Chitelix Turns 100+ Tonnes of Marine By-Products into Emissions Reductions and New Revenue
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1. Company at a Glance
This case study explores how Chitelix S.A., a Tunisian biotechnology company, transformed large volumes of marine by-products generated by the invasive blue crab and seafood processing activities into high-value bio-based inputs through a dedicated biorefinery. By establishing a fully operational circular model that valorises underutilised biomass into chitosan, marine calcium and agricultural products, Chitelix demonstrates how a biotech company can simultaneously reduce coastal pollution, create new revenue streams and support local livelihoods.
Biotech
Industry
2022
Founded
18
Number of Employees
Tunisia
Headquarters
2. The Challenge
The rapid expansion of invasive blue crab populations and the growth of seafood processing activities along the Tunisian coast have generated large quantities of marine by-products that were mostly discarded or underutilised. This created pressure on coastal ecosystems, odour and sanitation problems, additional waste-management costs for processors and municipalities and lost economic value for local communities. At the same time, farmers and industrial users were increasingly exposed to volatility in the prices and availability of conventional petrochemical-based inputs, while national and international regulations pushed strongly for circular economy models and low-impact materials. In this context, Chitelix identified that a local waste problem could be reframed as a global opportunity: transforming marine biomass into sustainable value.
3. The Action
Define the Circular Solution and Map Material Flows
Chitelix’s solution is to build a circular blue bioeconomy value chain that transforms by-products from the invasive blue crab and other marine sources into bio-based inputs for agriculture and wastewater treatment through a green-chemistry biorefinery. In 2022, the company began by mapping marine by-product flows along the Tunisian coast and quantifying the volumes, seasonality and locations of blue crab and other residues through site visits, interviews and a material-flow analysis.
Co-Design with Key Stakeholders
Working closely with seafood processors, fishermen’s cooperatives, local authorities, farmers and wastewater operators, Chitelix co-designed the model, clarified roles and agreed on product specifications, logistics and risk-sharing arrangements. This early engagement helped align incentives and ensured that the circular solution responded to real operational needs.
Laboratory R&D and Process Selection
In collaboration with academic laboratories, several green-chemistry routes were tested to extract chitosan and marine calcium from shells and other by-products. Pilot experiments assessed yield, product quality and environmental footprint, and the most efficient and scalable process was selected for industrial deployment.
Pilot Biorefinery at Bizerte Agri-Food Technopole
A semi-industrial pilot biorefinery was designed and installed at the Bizerte agri-food technopole, a public agro-food innovation and industrial hub. The biorefinery includes pre-treatment, extraction, purification and drying units. In 2024, successive pilot runs with real waste streams allowed the team to validate process stability and safety while fine-tuning operating parameters.
Responsible Supply Chain, Quality, and Environmental
Collection agreements were formalized with processors, specifying sorting, storage and transport conditions to guarantee hygienic handling and full traceability from landing site to facility. Robust quality control protocols, health and safety procedures and environmental measures (including efficient water and energy use and reuse of process media) were integrated from the start.
Application Development with End-Users
Product prototypes were co-developed and tested with farmers and industrial water users in the field and in R&D labs. Feedback from these end-users was used to adjust formulations, application rates and technical documentation, ensuring that the new bio-based inputs could be adopted at scale.
Governance, Advocacy and Continuous Improvement
A cross-functional team (including operations, R&D, finance, ESG) oversees implementation, monitors a small set of indicators and reviews lessons learned after each campaign. As part of the action plan, Chitelix also shares data and insights through public programs, industry platforms and research networks to inform better regulation on invasive species and marine waste and to position circular blue bioeconomy solutions on the national and regional agenda.
Next Steps and Scaling the Solution
Building on the pilot’s results, the company plans to increase processing capacity, further improve water and energy efficiency at the biorefinery, expand its portfolio of bio-based products and secure relevant certifications and long-term offtake agreements. These next steps are designed to consolidate the business model, make the solution replicable in other coastal regions and deepen its environmental and socio-economic impact.
4. Overcoming Barriers
Irregular and informal waste streams:
Marine by-products arrived in fluctuating volumes and with inconsistent sorting. Chitelix mapped seasonal patterns with each supplier and introduced simple sorting, storage and basic supply agreements to stabilize quantity and quality.
Scaling from lab to pilot:
Processes that worked in the lab did not behave the same way at pilot scale. The team ran several small pilot campaigns, tracked key parameters and adjusted equipment and residence times with academic and equipment partners.
Regulatory uncertainty:
Different authorities classified the material differently (waste vs by-product), delaying permits. Chitelix organised joint meetings, shared technical documentation and aligned its procedures with existing by-product and hygiene regulations to unlock authorizations.
Trust with local stakeholders:
Integrating the new system into daily routines was initially met by uncertainty among staff. Open communication and leadership involvement helped position the initiative as a source of pride and long-term value.
Financing an impact-driven biorefinery:
The model required upfront capital with revenues coming later, which made traditional financiers cautious. Chitelix combined public innovation funds, grants and impact-oriented investors, and presented a phased investment plan (lab pilot scale-up) with transparent risks and returns.
Measuring and communicating impact:
Baseline data on previous waste practices were incomplete. The company started with a few conservative indicators (tonnes treated, partner sites, estimated avoided disposal) and progressively improved data collection and traceability to report impacts more robustly.
5. Impacts & Results
Each year, more than 100 tonnes of marine by-products–mainly invasive blue crab–are diverted from landfill or informal dumping into a controlled biorefinery process. Their goal for 2026 is to valorize up to 1,500 tonnes.
This biomass is turned into functional materials such as chitosan, marine calcium ingredients and agricultural inputs that already generate growing revenue from early customers.
The volumes treated correspond to an estimated 45+ tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions avoided over recent campaigns. Local odour and leachate problems around ports and processing plants have also decreased.
The initiative has formalized collaborations with multiple seafood processors and pilot projects with farmers and industrial water users.
Through visits, workshops and events, dozens of students and young graduates have engaged directly with practical blue- and circular-economy solutions.
Internally, clearer SOPs, better impact data and a functioning biorefinery have strengthened Chitelix’s credibility as a circular blue-bioeconomy model.
6. Key Lessons Learned
Start with a clear material and stakeholder map, not with the technology.
First, understand where by-products come from, how they are handled today, who is affected and which regulations apply, before deciding on the process.
Design small, measurable pilots with simple indicators.
Test logistics, quality and collaboration at a limited scale, using a few indicators you can track from day one, and adjust the model before investing in larger capacity.
Integrate regulatory dialogue and partner communication into the project plan
Treat engagement with authorities, suppliers and end-users as a formal workstream, with regular meetings, clear documentation and simple guidance tools.
"The most impactful outcome for our company is that the initiative has turned a local environmental problem into a demonstrated, operational circular-economy model. Having a functioning biorefinery that consistently treats marine biomass and produces usable materials has significantly increased our credibility and confirms that our vision of building a blue, circular bioeconomy based on underused marine resources is technically feasible, socially useful and economically relevant.”
Kais Aouaieb, COO & Cofounder, Chitelix S.A.
8. Recommended Resources
Recommended United Nations Global Compact Resources
Disclaimer: This case example is intended strictly for learning purposes and does not constitute an endorsement of the individual companies by the United Nations Global Compact.