The Bioeconomy : the circular economy in action

Biobased: the circular economy in action

A central tenet of the bioeconomy is to produce products in a circular and sustainable way from biomass which would otherwise have been produced from fossil derivatives. The bioeconomy therefore offers a route, known as biobased products, to substitute and displace fossil derivatives from our day-to-day existence.

Just some of the areas where biobased products define the way for the displacement of fossil derivates include biochemicals, bionutrients, bioplastics, bioenergy, bionutriceuticals and biopharmaceuticals, biomaterials, biodetergents, biocosmetics, biolubricants, biopesticides, biofertilisers, biocoatings and biopaints, biostimulants and biocatalysts etc…

The engine room for the bioeconomy is the biorefinery which fits synergistically into the agricultural, forestry and waste recovery landscapes taking in a mix of biomass feedstocks which are converted into a plethora of useful biobased products.

Much innovation is coming out of the bioeconomy in terms of process development and imagined applications - often demand driven - however in order to realise its full potential and in order to make a significant and lasting impact, a co-ordinated effort from policy makers, regulators, institutions, land, fisheries and aquaculture owners and managers, industry, finance and public opinion will be needed.