Europe’s poultry industry generates around 3.6 million tonnes of feathers each year as a by-product of slaughterhouses. Currently, only about 25% of these feathers are reused, mainly in low-value applications like animal feed or fertiliser, while the rest end up in landfills or are incinerated. Yet, feathers are composed of roughly 90% keratin, a fibrous protein with high potential for value-added uses.
ONE EARTH harnesses chicken feather waste through microbial and enzymatic treatments to obtain hydrolysates rich in polypeptides (broken-down keratin) and amino acids. These feather-derived proteins can serve as ingredients in aquafeed or pet food, providing essential amino acids, or be used in cosmetics and nutraceuticals, where hydrolysed keratin supports skin, hair, and nail health. They also have potential applications as biomaterials.
Previous EU-funded work, such as the UNLOCK project, has shown that feathers can be converted into biodegradable bioplastics for agricultural uses like seedling trays and mulch films. These keratin-based products not only replace fossil-based plastics but also biodegrade naturally, enriching soil with nitrogen at their end-of-life.
By unlocking the value of feathers, ONE EARTH advances a “feather bioeconomy” that cuts waste and creates innovative green products. The benefits can also be felt locally, for example, in poultry-producing countries like Italy, converting feathers into high-value outputs could stimulate regional economies while reducing waste management costs. This approach offers a clear example of circular innovation that is both sustainable and economically promising.