CARUS proposes a revolution in the circular economy through the upcycling of secondary resources

The ICARUS innovation project, coordinated by ACCIONA Construction — with participation from ACCIONA Water — kicked off this January with an ambitious goal: to transform waste from heavy industries into high-quality construction materials, closing the loop of the circular economy.

From waste to resource

Framed within the European Union’s Horizon Europe program, ICARUS is based on advanced recycling of residual materials from various process industries. The proposal goes beyond traditional recycling: it aims to introduce these materials into the construction sector with a quality comparable to that of the original raw materials.

The project marks a significant step forward in the research and demonstration of technologies designed to enhance secondary raw materials — a key concept for industrial sustainability.

Three transformative pilot cases

To validate these technologies, ICARUS will develop three specific applications:

• Recycling lithium mineral waste: leveraging by-products generated during the extraction and refining of this strategic mineral for the energy transition.

• Steel slags with carbon capture: recycling residues from the steel industry using CO₂ capture and storage technologies, combining waste valorization with decarbonization.

• Cellulosic and superabsorbent wastes: valorizing materials from wastewater treatment plants, where ACCIONA Water will play an active role.

Responding to a European challenge

Circularity in construction is still at an early stage, with a circularity rate of just 12.4% in the European Union in 2021. The sector accounts for 50% of total material extraction and more than 35% of Europe’s waste streams, making it a prime target for sustainable transformation.

ICARUS will provide technological support to energy-intensive industries — also heavy consumers of raw materials and generators of waste — which are key to advancing the transition toward greener, more digital processes. The project seeks standardization to foster a resilient, green and digital single market in which sustainable resource management is fundamental.

ACCIONA’s role as project coordinator reaffirms its commitment to sustainable innovation, leading the implementation of solutions for a constantly evolving circular economy and positioning itself at the forefront of the transformation of Europe’s construction sector.