Creating smart ecosystems
BIOLOOP: Supply chain biomass in Flanders
BIOLOOP is a transformative initiative designed to revolutionize the mobilization, transportation, and valorization of biomass in Flanders by addressing challenges such as fragmented supply chains and logistical inefficiencies. By leveraging innovative Decision Support Models (DSMs) and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, the project aims to create circular, sustainable supply chains that maximize biomass value and position Flanders as a leader in the circular bioeconomy.
Transforming biobased supply chains for a sustainable future
Imagine a world where every ounce of agricultural waste, food processing by-product, and overlooked biomass is transformed into valuable resources. Enter BIOLOOP—an ambitious initiative designed to transform how biomass is mobilized, transported, and valorized in Flanders. Although the region of Flanders generates significant undervalorized biomass from agriculture, food processing, and various industries, challenges such as fragmented supply, logistical inefficiencies, and a lack of interconnectivity hinder its full potential. BIOLOOP aims to address these issues by creating smarter, more circular supply chains that maximize the value of biomass while fostering a sustainable biobased economy.
The project leverages Flanders’ established expertise in green chemistry, industrial biotechnology, and logistics. Through the development of innovative Decision Support Models (DSMs), BIOLOOP equips stakeholders with tools to optimize biomass supply chains for diverse applications, including food, feed, chemicals, and materials. These tools incorporate cutting-edge insights into circularity and collaboration, enabling the design of more sustainable and economically viable systems. By doing so, BIOLOOP positions Flanders as a frontrunner in the circular bioeconomy.
Toward a circular bioeconomy: innovating for impact
Traditional biomass supply chains are often linear, resulting in inefficiencies, excessive waste, and limited high-value applications. BIOLOOP seeks to disrupt this outdated model by introducing a circular economy framework that prioritizes cascading use and zero-waste strategies. By integrating technical, economic, environmental, and social dimensions, the project empowers stakeholders to redesign supply chains with sustainability and value creation at their core.
Central to BIOLOOP is a suite of advanced Decision Support Models (DSMs). These models simulate and optimize supply chains, enabling stakeholders to:
- Improve the mobilization of biomass for diverse feedstocks and applications.
- Design supply chains that minimize waste and maximize circularity.
- Foster cross-industry collaboration to unlock shared opportunities.
BIOLOOP’s impact goes beyond technological innovation, bringing together academic, industrial, and policy partners in a transdisciplinary effort to advance biomass valorization. Over its 48-month duration, the project will:
- Demonstrate real-world applications of circular supply chains through pilot projects.
- Provide actionable tools and strategies for stakeholders to adopt.
- Accelerate Flanders’ transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.
AMS's role in BIOLOOP
Antwerp Management School (AMS) plays a pivotal role in promoting collaboration and developing gain-sharing frameworks within BIOLOOP. Its efforts focus on addressing non-economic and behavioral factors that influence stakeholder decisions to collaborate and adopt innovative solutions for biobased supply chains. By mapping stakeholder value networks, AMS identifies preferences, decision-making criteria, and barriers to collaboration. Insights derived from stakeholder interactions and discrete choice modeling are used to cluster stakeholders based on their utility functions, enabling the design of tailored strategies to enhance engagement.
AMS also develops dynamic pricing models that balance the needs of biomass suppliers and users, ensuring fair and competitive pricing aligned with circular and multi-objective supply chain goals. Additionally, AMS creates gain-sharing frameworks to equitably distribute costs, benefits, and risks among stakeholders, fostering sustainable partnerships. These frameworks incorporate operational expenses, economic impacts, and system development costs to support informed decision-making and cross-sector collaboration.
By embedding these elements into BIOLOOP’s Decision Support Models, AMS ensures that the project delivers practical, stakeholder-centric tools for building collaborative biobased supply chains. This comprehensive approach not only enhances the project’s outcomes but also promotes the wider adoption of sustainable practices across industries.
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