Such a new industry should ensure that natural bio-based materials, raw materials, and food are used on a much larger scale in industry and daily life. The core of ‘biobased technology’ is to make the EU cleaner, more competitive, and more resilient in the long run (2040).
An important step is to ensure a solid scaling up of bio-based innovations. This means that new materials, products, and technologies will no longer remain confined to small pilot projects but will develop into large-scale commercial applications.
The EU wants to switch to an economic system with greater use of renewable raw materials derived from land and sea ecosystems. This should reduce Europe’s dependence on fossil raw materials and critical imports, creating a more circular and low-carbon economy.
The bio-economy in the EU already represents a substantial market and millions of jobs. This sector therefore already plays a significant role, but experts in Brussels see it as an important foundation for Europe’s future growth and competitiveness.
The European Commission emphasizes that a combination of public and private investments is needed for scaling up and expansion, and that the regulations must be simpler and clearer. Within this approach, special attention is given particularly to small and medium-sized enterprises.
The new strategy focuses on developing markets where bio-based materials can become the standard. This includes bio-based plastics, fibers, textiles, chemicals, fertilizers, crop protection products, building materials, and other products derived from biorefining or fermentation techniques.
More and better use should also be made of agricultural by-products and organic waste. On a small scale, this is already used for gas production. The strategy stresses that this must always be done within ecological limits and that raw materials remain in the economy as long as possible.