{"id":2723,"date":"2025-07-28T09:29:35","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T09:29:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bioboost.cat\/?p=2723"},"modified":"2025-07-28T09:49:08","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T09:49:08","slug":"featured-biobooster-labin-bets-on-bioeconomy-through-animal-by-products-and-new-markets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bioboost.cat\/en\/featured-biobooster-labin-bets-on-bioeconomy-through-animal-by-products-and-new-markets\/","title":{"rendered":"Featured Biobooster: Labin bets on bioeconomy through animal by-products and new markets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Investing in the bioeconomy often means stepping outside one’s comfort zone, exploring unfamiliar markets, and tackling challenges that go well beyond technology. This is the case of Productes Labin<\/strong>, a Catalan company specialised in fertilisers, now venturing into a new field: transforming animal by-products \u2014 typically treated as waste \u2014 into high-value ingredients for biostimulants and emerging applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The project is currently operating at pilot scale and aims to scale up to 10,000 tonnes per year, becoming a reference facility in the enzymatic hydrolysis of animal by-products. But scaling up involves much more than increasing production capacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From fertilisers to cosmetics, bioenergy and beyond<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Labin is looking to expand its reach beyond agriculture. To do so, the company must ensure there is real market demand for the peptides and lipids it produces \u2014 and that this demand can absorb products derived from animal residues. With Bioboost\u2019s support, the team has identified viable applications and made initial contacts in sectors such as cosmetics, bioenergy and technical industries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another key challenge is access to raw materials. While Labin currently relies on the tanning industry, it needs to diversify its sources to secure a stable supply. To this end, Bioboost has used the Syner<\/em> platform to map companies generating suitable by-products across the territory, within the legal and sanitary frameworks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scaling up also means engaging with the territory<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unlike other industrial sectors, bioeconomy initiatives are deeply rooted in the territory. Working with residual materials \u2014 even to upcycle them \u2014 can raise concerns unless environmental impacts are properly managed. Labin is aware that expanding its plant also requires adapting to environmental regulations and ensuring local acceptance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why Bioboost has supported the project in exploring odour and emission control technologies and in identifying funding sources specifically aimed at such environmental investments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A strategic move with potential<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Labin\u2019s project clearly illustrates how bioeconomy can unlock new industrial opportunities from residual resources \u2014 provided that the growth is well planned and the key barriers addressed from the start. Diversification, territorial integration, regulatory compliance and access to finance: these are the pillars that could turn this initiative into a success story and a replicable model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want to learn more? Access the full project factsheet here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n