Starting Point:
Bio-based materials such as industrial hemp offer a tremendous opportunity for the manufacturing and construction industries, which must transition to a more circular economy. This requires not only a shift to new technologies, materials, or processing methods, but more importantly, a change in mindset towards chain thinking, circular design, and circular business models.

Objective of this project:
To create a network of opportunities for optimal and sustainable value creation from industrial hemp and other sustainable bio-based materials and processes, or combinations thereof, for the Flemish manufacturing and construction industry through a Hemp+ Living Lab. Although the technological and scientific knowledge about hemp is available, systems thinking, circular design, circular business models, and co-creation with diverse stakeholders are largely lacking.

Intended Results:

1. Clearer definition of the challenges and opportunities, including a network of actors willing to work on this topic.

2. Exploring opportunities and added value at the product level by developing prototypes and characterizing impact factors linked to material footprint, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., characterization of crop properties and identification of new applications for different components of the crops (TRL6)).

3. System-level: Achieving a mindset shift around the hemp value chain:

   • Analysis of the value chain as a circular bio-based system (all interactions), including barriers and enablers.

   • Establishment of an actor network – value chain – that sees opportunities for collaboration (network events, lectures, workshops).

   • Prototypes of fourth-order design: business models for a local bioeconomy around these crops, including social acceptance.

   • New or adapted design methodologies that are transferable to other contexts (not only the crops covered in this project) (e.g., https://www.circulardesignguide.com).

   • Educational content for companies, designers, and citizens to introduce them to these bio-based materials and economy.

   • Measurement of the effects (on the environment, but also socially, such as ethical issues and justice in design).

Throughout the project, we aim to achieve the intended results by exploring and implementing various demonstrators. In this way, we seek to realize the desired mindset shift among the consortium partners, inspire other actors, involve them in the living lab, and spread the mindset shift to the manufacturing industry.