On Thursday 27 November, the European Commission adopted a communication designed to help lead the global transition towards a “competitive and sustainable EU bioeconomy”.
According to the text adopted and presented by the Commissioner for the Environment, Jessika Roswall, the bioeconomy will “strengthen Europe’s economic and resource security in an uncertain world” by reducing strategic dependence on fossil and imported raw materials and diversifying supply chains based on renewable and circular resources.
The Communication lists a series of legislative and non-legislative initiatives in three main areas:
Innovation and investment. The Commission confirms the adoption of the Biotech Acts (at the end of 2025 and in 2026) and plans to create a ‘European Forum of Bioeconomy Regulators and Innovators’ (first quarter of 2026). Standardisation of wood-based construction products is planned for 2026, along with an initiative to support primary producers in joint investments in bio-based value chains. The Commission is also considering the launch of a ‘Bioeconomy Investment Deployment Group’ (2026-2028) and the revision of the delegated acts of the European taxonomy to recognise sustainable biomanufacturing activities.
Materials and technologies. The Commission is planning a number of initiatives: analysis and exchange of best practice on the cascade use of resources, a report on the impact of biomass support schemes (2027), adoption of criteria and targets for bio-based plastics (2027), eco-design requirements for textiles and furniture (2027-2028), and support for ‘industrial symbiosis valleys’ and bioeconomy hubs (2026).
Sustainable biomass. A number of topics are covered, including the recovery of animal by-products (2027), support for biogas and biomethane production (2026) and improving nitrogen use efficiency (2026). The Commission is also considering the launch of an innovation initiative for the blue bioeconomy (2026-2027) and the creation of a knowledge repository for farmers, foresters and land managers by 2030.
International partnerships. The Commission plans to use free trade agreements to facilitate market access for sustainable bioeconomy solutions, as well as cooperation with partner countries to promote European innovation and facilitate investment (2026-2027).
European dialogues on the bioeconomy with the Member States are planned from the beginning of 2026. The tools and platforms mentioned include: the Bioeconomy Policy Support Hub (launched in 2027), the European Platform for the Circular Economy and the Youth Ambassadors for the Bioeconomy programme.
In response to a question from the press on biofuels and biogenic fuels and the fact that the text of the Communication no longer mentions incentives for the combustion of biomass or biofuels, Jessika Roswall stated: “What we decided on is, in my opinion, a very good strategy, which promotes the sustainable use of biomass, whether for fuels or other materials”. In transport, for example, various regulations show how biomass can be used sustainably, not just for transport, but also for the maritime sector, energy and other applications. All actions must be coherent and “we need to increase the resources we have, and that is what this strategy is trying to do”, insisted the Commissioner.
The Farm Europe think tank had expressed concerns about the first versions of this strategy circulating in the press (see EUROPE 13734/2). The final strategy adopted “fully recognises the essential role of EU agriculture and the need to build on existing value chains to unlock the potential of EU bioeconomy and scale up bio-based solution”, welcomed Stefan Schreiber, Chair of Farm Europe’s Green Economy Platform.
The Communication also recognises the role of the biorefinery model as a driving market technology capable of converting biomass into a range of products (food ingredients, animal feed, biofuels, biochemicals and biomaterials), notes Farm Europe.
When asked about the proportion of plastics that should be biobased, the Commissioner mentioned that work was underway on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, aimed at increasing the proportion of biobased materials in this type of regulation. Other initiatives concerning plastics will be presented shortly to strengthen the plastics recycling industry. The strategy also aims to make the most of different types of biomaterials that are already available: not just wood, but also marine resources such as algae and the waste that exists in society (wastewater, other types of waste). The aim is to transform these materials into useful products: building materials, fuels, cosmetics and packaging, explained the Commissioner. “This is necessary not only to protect the environment, but also to strengthen our resilience and reduce our dependence on other regions”, she said.
With regard to carbon sinks, which have been steadily declining for several years, the Commissioner emphasised that, “we have different tools in this strategy that support increasing carbon storage, both in forests, but also using materials that is shown here that continues to capture carbon, like the sofa, the table, and other things”. It is also about “transforming our society to reduce the use of fossil fuels, replacing them with fossil-free products”.
Biobased materials often struggle to achieve economies of scale, and similar challenges are encountered in most biomaterials and technology markets, explains the Commission Communication.
Several markets have been identified as having strong potential for overcoming these challenges, including:
- biobased plastics, polymers and packaging materials: the Commission also mentions the development of new applications for biodegradable plastics;
- biosourced textiles: the regulation on the ecodesign of sustainable products will define performance and sustainability requirements for textiles, including those made from biosourced fibres, and the revision of the Product Environmental Footprint methods will take into account indicators relating to fibre performance, the release of microfibres and the environmental footprint;
- organic fertilisers: the Commission is considering clearer authorisation procedures and improved market visibility, and will propose measures to speed up market access for biopesticides.
Reactions. The new Bioeconomy Strategy “lacks the ambition needed to bring the use of resources in Europe into line with the ecological limits of our planet”, warns the NGO European Environmental Bureau (EEB). The organisation states that the text focuses on product innovation rather than on “the root causes of the nature, pollution and climate crises”. According to the EEB, compared to a version released in October, the strategy “does not recognise the need to drastically reduce the pressure on ecosystems”. The organisation also deplores the fact that the Commission does not propose any standards or methodologies for the responsible use of biomass.
Bioenergy Europe welcomed the recognition of bioenergy’s contribution to “energy security and its role in fuelling bio-based circular value chains”.
Link to the Communication: https://aeur.eu/f/joy (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)