On November 27th, the European Commission officially adopted a brand-new "Strategic Framework for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy", which has set out the direction for building a clean, competitive and resilient European economy. By leveraging the renewable biological resources of land and sea and providing alternative solutions for key raw materials, the European Union will steadily move towards a more circular and decarbonized economic model, while reducing its reliance on fossil energy imports.
The bioeconomy offers Europe significant opportunities for enhancing resilience, replacing fossil-based materials and products, creating jobs, and leading the global transition to a clean industry. Through this new strategy, the EU will support activities in various fields that utilize biological resources to provide sustainable and practical solutions, covering agriculture, forestry, fishing, aquaculture, biomass processing, bio-manufacturing, and biotechnology, among others. The new strategy will fully exploit the huge potential of these resources, scientific research advantages, and industrial foundations, and encourage innovative measures that are beneficial to the climate, nature, and society.
In 2023, the value of the EU's bioeconomy reached 2.7 trillion euros, creating 17.1 million jobs (accounting for approximately 8% of the EU's total employment), and has become an important driving force for job creation and economic growth in Europe. Bioeconomy-related product examples are abundant: bio-based chemicals made from algae can be used to produce medicines, personal care products, and industrial goods; bio-based plastics are increasingly widely used in packaging and automotive components; the market demand for bio-based building materials, textile fibers, and fertilizers is also continuously growing. Nevertheless, the EU's bioeconomy still holds vast untapped potential.
To unlock this potential, the "EU Bioeconomy Strategy" has identified four core action directions: expanding innovation and investment scale, creating a leading market for bio-based materials and technologies, ensuring the sustainable supply of biomass, and exploring global cooperation opportunities.
Expanding innovation and investment scale
To lead the bio-tech revolution, it is necessary to expand the scale of innovation and investment, avoiding that research and development results only remain in the laboratory stage. The large-scale development of bio-based innovations requires collaborative investment by the public and private sectors, as well as a simplified and efficient regulatory environment.
The European Commission will strive to establish a coordinated, unified, simplified and transparent regulatory framework that rewards circular and sustainable business models while strictly safeguarding EU safety standards. By providing a faster, clearer and more convenient approval process for innovative solutions, it will help enterprises (especially small and medium-sized enterprises) grow and thrive in Europe.
The European Commission will also ensure that existing and future EU funds are directed towards bio-based technologies. To stimulate private investment, the Commission proposes to establish a "Bioeconomy Investment Deployment Group", aiming to create a pool of financing projects, more effectively share risks, and mobilize private capital participation.
Building a leading market for bio-based materials and technologies
As bio-based materials move from the pilot stage to the mainstream stage, one of the main goals of the new bioeconomy strategy is to encourage the development of leading markets in areas such as bio-based plastics, bio-based fibers, bio-based chemicals, bio-based building materials, and bio-based fertilizers, which have both economic growth potential and environmental benefits. The European Commission will enhance market demand for bio-based components in products by setting targets in relevant legislation and other means.
To support the leading markets, the European Commission will launch a voluntary initiative called "European Bio-based Alliance" (BEA), which is composed of leading enterprises in the EU, committing to jointly purchase bio-based materials worth 10 billion euros by 2030.
For "bio-based plastics", the European Commission has clearly stated that within the framework of the "Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations" (PPWR), it will support the recognition and promotion of bio-based plastics and new materials, complementing the recycling content targets, ensuring consistency in different application scenarios, and setting standards and targets for bio-based plastics by 2027.
Key actions and timelines for building a leading market for bio-based materials and technologies
Ensure the sustainable supply of biomass
While enhancing current competitiveness, we must lay the foundation for future resilience. Europe has achieved a degree of self-sufficiency in biomass supply, but this advantage needs to be continuously strengthened.
Therefore, the "EU Bioeconomy Strategy" emphasizes that biomass must be obtained in a responsible manner, ensuring that the management of forests, soil, water resources and ecosystems complies with the ecological carrying capacity. Key measures include promoting circular utilization models and enhancing the value of secondary biomass (such as agricultural residues, by-products and organic waste). The Commission will launch relevant initiatives to reward farmers and forestry workers who protect the soil, enhance carbon sink capacity and support the sustainable utilization of biomass.
Exploiting global cooperation opportunities
With a strong scientific research foundation and innovative industrial strength, Europe has the favorable conditions to become the global leader in sustainable bio-based technologies, materials, products and expertise.
Through this strategy, the EU will support European industries in expanding into global markets: on one hand, by establishing partnerships to reduce supply chain vulnerabilities; on the other hand, to ensure that Europe no longer relies on a single region or a single resource. In the current context of complex and volatile geopolitical situations, resource security will further enhance the competitiveness and resilience of the EU.
