Article
Ecology
Alexandru Giurca, Nicolas Befort
Summary: Under the European Union's bioeconomy strategy, wood-based bioeconomy innovations are analyzed to understand the drop-in vs functional-innovations framework and criticize the current trajectory of the forest-based sector. This discussion is relevant for bioeconomy innovation scholars, policymakers, and entrepreneurs seeking to shape sustainable and transformative bioeconomy innovations beyond the current substitution narrative of the forest industry.
ECOLOGICAL ECONOMICS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ivan Deviatkin, Sanna Rousu, Malahat Ghoreishi, Mohammad Naji Nassajfar, Mika Horttanainen, Ville Leminen
Summary: This study conducted circular economy workshops for six industrial companies in Finland to understand the current state of circular economy implementation. The results showed that only 25% of companies implemented circular economy principles, with a potential improvement of 36%. Most companies planned to use recycled inputs, develop products made of a single material, and design products suitable for primary recycling, while strategies related to information technologies and artificial intelligence were deemed less relevant.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Stephanie Lang, Giulia Minnucci, Matthias Mueller, Michael P. Schlaile
Summary: In response to sustainability challenges, governments and supranational bodies have promoted the development of a circular bioeconomy (CBE) in the past decade. The transition towards a CBE requires collaboration between different actors in the innovation system. This conceptual paper explores the archetypical roles of consumers in business model innovations for a sustainable CBE using a circular business model lens, highlighting their influence, lobbying role, incentivizing power, partnership potential, and value co-creation ability.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Annarita Colasante, Idiano D'Adamo
Summary: The study found a discrepancy in consumer attitudes towards bio-based and circular economies, with consumers willing to buy bio-based clothes but hesitant towards the second-hand market due to perceived lower quality. This discrepancy may be attributed to consumers' concerns about the environment being overshadowed by their perception of second-hand clothing quality.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Economics
Niina Pietarinen, Teemu Harrinkari, Maria Brockhaus, Natalya Yakusheva
Summary: This study examines the portrayal and translation of sustainability in Finnish forest policy documents, and highlights the risk of a forest-based bioeconomy continuing existing forestry practices without challenging current problematizations and proposed solutions. The research aims to provide a nuanced understanding of the opportunities and risks associated with a forest-based bioeconomy and inform current and future forest policy reviews.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Edoardo Baldoni, George Philippidis, Jurjen Spekreijse, Patricia Gurria, Tijs Lammens, Claudia Parisi, Tevecia Ronzon, Martijn Vis, Robert M'Barek
Summary: The paper highlights the potential of sustainably renewable biomass for producing bio-based chemicals under the EU's new Circular Economy Action Plan and Bioeconomy Strategy. However, the lack of a formal European data classification and collection system presents challenges in measuring and forecasting the industry.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Rashi Vishwakarma, Vidushi Dhaka, Thilini U. Ariyadasa, Anushree Malik
Summary: This review discusses the advantages and constraints of integrating algal technologies into the rural economy. Existing studies show that utilizing wastewater for algal cultivation can achieve significant biomass yields in sectors such as aquaculture and agriculture. Additionally, using algal biomass as a feed supplement in poultry and aquaculture can improve product quality and reduce production costs. However, more long-term studies are needed to establish the feasibility of using wastewater as a feed supplement and to explore the full utilization and downstream processing of harvested biomass.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alejandro Barragan-Ocana, Humberto Merritt, Omar Eduardo Sanchez-Estrada, Jose Luis Mendez-Becerril, Maria del Pilar Longar-Blanco
Summary: Biorefineries are modern mechanisms for producing value-added products and biofuels from various biomass sources. Achieving sustainability in their implementation poses crucial challenges, particularly in terms of technical efficiency and economic feasibility. This study analyzed current trends in basic research and technological development in biorefining and sustainability through co-occurrence and patent analyses. The results highlighted the importance of bioeconomy, techno-economic aspects, circular economy, biomass production, and biofuels in various disciplines. Technology development focused on fermentation, enzymes, and microorganisms, indicating the effectiveness of traditional techniques in addressing bioeconomy challenges. Developed economies were the driving force in this field, with the PCT system playing a vital role in protecting and commercializing inventions globally. The challenge lies in exploring alternative technological sectors beyond microbiology and enzyme applications to enhance technical and economic feasibility.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Massimiliano Borrello, Elisa Altomonte, Luigi Cembalo, Valentina D'Amico, Alessia Lombardi
Summary: This study explores the potential for circular bioeconomy adoption in disadvantaged forest areas by investigating the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats involved in the transition. The findings provide policy actors with suitable strategies to foster the circular bioeconomy in these areas, emphasizing the importance of their role in supporting investments, promoting know-how and cooperation, and addressing policy inconsistencies.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Nicola Bozzolan, Giacomo Grassi, Frits Mohren, Gert-Jan Nabuurs
Summary: This research assesses the carbon sequestration effects of alternative wood product utilisations in four European Union countries. Prioritizing wood use for material purposes and maintaining constant harvest can increase the carbon stock of harvested wood products (HWP) in the short-medium term. However, the mitigation potential of HWP varies greatly depending on the characteristics of the national wood industry, highlighting the need for tailored mitigation strategies.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY BIOENERGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Studies
Yasmin Imparato Maximo, Mariana Hassegawa, Pieter Johannes Verkerk, Andre Luiz Missio
Summary: This study investigates the bioeconomy and forest industry in Brazil, focusing on the development of new wood-based products. It highlights the role of the pulp and paper industry and the potential for diversification through integration with biorefineries. The study also suggests that biochemicals derived from non-wood forest products could promote competitiveness. Additionally, it predicts an expanding market for engineered wood products in Brazil in line with global trends in wood construction.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Anja Eisenreich, Johann Fueller, Martin Stuchtey
Summary: Transitioning to a circular economy is crucial for addressing future environmental and economic challenges. Companies often face complex changes when introducing circular solutions, requiring new innovation practices. Stakeholder groups, such as customers, suppliers, and academia, play a crucial role in the innovation process, with open innovation networks and crowdsourcing seen as promising approaches for developing circular solutions.
