European Industrial Renaissance Bio-Based Products & Sustainable
Availability of Raw Materials
Achim Boenke
DG Enterprise and Industry
Unit - Chemical Industry
Brussels, 3rd April 2014
The Policy Context (1)
Bioeconomy for Europe Communication
COM(2012) 60 final, Brussels, 13.02.2012; http://ec.europa.eu/research/bioeconomy/pdf/201202_innovating_sustainable_growth.pdf
"The Bioeconomy Strategy and its Action Plan aim to pave the way to a more
innovative, resource efficient and competitive society that reconciles food
security with the sustainable use of renewable resources for industrial
purposes, while ensuring environmental protection. They will inform
research and innovation agendas in bioeconomy sectors and contribute
to a more coherent policy environment, better interrelations between
national, EU and global bioeconomy policies and a more engaged public
dialogue. They will seek synergies and respect complementarities with other
policy areas, instruments and funding sources, which share and address the
same objectives, such as the Common Agricultural and Fisheries Policies (CAP
and CFP), the Integrated Maritime Policy (IMP), environmental, industrial,
employment, energy and health policies."
The Policy Context (2)
European Industrial Renaissance
COM(2014) 14/2 final, Brussels, 22/01/2014; http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/initiatives/mission-growth/index_en.htm &
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-42_en.htm?locale=en
"These strategic, cross-cutting areas are: advanced manufacturing, key
enabling technologies, clean vehicles and transport, bio-based products,
construction and raw materials and smart grids."
"Bio-based products: granting access to sustainable raw materials at world
market prices for the production of bio-based products. This will require the
application of the cascade principle in the use of biomass and eliminating
any possible distortions in the allocation of biomass for alternative uses
that might result from aid and other mechanisms that favour the use of biomass
for other purposes (e.g. energy)*."
* For a description and interpretation of the cascading principle, see
http://ec.europa.eu/research/bioeconomy/pdf/201202_commision_staff_working.pdf - Commission Staff Working
Paper that is accompanying the Commission's Communication on the Bioeconomy Strategy – see pages 25-26,
2nd paragraph in section 1.3.3.1. and
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=//EP//NONSGML+REPORT+A7-2013-0201+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN – European Parliament Opinion on the
Commission Communication on the Bioeconomy Strategy – see item 28 on pages 6 & 7.
The Policy Context (3)
Bioeconomy for Europe Communication
COM(2012) 60 final, Brussels, 13.02.2012; http://ec.europa.eu/research/bioeconomy/pdf/201202_innovating_sustainable_growth.pdf
Promote the setting up of networks with the required logistics for integrated and
diversified biorefineries, demonstration and pilot plants across Europe,
including the necessary logistics and supply chains for a cascading use of
biomass and waste streams. Start negotiations to establish a research and
innovation PPP for bio-based industries at European level (by 2013).
Note: Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION on the Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking –
COM (2013) 496 final, Brussels, 10.7.2013.
Staff Working Document Accompanying Bioeconomy Communication
COM(2012), Brussels; http://ec.europa.eu/research/bioeconomy/pdf/201202_commision_staff_working.pdf
Biorefineries should adopt a cascading approach to the use of their inputs,
favouring highest value added and resource efficient products, such as
bio-based products and industrial materials, over bioenergy. The principle of
cascading use is based on single or multiple material uses followed by
energy use through burning at the end of life of the material, including taking
into account the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) mitigation potential.
By-products and wastes from one production process are used to feed into
other production processes or for energy. Biorefineries can thus contribute
to the principles of a "zero-waste society".
The Policy Context (4) - European Industrial Renaissance
COM(2014) 14/2 final, Brussels, 22/01/2014; http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/initiatives/mission-growth/index_en.htm &
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-42_en.htm?locale=en
"Bio-based products: granting access to sustainable raw materials at world
market prices for the production of bio-based products. This will require the
application of the cascade principle in the use of biomass and eliminating
any possible distortions in the allocation of biomass for alternative uses
that might result from aid and other mechanisms that favour the use of biomass
for other purposes (e.g. energy)*."
"The Commission will ensure policy neutrality in access to biomass for
different purposes to enable efficient application of the cascade principle
in the use of the biomass to ensure an efficient and sustainable use of
natural resources. Also if deemed necessary, it will consider measures to
enable industry to have access at global market prices to key inputs such
as bio-ethanol or starch for bio-based industrial activities emerging from
traditional sectors such as chemicals, paper and other forest-based
industries."
* For a description and interpretation of the cascading principle, see
http://ec.europa.eu/research/bioeconomy/pdf/201202_commision_staff_working.pdf - Commission Staff Working
Paper that is accompanying the Commission's Communication on the Bioeconomy Strategy – see pages 25-26,
2nd paragraph in section 1.3.3.1. and
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=//EP//NONSGML+REPORT+A7-2013-0201+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN – European Parliament Opinion on the
Commission Communication on the Bioeconomy Strategy – see item 28 on pages 6 & 7.
