Panel Discussion | Circularity in action: Scaling upcycled ingredients to turn waste into value

The food industry generates millions of tonnes of by-products and side streams every year, yet only a fraction is transformed into high-value ingredients. While circularity has become a strategic priority for businesses and policymakers alike, how can the industry move beyond pilot projects and scale circularity to transform waste into valuable resources?

The panel will explore the key challenges slowing the adoption of waste-to-value solutions, including technical, economic, regulatory, and supply chain barriers. Topics will range from the lack of standardised pricing for upcycled ingredients to concerns about cost and performance. As Europe accelerates its focus on biotechnology, resource efficiency and biomass valorisation, the panel will explore whether circularity is poised to become a core business strategy or remain a niche sustainability initiative.