What does BONUS RETURN do?

Starting from a circular economy approach, BONUS RETURN examines the potential for ecotechnologies to turn waste carbon and nutrients into profit in the Baltic Sea Region. This is done by bringing together research, local authorities and the private sector to identify and pilot economically and environmentally efficient technologies.

Process

1. Evidence Base

The project compiles evidence on ecotechnologies for nutrient and carbon reuse to understand what has worked, where and under what conditions.
2. Modelling

Models hydrological flows to obtain a better understanding of current and future scenarios of nutrient and carbon streams in BONUS RETURN’s pilot cases.
3. Innovation

Invites innovations that need further tests, business plans and a link to markets, to participate in the project’s competition, The Baltic Sea Nutrients and Carbon Reuse Challenge.
4. Assessment

Assesses environmental, social and economic costs and benefits of selected eco-technologies.
5. Tailors procurement and business plans

Tailors procurement and business plans for eco technologies in three Baltic municipalities, namely: Sweden, Finland and Poland.
6. Brings onboard stakeholders

Brings onboard stakeholders by providing a platform for interaction between researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and municipalities through an innovative decision support tool

Stakeholder Engagement

Provides a platform for interaction between researchers, entrepreneurs, investors, and municipalities; and develops a decision support tool to simulate scenarios and facilitate interaction.

Evidence Base

Produce a systematic evidence base on existing technologies related to the reuse of nutrients and carbon.

Innovation

BONUS RETURN has identified three upcoming innovations: TerraNova, Aquacare and Ravita that are currently undergoing assessments and tests as part of the project’s pre-commercialization phase.

Sustainability analysis

Assessing environmental, social and economic costs and benefits.

Environmental modelling

Hydrological modelling of current and future scenarios in the three case study sites: fyris river in Sweden, river vantaanjoki in Finland and the slupia river in Poland.

Commercialisation

Test beds and pre-commercialisation of ecotechnologies in the three case study sites.