Empro

From chicken feather to circular raw material

Empro developed a patented processing process to convert chicken residue streams into valuable components for animal feed, agriculture, renewable materials and more.

Well plumbed
There's more to a chicken feather than meets the eye! Plumes are naturally rich in protein and thus particularly suitable as an ingredient for fish meal and dog or cat kibble. However, in their pure form they are indigestible for most animals. Empro Europe of Dendermonde developed a patented hydrolysis process to make residual streams of chicken waste (such as feathers, skins, bones and meat scraps) digestible and functional. The result ends up in diverse sectors and customers, such as animal feed, agriculture, cosmetics, renewable materials and energy. 

Biological crop protection
With the biostimulant Aphasol, developed by subsidiary Stam Agro, Empro also gives feathers a second life in agriculture. Aphasol contains amino acids that increase crop stress resistance and yield through foliar application. In this way, Empro contributes to a more sustainable cultivation practice with fewer pesticides.

Innovation and international cooperation
Empro continues to invest constantly in research in order to valorize similar animal residue streams even better. Projects such as UNLOCK are even working on biodegradable bioplastics from chicken feathers. So you see: residual streams are not necessarily an end point, but just the beginning of something valuable.