The bioeconomy is a hot topic these days, right up at the top of policy agendas. It involves using renewable natural resources as a raw material. The circular bioeconomy introduces circularity into this concept: using what would otherwise be thrown away, using spent biological resources to regenerate ecosystems and minimising waste.

The ECESP website has a good selection of circular bioeconomy-themed content. This series will shine a spotlight on it.

Circular bioeconomy concept: a report from the European Investment Bank on scaling up bio-based industries

Scaling up bio-based industries can strengthen the EU’s strategic autonomy and competitiveness, foster innovation and create growth and jobs.

This study focuses on three product classes within the bio-based industry that demonstrate significant potential for scaling up: (i) bio-based materials and chemicals, (ii) innovative food and feed ingredients and (iii) bio-based soil nutrients and enhancers.

The study recommends leveraging Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking flagship grant applications to build a pipeline of promising projects, expanding the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund model to enable high-risk investment in early-stage bio-based ventures, and creating an eligibility checker for bioeconomy and circular economy projects.