Compost: produced by the natural process of recycling organic residue, waste food scraps and leaves. The result – 'black gold’, potting soil, healthy soil mix – are all names we give to compost. A natural, pure, clean soil material, full of nutrients, showing respect for the environment. Multiply the scale from garden to global and these very sustainable practices in the agricultural landscape are vital for fostering a healthier planet. They ensure food security and enhance the adaptation and resilience of agricultural systems against climate change.
In Greece, the SME BIOSOLIDS S.A.has been contributing to this scenario since 2012, producing organic fertilisers and soil enhancers through biomass and solid waste composting for high-performance agriculture.
Through sewage treatment, the company processes sludge collected from urban waste facilities and offers treatment of industrial wastewater. It also processes waste and residue from domestic gardens, breweries, wineries, food processing industries, crops, and wood, as well as cattle breeding units for use in its composting plant in Pella, Greece, closing the circle 'from waste to soil'.
Basing its activities 100 % on circular economy principles, BIOSOLIDS recycles a massive 22 000 tonnes of non-hazardous organic waste every year. To be able to achieve this capacity and grow its business, it has had the support of the Enterprise Europe Network since its formative years.
'The story of BIOSOLIDS is the perfect example of the synergy between SMEs and the Network that works so well,' said Monika Nagy, Business Adviser at the Enterprise Europe Network office of the Federation of Industries of Greece. 'As the company learnt and grew, we grew with it. As its needs changed, our services adapted. As the company developed, we upgraded our support.'
Collaboration since the beginning
Soon after its foundation, BIOSOLIDS applied for membership of the Federation of Industries of Greece, one of the Network’s host organisations. To tackle different business challenges, the company soon took the first steps to benefit from the services offered by the Enterprise Europe Network.
In 2015, the collaboration started with the preparation and submission of BIOSOLIDS’ profile to the Network’s partnering database to strengthen its presence abroad. Although no concrete results came from this first step, working together brought important outcomes later in 2017.
BIOSOLIDS needed assistance to source funding to modernise its manufacturing facility for greater production efficiency. This would also allow the company to receive the ISO 14000:2008 certification, further leading it to improve its internationalisation strategy, and to sell its products in neighbouring Balkan countries, but also in northern Europe, where environmental certification is particularly crucial.
With the Network’s tailor-made assistance, BIOSOLIDS submitted an application to the ‘Manufacturing under new conditions’ national funding programme, which was approved. With the acquired funding, the SME was able to purchase state-of-the-art equipment, upgrading its production facilities, increasing its energy efficiency and significantly reducing its environmental footprint. In addition, BIOSOLIDS obtained the ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 certifications, related to quality and environmental management, respectively.
'An important pillar of our approach to supporting companies is leveraging our long-standing and prestigious presence at local, regional and national levels, particularly with stakeholder organisations such as funding intermediary bodies,' stated Nagy.
Opportunities through events
To further support the growth of BIOSOLIDS, generating potential partnerships and business opportunities, the Enterprise Europe Network also focused on organising and co-organising events, involving the company in those that were in its best interest in terms of theme and markets.
In 2019, the CEO of BIOSOLIDS, Athanasios Savvakis, participated in a visit to CERN, the European Organisation for Nuclear Research, along with other selected Greek companies from the Region of Central Macedonia. The encounter allowed the company to gain a better understanding of how this important international research agency works and what the requirements are for obtaining major tender and procurement contracts.
To tap into additional sources of funding, BIOSOLIDS participated in a webinar and matchmaking event in 2020 within the EEA and Norway Grants scheme aimed at boosting the development and use of innovative green solutions. Following this, the company submitted a successful application for the Business Innovation Greece programme. The funding received enabled the installation of an aeration composting system, the expansion of the production plant, and the purchase of two containers to be used as mobile composting units for collecting waste from third party companies and municipalities. The project is still ongoing but has already created two new jobs, reduced costs by 15% and increased production by 20%.
In 2023, with its renewed production capacity, BIOSOLIDS took part in the Circular Economy B2B@FORWARD GREEN Expo event in Thessaloniki, generating promising leads for future cooperation. More recently, it participated in the AGROTICA EXPO 2024, also in Thessaloniki, showcasing its products and solutions in organic agriculture. The company also attended the Forward Green Expo 2024 and its corresponding B2B sessions that were organised by the Federation of Industries of Greece, where it presented the first compost from the Central Macedonia Region’s 'brown bin' programme.
Tangible outcomes and impacts
BIOSOLIDS has experienced remarkable success, highlighted by a 57% increase in turnover and exportation of its products to Cyprus. Starting with just two employees, the company now employs 28 people. 'We are very mindful of the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and adhere to them wherever possible. For example, in terms of gender equality, out of the 18 executive positions in our company, eight are occupied by women. Regarding sustainable communities and responsible production, we follow the 'zero waste to landfill' protocol, and we have a recovery rate of 99.7%,' said Evangelos Papaioannou, waste management specialist at BIOSOLIDS.
'Over the years, the support we have received from the Enterprise Europe Network has been invaluable and has helped to ensure that our company is well placed to make a real difference in our sector,' he added.
