NPK Recovery / VDB Labs

The Brief Y Briff

Closing the nutrient loop Cau'r ddolen faethynnau

The UK uses approximately 1.5 million tonnes of synthetic fertiliser annually. Its production is carbon-intensive and a major source of agricultural ammonia emissions. Meanwhile, human urine — rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium — is flushed away as waste. VDB saw an opportunity to close this loop. Mae'r DU yn defnyddio tua 1.5 miliwn tunnell o wrtaith synthetig yn flynyddol. Mae ei gynhyrchu yn ddwys o ran carbon ac yn ffynhonnell fawr o allyriadau amonia amaethyddol. Yn y cyfamser, mae wrin dynol — sy'n gyfoethog mewn nitrogen, ffosfforws, a photasiwm — yn cael ei fflysio fel gwastraff. Gwelodd VDB gyfle i gau'r ddolen hon.

Research & Validation Ymchwil a Dilysu

Developed a biological process using bacteria to break down urine and recover NPK nutrients. Set up a wet lab at Future Space, UWE Bristol. Conducted independent crop trials at the Royal Agricultural University. Result: bio-fertiliser performs comparably to synthetic alternatives. Datblygu proses fiolegol gan ddefnyddio bacteria i dorri wrin i lawr ac adfer maethynnau NPK. Sefydlu labordy gwlyb yn Future Space, UWE Bryste. Cynnal treialon cnydau annibynnol yn y Brifysgol Amaethyddol Frenhinol. Canlyniad: mae bio-wrtaith yn perfformio'n debyg i ddewisiadau synthetig amgen.

Demonstrator Build Adeiladu Arddangoswr

Designed and built modular, transportable treatment units. Engineered for field deployment at outdoor events. Partnered with Peequal (chemical-free female urinals) for urine collection. Dylunio ac adeiladu unedau triniaeth modiwlar, cludadwy. Wedi'u peiriannu ar gyfer eu defnyddio yn y maes mewn digwyddiadau awyr agored. Partneru gyda Peequal (urinalau benywaidd di-gemegol) ar gyfer casglu wrin.

Festival Pilots Peilotiaid Gwyliau

Bristol Pride 2024: collected ~2,000 litres via Peequal urinals. Boomtown Festival 2025: connected to 700-person toilet block, produced 540 litres of stabilised fertiliser product. TCS London Marathon 2025: urine recovery partnership. Bristol Pride 2024: casglu ~2,000 litr trwy urinalau Peequal. Gŵyl Boomtown 2025: cysylltu â bloc toiled 700-person, cynhyrchu 540 litr o gynnyrch gwrtaith sefydlog. Marathon Llundain TCS 2025: partneriaeth adfer wrin.

VDB Labs NPK recovery unit deployed at a UK festival

Scale-Up & Forestry Ehangu a Choedwigaeth

Won £435,627 Forestry Commission grant (3-year project). Growing 4,500 native and threatened tree species (beech, Scots pine) in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) using urine-derived fertiliser. Partnership with Stump Up for Trees. Ennill grant Comisiwn Coedwigaeth o £435,627 (prosiect 3 blynedd). Tyfu 4,500 o rywogaethau coed brodorol a bygythiedig (ffawydd, pinwydd yr Alban) ym Mannau Brycheiniog gan ddefnyddio gwrtaith a gafwyd o wrin. Partneriaeth gyda Stump Up for Trees.

NPK Recovery / VDB Labs Adfer NPK / VDB Labs

Closing the nutrient loop Cau'r ddolen faethynnau

Four workstreams, one mission Pedair ffrwd waith, un genhadaeth

Research & Validation Ymchwil a Dilysu

Demonstrator Build Adeiladu Arddangoswr

Festival Pilots Peilotiaid Gwyliau

Scale-Up & Forestry Ehangu a Choedwigaeth

From lab to landscape O'r labordy i'r tirwedd

Collaborating for impact Cydweithio er effaith

Have a similar challenge? Let's talk. Mae gennych her debyg? Gadewch i ni siarad.

NPK Recovery / VDB Labs Adfer NPK / VDB Labs

Closing the nutrient loop Cau'r ddolen faethynnau

Four workstreams, one mission Pedair ffrwd waith, un genhadaeth

Research & Validation Ymchwil a Dilysu

Demonstrator Build Adeiladu Arddangoswr

Festival Pilots Peilotiaid Gwyliau

Scale-Up & Forestry Ehangu a Choedwigaeth

From lab to landscape O'r labordy i'r tirwedd

Collaborating for impact Cydweithio er effaith

How we delivered this Sut gwnaethon ni gyflawni hyn

Science & Engineering Gwyddoniaeth a Pheirianneg

Funding & Grants Cyllid a Grantiau

ESG & Sustainability ESG a Chynaliadwyedd

Have a similar challenge? Let's talk. Mae gennych her debyg? Gadewch i ni siarad.