The European bioeconomy is at the core of the EU’s transition towards a sustainable, circular, and climate-neutral economy. It harnesses renewable biological resources, from forests, fields and seas, to produce food, materials, chemicals, and energy, while reducing dependence on fossil resources. With a market value of over 800€ billion and more than 17 million jobs, the bioeconomy already represents about 5% of the EU’s GDP and 8% of its employment base.
But the bioeconomy is not just about numbers. It is about building resilience, creating local opportunities, and designing products and systems that work in harmony with nature.
Five things you should know about the bioeconomy
According to the European Commission’s latest insights, there are five key takeaways about the bioeconomy today:
- It is already part of daily life. From biofertilisers made of algae to biodegradable materials replacing plastics, bio-based innovations are present in agriculture, packaging, and energy.
- It boosts Europe’s resilience. By relying on local renewable resources, Europe reduces its dependency on imported fossil fuels and raw materials.
- It creates new economic opportunities. The bioeconomy supports rural development and strengthens Europe’s industrial base by fostering innovation and sustainable jobs.
- It contributes to climate and environmental goals. Bio-based solutions can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, restore ecosystems, and promote biodiversity.
- It is an evolving policy priority. The EU is working on a new Bioeconomy Strategy to ensure competitiveness, sustainability and coherence across sectors.
What stakeholders want for the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy
In spring 2025, the European Commission launched a public consultation to shape its forthcoming Bioeconomy Strategy. Over 360 stakeholders, ranging from companies and business associations to NGOs, research institutions and citizens, shared their views.
Key takeaways from the consultation include:
- Circularity as the top priority. 63% of respondents emphasised the need to increase circularity across bioeconomy value chains.
- Sustainability of biomass use. More than half of respondents (56%) highlighted the importance of ensuring sustainable production and use of biomass, particularly to halt biodiversity loss.
- Climate action. 55% stressed that the bioeconomy must play a central role in climate change mitigation and adaptation.
- Global competitiveness. 44% called for strengthening Europe’s position in the global bioeconomy.
- Strengthening biotech and biomanufacturing. 40% pointed to the need for reinforcing these fast-growing sectors.
Challenges and barriers
While the opportunities are clear, stakeholders also raised concerns:
- Regulatory uncertainty and unfair competition. A majority (59%) cited the lack of a level playing field with fossil-based products as a major barrier.
- Complex regulations and lack of harmonisation. Half of respondents pointed to fragmented and burdensome requirements across EU and national levels.
- Administrative hurdles. Lengthy permitting processes and unclear sustainability rules also risk slowing down progress.
Where innovation is most needed
Stakeholders see strong potential in several areas:
- Biotechnology and agriculture (69%) as drivers of innovation.
- Applications beyond medicine and food (68%), highlighting the role of bio-based solutions in materials and industry.
- Sustainable biomaterials as alternatives to plastics (59%), a clear area where projects like POLYMEER can have a direct impact.
- Improved biofuels and sustainable energy solutions (50%) to further decarbonise the economy.
POLYMEER’s contribution
As the EU advances towards a more circular, regenerative, and competitive bioeconomy, projects like POLYMEER play a vital role. By developing sustainable polymer solutions from bio-based and waste resources, POLYMEER directly addresses the priorities identified by stakeholders, circularity, sustainable biomass use, and innovation in biomaterials.
The new EU Bioeconomy Strategy, expected at the end of 2025, will be a milestone in shaping Europe’s green transition. Anchored in stakeholder feedback and building on existing successes, it will set the course for a resilient and sustainable bioeconomy that benefits industry, citizens, and the planet alike.
