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Valorization of organic waste through black soldier fly: On the way of a real circular bioeconomy process
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Researchers assessed black soldier fly larvae as a bioconversion system for turning municipal organic waste into insect biomass, frass fertilizer, and other value-added products, finding this approach viable as a circular bioeconomy process that reduces reliance on landfill and incineration.
The transition from a linear to a circular production system involves transforming waste into valuable resources. Insect-mediated bioconversion, particularly using black soldier fly (BSF) larvae, can offer a promising opportunity to convert the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) into protein-rich biomass. However, current regulatory restrictions do not allow the use of this substrate to obtain insect proteins for animal feed, prompting the exploration of other applications, such as the production of bioplastics. Here, we explored at laboratory scale an innovative and integrated circular supply chain which aims to valorize the OFMSW through BSF larvae for the production of biobased materials with high technological value. BSF larvae reared on this organic waste showed excellent growth performance and bioconversion rate of the substrate. The use of well-suited extraction methods allowed the isolation of high-purity lipids, proteins, and chitin fractions, which are building blocks to produce biobased materials. In particular, the protein fraction was used to develop biodegradable plastic films which showed potential for replacing traditional petroleum-based materials, with the possibility to be fully recycled back to amino acids. Socioeconomic analysis highlighted values generated along the entire supply chain, and life cycle assessment pointed out that lipid extraction was the most challenging step: implementation of more sustainable methods is thus needed to reduce the overall environmental impact of the proposed chain. In conclusion, this study represents a proof of concept gathering evidence to support the feasibility of an alternative supply chain that can promote circular economy while valorising organic waste.
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Insect farming: A bioeconomy-based opportunity to revalorize plastic wastes
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Researchers propose a two-step system for managing plastic waste using insects. First, mealworm larvae partially break down plastics like polystyrene and polyethylene, and their microplastic-containing waste is then converted into biochar through high-heat treatment. The biochar is then used to enrich compost processed by black soldier fly larvae, creating a nutrient-rich soil amendment while addressing both plastic waste and organic waste in a circular approach.
Black Soldier Fly Larvae for Organic Waste Valorization: Environmental Benefits, Contaminant Risks, and Circular Bioeconomy Readiness
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This review pulls together existing research on using black soldier fly larvae to recycle food scraps and manure into animal feed, fertilizer, and other useful products. The good news: turning clean organic waste into these products is well-supported by science, but the review flags a catch worth knowing, contaminants like heavy metals, microplastics, and "forever chemicals" (PFAS) in the original waste can potentially carry through into the larvae and end up in products that eventually reach our food supply. This matters because before this insect-based recycling scales up widely, more testing is needed to confirm these products are safe for consumption.
Bioconversion to bioresources: Pollutant detoxification mechanisms and circular bioeconomy prospects in black soldier fly larvae composting
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Black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) bioconvert organic waste contaminated with heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, and microplastics through larval bioaccumulation, enzymatic breakdown, and gut microbiome interactions that reduce pollutant loads in the resulting frass. This system simultaneously detoxifies plastic-contaminated waste streams and produces valuable biomass, offering a scalable circular bioeconomy pathway to reduce both organic waste and microplastic persistence in the environment.
Plastic Particle Contamination in Substrate and Frass of Black Soldier Fly Larvae Cultivation in Community Solid Waste Recycling Centers
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Researchers investigated plastic particle contamination in black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) bioconversion systems at two community solid waste recycling centers in Surabaya, Indonesia, finding that insufficient waste segregation led to plastic particles entering BSFL substrates and frass. The study found that 74 percent of solid waste at one center was suitable for BSFL substrate versus only 37 percent at the other, highlighting how plastic contamination in insect bioconversion could introduce microplastics into the food chain via larvae-derived products.
Worming the Circular Economy for Biowaste and Plastics: Hermetia illucens, Tenebrio Molitor and Zophobas morio
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This paper examines whether insect larvae — black soldier flies, mealworms, and superworms — can help process both organic food waste and plastics as part of a circular economy. COVID-19 increased single-use plastic waste and food waste simultaneously, making combined bioconversion solutions appealing. The authors review evidence for using these insects to reduce two major waste streams at once.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.