltec Technology Center, the University of Cadiz, Matersia S.L., the Denomination of Origin of ‘Sierra Magina’ and the University Institute of Research on Olive Grove and Olive Oils (INUO) of the University of Jaen. This Operational Group is financed with European Agricultural Funds for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the ‘Junta de Andalucía’ in the call for the Operation of Regional Operational Groups of the European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP AGRI) in 2020 and will be developed in 2024-25.
OLICOMP3D aims to take advantage of and revalue agri-food waste from the olive sector, specifically wood from olive pruning and olive pits, through the development of multifunctional polymer-based composite materials that can be used in the additive manufacturing of large formats. In addition, the idea is that the material generated can be used, on an experimental basis, in the packaging that will be used for the promotion and commercialization of the oils of the Denomination of Origin of ‘Sierra Mágina’.
This operative group is formed as a precedent of the results obtained in the European Life COMP0LIVE project developed by INUO and Andaltec, where olive residues were applied as natural reinforcement in polymers being a biodegradable alternative to synthetic reinforcements, because they have lower density and cost and are easier to dispose of. Likewise, this project aimed at the automotive and furniture sectors has demonstrated the technical feasibility of these novel developments.
This project seeks to apply the polymeric biocomposites resulting from olive residues in the packaging sector using other more innovative manufacturing processes for their transformation, such as large format additive manufacturing (AMFGF). In fact, this manufacturing system has been previously used by two partners of the Task Force, the University of Cadiz (UCA) and the technology-based company Matersia S.L., which have manufactured plastic parts with this system from cork waste. Thus, the idea is to go a step further and reuse olive residues, allowing the company Matersia S.L. to expand its catalog of commercial materials with innovative solutions, more sustainable, with less environmental impact and fully in line with the principles of the circular economy.
Thus, highlighting that ‘OLICOMP3D’ is closely linked to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, betting on novel manufacturing processes where waste that currently generate greenhouse gases are used, reducing the use of fossil plastics to obtain sustainable products and generate new business models in rural areas. Specifically, it is aligned with the following SDGs: decent work and economic growth; industry, innovation and infrastructure; sustainable cities and communities; responsible production and consumption; and climate action.
In short, this initiative is key for the olive sector, represented in the consortium by the Denomination of Origin of ‘Sierra Mágina’, since it would reduce the environmental impact of the sector, which would mean the revaluation of this waste, so abundant in Andalusia, thus generating a new model fully aligned with the principles of the circular economy, which would increase the competitiveness of the Andalusian economy by obtaining innovative materials with its own resources.
