In Malta, a new initiative titled Project RACE (Recycling Abattoir By-Products for Construction Materials Engineering) has been launched to repurpose organic waste into construction materials. This collaboration between the public abattoir and the University of Malta’s Faculty for the Built Environment is supported by €350,000 in EU funding. The project aims to divert approximately 3.5 tonnes of waste per week from the Marsa abattoir, specifically targeting pig hair and bone by-products. By converting these materials into usable construction inputs, the initiative seeks to foster a circular economy within the local agricultural and construction sectors.

Concrete is inherently unsustainable, contributing roughly 8% of global CO₂ emissions. At the same time, the abattoir faces ongoing costs and logistical burdens associated with disposing of animal by-products.

To mitigate these issues, the research team conducted studies utilizing pig bristle fibers, bone powder, and biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More derived from hair and bone waste.  While pig bristles provided natural reinforcement and bone powder served as an effective filler, the most significant findings related to biochar. The pyrolyzed organic matter was shown to effectively replace a portion of the cement required in the mix. This application not only sequesters carbon found in the biomassBiomass is a complex biological organic or non-organic solid product derived from living or recently living organism and available naturally. Various types of wastes such as animal manure, waste paper, sludge and many industrial wastes are also treated as biomass because like natural biomass these More but also alters the material properties of the final product, addressing the high carbon intensity of traditional cement binders.

The application of these bio-based additives resulted in concrete with improved durability and strength profiles. Previous collaborations by this team involving recycled materials achieved concrete strengths of C200, significantly higher than the standard C45, and similar advancements are anticipated here. Abattoir Director General Stefan Cachia confirmed that the project validates the concept of self-healing and stronger concrete composites. By turning waste into a structural component, the project successfully reduces the volume of waste requiring disposal while simultaneously enhancing the performance of building materials.