Transforming biowaste into business value

Is the biowaste industry becoming a new ‘green business’ opportunity in North Macedonia? How can we unlock its potential?  

Managing biowaste in urban centers like Skopje is a growing challenge, but it also offers opportunities for innovation. With increasing demand for sustainable practices, businesses are seeking ways to transform biowaste into valuable resources. UNDP North Macedonia’s Accelerator Lab has been at the forefront of this effort, as part of a wider portfolio of interventions under the City Experiment Fund, a regional urban transformation initiative at UNDP Europe and Central Asia supported by the Slovak Ministry of Finance. Before the opening of the Biohacking Laboratory in 2023, the Lab established waste valorization indices for biowaste steams such as coffee, tea and citrus and through biowaste audits proved that there are business opportunities in biowaste transformation. 

Currently, the Biohacking Laboratory serves as an open city laboratory, using citizen science to explore entrepreneurial opportunities in biowaste reuse and repurposing. This collaborative approach accelerates knowledge sharing and learning among the private sector, including startups. The open laboratory model reflects the belief that an informed society makes more responsible choices about consumption, material use, and waste disposal.

Engaging the private sector: “Opening doors to new market opportunities”

Before our interventions the general narrative in North Macedonia was that biowaste is nothing more than a waste. One of the first activities at the Biohacking Laboratory showed that change in narrative was possible. With the Biohack My World startup programme, we laid the foundation for the development and implementation of sustainable solutions for waste management and environmental conservation. Several teams from the programme established startup companies, such as BioHide, and secured funding to develop their solutions. While some ideas didn’t succeed, these participants gained valuable knowledge about leveraging biowaste as a business resource.

While startups have enthusiastically embraced the biowaste transformation journey, getting established companies onboard that produce biowaste required an entirely different approach. We had to highlight the economic and reputational benefits of adopting sustainable practices, aligning with growing consumer demand for eco-friendly businesses. With the task at hand we created a programme that not only provided companies with tools, technologies, and training to transform biowaste into valuable resources, but also emphasized benefits such as cost reduction and new revenue streams, by exploring the economic potential of biowaste through the production of bioenergy, compost, or organic fertilizers, which can be sold or reintegrated into the business.

The programme consisted of six learning modules, each of which combined theory and practice and represented a structured collection of content designed to teach a specific topic or skill. In Module 1. Understanding biowaste transformation, participants learned advanced methods for biowaste transformation, focusing on circular economy practices. With Module 2. Microbial applications participants gained insights into microbiology and the role of microorganisms in biowaste degradation. In Module 3, which was the most advanced module, participants and scientists in the country for the first time had the opportunity to work together and use purple Bacteria for resource recovery from biowaste coming from apple leftovers. Module 4 was dedicated to Consumer behavior and gender empowerment, where participants gained knowledge on customer behavior toward waste-transformed products and women’s role in agri-waste sectors. Module 5 was dedicated to Bioeconomy and AI where we exposed participants to AI-driven solutions and bio-based innovations to boost the bioeconomy. The last module was dedicated to access to EU funding where participants received guidance on navigating biowaste legislation and securing EU funding opportunities. UNDP North Macedonia presented each participant with free access to the web platform: www.bizz4all.mk, for further mentorship support in several key areas boosting business growth. 

“A rare opportunity to gather all relevant parties in such an original platform to explore and observe future biowaste potentials within the SMEs.”

Participant, Inox

By combining theory and practice, the programme equipped 13 selected companies from various industries with practical experience in cutting-edge biotechnologies and the latest innovations in biowaste transformation.

“What a unique experience and much valuable knowledge sharing! Coming from a small innovative pharma company aiming to introduce some new products, our participation in the programme is of great importance for paving the way to upcoming developments in biowaste practices,” highlighted one of the participants.

Fostering a circular biowaste ecosystem

At present, we are witnessing a biotechnological revolution that has generated a profound reconfiguration of our society and economy. Partnerships, especially with the private sector, create a foundation for scalable solutions that integrate innovation and entrepreneurship within our biowaste portfolio in UNDP North Macedonia.

Educational programmes remain at the heart of our efforts to position biowaste as a resource, connecting traditional practices with current technologies and future possibilities. Through these initiatives, we help businesses and communities recognize biowaste’s untapped potential. The programme’s success and widespread media attention have opened new opportunities for collaboration between the Biohacking Laboratory and the broader private sector across the country.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all the esteemed experts who led the UNDP pilot programme on biowaste transformation and biotechnologies. Their knowledge, dedication, and hands-on guidance were invaluable in helping participants explore innovative technologies and practical applications in biowaste management. Special thanks to Prof. Jana Klopchevska, Prof. Vesna Rafajlovska, Dr. Sandra Mojsova, Cristina Cavinato, Dr. Ioanna Vasiliadou, Prof. Marina Nacka, Professor Dr.Biljana Risteska Stojkoska, Ms. Simona Trpovska, Professor Dr. Andreas Drichotis and Prof. Natasa Ristovska for sharing their expertise. Their contributions have empowered participants to apply these new insights in their industries.