Their first destination was Vibrobeton, a factory in Pula specializing in the production of concrete elements intended for both public and private urban spaces.
Upon arrival, the team at Vibrobeton welcomed Viktor and Vanja warmly, guiding them through the facility before handing them the sample of concrete powder leftover from cutted concrete.
With the first task completed, the duo turned their sights toward Vodnjan, a picturesque town known for its olive oil production. Their next sample awaited them at Uljara Vodnjan, one of Istria’s leading oil mills, which has been in continuous operation since 1911.
Olive pomace is a by-product of oil production that offers promising potential for research into mineral carbonation. The idea is to explore how this organic residue, often overlooked, could contribute to carbon capture and storage technologies pushing the boundaries of environmental innovation.
The employees of Uljara Vodnjan gave insights into their process and explained how the olives are carefully sorted, pressed and refined into the golden elixir that has long been a staple of Istrian culture.
In January, they continued their mission with another important task — collecting a sample of paper sludge. This time they collaborated with DS Smith and International Paper, both global leaders in sustainable packaging. During the papermaking process, fibers that are physically too short to bond with the final product fall through the press section along with excess water. Once the water is separated, a portion of the cellulose fibers that are left behind is residue called paper sludge.
The collection of the paper sludge is another piece of the research puzzle and offers new opportunities to explore how industrial by-products can be reused to reduce waste and produce environmentally friendly building materials.
