The ISLOPOL project (a sub-project of the CIRCULOOS consortium) addresses a critical sustainability challenge in the Autonomous Region of Madeira: the management of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) waste. Currently, Madeira lacks local infrastructure and technology to reuse or recycle EPS, resulting in this waste being shipped to mainland Portugal for treatment. Since EPS is a high-volume, low-weight material, filling containers with EPS pieces is inefficient, making transport expensive, logistically impractical, and environmentally detrimental due to the CO₂ emissions associated with sea transport.
ISLOPOL aims to close the EPS loop on the island itself by creating an innovative circular supply chain that incorporates recycling in Madeira. To achieve this, the project brings together four local entities across the entire value chain: Logimade Lda. (technology provider and project coordinator), ARDITI (digital innovation, modelling, data integration, and dissemination), Águas e Resíduos da Madeira S.A. (ARM) (waste management and sorting), and Esferolight (local manufacturer of EPS products).
At the core of the solution is a technological system, developed by Logimade, utilising computer vision and artificial intelligence to identify, classify, and separate EPS based on contamination levels. This system will be deployed on ARM’s sorting lines to select and separate recyclable material, which will subsequently be sent to Esferolight. This clean or properly classified EPS can then be reused in the local production of construction materials (such as insulation boards or concrete blocks), reducing the need for virgin raw materials.
ISLOPOL also integrates digital tools from the European project CIRCULOOS, specifically the RAMP platform, the CIRCULOOS Data Platform, and the GRETA Life Cycle Assessment tool. These tools ensure real-time monitoring, traceability, and reliable data exchange between partners, as well as the rigorous quantification of environmental benefits (emission reductions, resource savings, and decreased waste exports). In doing so, the project aims to demonstrate a replicable circular model for other islands and remote regions, thereby reinforcing Madeira’s economic and environmental resilience.
| Project Designation: | ISLOPOL – Island Loop for Polystyrene Circularity | |
| Program: | Horizon Europe | |
| Start Date: | 01/10/2025 | |
| End Date: | 30/09/2026 | |
| Total Budget: | 240 000,00€ | |
| Funding: | 240 000,00€ | |
| ARDITI budget: | 60 000,00€ | |
| ARDITI funding: | 60 000,00€ | |
| Coordinator: | Logimade Lda. | |
| Partners: | Logimade Lda.; Agência Regional para o Desenvolvimento da Investigação, Tecnologia e Inovação (ARDITI); Águas e Resíduos da Madeira, S.A. (ARM); Esferolight, Lda. | |
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This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement no. 101092295. |
This project is aligned with the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
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