Integrating circular economy and bioeconomy would improve European sustainability; report.
Bio-based world news - “This report explores possible synergies, tensions, gaps and trade-offs between the bio- and circular economies' objectives and action.”
Europe uses natural resources unsustainably and the European Union has put in place policies on circular economy and bio-economy in response. A new European Environment Agency (EEA) report argues that implementing these two concepts in tandem, by applying specific design principles within a systemic approach, would improve resource efficiency and reduce environmental pressures.
The EEA report 'The circular economy and the bioeconomy — Partners in sustainability' shows that the two policy agendas have similar objectives and areas of intervention, including food waste, biomass and bio-based products, and that they would benefit from stronger links, particularly in product and infrastructure design, and collaboration throughout the value chain.
According to the report, the increasing demand for food, feed, bio-materials and bio-energy resources could worsen the over-exploitation of natural resources. By extending the lifetime of products and recycling materials, a circular, bio-economy approach can help retain material value and functionality for longer time as well as avoid unrecycled bio-waste.
Promising innovations and strategies for circular biomass use include bio-refinery, 3D printing with bio-plastics, multi-purpose crops, better use of residues and food waste, and bio-waste treatment. Consumers can also contribute to bio-economy's sustainability, for example, by eating less animal-based protein, preventing food waste and separating bio-waste from other waste streams, the report says.
The report argues that bio-based approaches should be tailored to the specific use context in order to maximise the benefits of bio-based and biodegradable products. The technological innovation, covering product and infrastructure design, should be embedded in a wider system innovation that also tackles consumer behaviour, product use and waste management.