Review
Agricultural Engineering
Avanthi Althuri, S. Venkata Mohan
Summary: Biogenic municipal solid waste (BMSW) and food waste (FW) can be utilized as renewable resources through closed-cascade mass-flow mechanism to produce industrial products and bioethanol, but their true energy potential has not been quantified yet due to technical challenges.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Energy & Fuels
Bikash Kumar, Pradeep Verma
Summary: Bio-based biorefineries provide a potential alternative to fossil-based resources, utilizing natural organic biomass for biofuel and biochemical production at a large scale. The integration of existing technologies can facilitate sustainable development and economic growth, with biomass as a abundant and technologically advanced resource for the future.
Article
Environmental Studies
J. A. N. Kunnas, T. I. M. O. Myllyntaus
Summary: This article seeks guidelines for regions depending on natural resources to meet future challenges by examining the long-term development of timber and other forest-related resources in Finland. The changing uses and rank orders of forests over time highlight the need for diverse approaches to anticipate uncertainty. The concept of bioeconomy attempts to address conflicting goals of resource utilization set over the centuries.
ENVIRONMENT AND HISTORY
(2022)
Article
Economics
Sara Lorenzini, Nadia von Jacobi
Summary: This paper fills the gap in the literature on polycentric governance by focusing on the micro-processes of conflict that precede its establishment. Through a comparative analysis of four case studies, the authors find that conflict can lead to negotiations and the eventual establishment of common procedural rules, which can sustain polycentric governance.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)
Article
Economics
Hubert Palus, Lenka Marcinekova, Jaroslav Salka
Summary: The complexity and comprehensiveness of sustainability issues in forest certification schemes require knowledge based and transparent decision-making processes, which involve open and multi-stakeholder participation. This study examines the latest PEFC national sustainable forest management standard revision process in Slovakia from the viewpoint of stakeholder participation. The results highlight the importance of stakeholder understanding, trust, and satisfaction in the effectiveness of the revision process.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)
Article
Economics
Nicholas Palaschuk, Jason Gauthier, Ryan Bullock
Summary: Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are important for the spiritual and cultural identity of Indigenous communities, but current forest policies in Canada do not adequately protect these resources. This research used a participatory approach and community interviews to document local criteria, elements, and values related to NTFP development and conservation. The resulting framework can guide decision making and promote socio-economic benefits for the Missanabie Cree First Nation.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)
Article
Economics
Laila Berning, Metodi Sotirov
Summary: This paper analyzes the coalition politics driven by beliefs and interests in the new European Union Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR). The study identifies pro-regulation and contra-regulation coalitions and highlights the strategic alliance formed between pro-EUDR business actors and other pro-coalitions. Despite opposition from a weaker contra-regulation coalition, the EUDR was ultimately institutionalized as a compromise solution accommodating different beliefs and interests of state and non-state actors.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)
Article
Economics
Mehwish Zuberi, Michael Spies, Jonas o. Nielsen
Summary: Smallholder farmers play a crucial role in agrarian value chains in the Global South, but they are often neglected in technology-oriented agricultural interventions. However, they face challenges such as lack of resources, established crop rotation patterns, and market and climatic factors.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)
Article
Economics
James Chamberlain, Carsten Smith-Hall
Summary: More countries are adopting novel approaches to transition to a forest-based bioeconomy, which can address global challenges such as sustainable forest management, poverty alleviation, and climate change mitigation. Utilizing non-timber forest products is crucial for the realization of a forest-based bioeconomy.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)
Article
Economics
Keith Barney
Summary: The social impacts of industrial wood plantations in Southeast Asia, specifically in Laos, are debated. This study finds that under certain conditions, these plantations can positively contribute to local livelihoods, but there are still issues of land dispossession and inadequate compensation.
FOREST POLICY AND ECONOMICS
(2024)