The Policy Context (5)
2030 Climate & Energy Goals
for a Competitive, Secure & Low-Carbon EU Economy
Commission Press Release, IP/14/54 22/01/2014, Brussels, 22/01/2014; http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-54_en.htm
"An EU-wide binding renewable energy target: Renewable energy will play a
key role in the transition towards a competitive, secure and sustainable energy
system. Driven by a more market-oriented approach with enabling conditions
for emerging technologies, an EU-wide binding target for renewable energy of
at least 27% in 2030 comes with significant benefits in terms of energy trade
balances, reliance on indigenous energy sources, jobs and growth."
"Competitive, affordable and secure energy: The Commission proposes a set of
key indicators to assess progress over time and to provide a factual base for
potential policy response. These indicators relate to, for example, energy price
differentials with major trading partners, supply diversification and reliance
on indigenous energy sources, as well as the interconnection capacity
between Member States."
Operational Structures
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Bio-economy Panel (all Stakeholders);
Bio-economy Commission Inter-Service Group;
Bio-economy Observatory;
Renewable Raw Materials (RRM) Group (Industry & MS-Agencies);
Commission Expert Group for Bio-based Products.
Cascading Use Principle Illustration
Source: European Commission, DG Enterprise and Industry, (2013); Industrial Policy - Monthly Note – Industrial Policy
Indicators and Analysis - June 2013 – Special Feature Bio-Based Sector Achievements and Further Challenges;
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/policies/industrial-competitiveness/economic-crisis/files/monthly-note-june-2013_en.pdf .
Cascading Use Principle Example
Economic Sustainability Pillar – Input for the BioObservatory
European Commission (2013), Bio-economy and sustainability: A potential contribution to the Bio-economy Observatory
http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/111111111/27454/1/lb-na-25743-en-n.pdf
Estimated turnover and employment in EU bio-based industries:
EU-RTD_Project Results
• FP7-joint call for biorefinery research (2008)
3 projects / 52 M€
EUROBIOREF – fragmentation in the biomass industry
BIOCORE – lignocellulosic biorefinery for sustainable processing of
agricultural residues
SUPRABIO – integrate novel intensified unit operations for the
production of 2nd gen. Biofuels, intermediates and high value
products
-> Those projects have now a common sustainability
assessment approach – for results see
http://www.suprabio.eu/klanten/supra/media/documente
n/Final_conference/1.1%20BIOCORE%20N%20Rettenmaie
r%20IFEU%20Sustainability%20public.pdf or via
www.suprabio.eu/events/final-conference/ .
EU-RTD_Project Results –EUROBIOREF,
BIOCORE & SUPRABIO
• Comprehensive & streamlined integrated sustainability assessment;
• Powerful decision support tool for ex-ante evaluation & optimisation
showing advantages & disadvantages;
• Need to consider the entire value chain including product portfolio &
optimum technical implementation, local environmental & social
impacts;
• Success of biorefineries are not only a question of successful
technologies.
EU-RTD-Project Results
• Common Methodologies for Sustainability
• ILCD – Handbook for LCA (2010) – JRC Activities.
• Information about sustainability: EU-Projects (until 2013)
 PROSUITE – PROspective SUstaInability Assessment of
Technologies & linked to LC-IMPACT - Life Cycle Impact
assessment Methods for imProved sustAinability Characterisation of
Technologies – Work Completed & Results Available!
 GLOBAL-BIO-PACT – Global Assessment of Biomass and
Bioproduct Impacts on Socio-economics and Sustainability
 “LCA to go” – Boosting LCA Use in European SME
PROSUITE – PROspective SUstaInability
Assessment of Technologies
Mandate Bio-Based Products – Timelines for WGs
Linking Activities for Bio-Based Products
• Resource-efficient Europe -
http://ec.europa.eu/resource-efficient-europe/
Flagship initiative under Europe 2020
EC Communication (COM/2011/0571): Roadmap to a Resource Efficient Europe,
published in September 2011
• Bio-economy -
http://ec.europa.eu/research/bioeconomy/press/press_packages/index_en.htm
EC Strategy and Action Plan "Innovating for Sustainable Growth: A Bioeconomy
for Europe” Launched March 2012; “Bio-observatory” by JRC in preparation.
• EIP Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/eip/index_en.htm
• EIP Water Efficiency http://ec.europa.eu/environment/water/innovationpartnership/index_en.htm
• CAP towards 2020 - http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/cap-post2013/communication/index_en.htm
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Horizon 2020 - http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020/index_en.cfm?pg=home&video=none
Packaging & Packaging Waste Dir. – Marine Litter (COM)
Waste Framework Directive – End-of-Waste-Criteria
Review of Bioenergy (on-going)
Industrial Policy Update - http://eurlex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2012:0582:FIN:EN:PDF
Main Industrial Policy Challenges
 Promote fair and non-discriminatory access for European industry to
bio-mass, by strictly applying the "cascading use principle" for the use
of biomass & entering into closer international cooperation.
 Support technological innovation to better use biomass as a feedstock
for value creation, by supporting PPPs under Horizon 2020 &
facilitating access to finance for large scale demonstrators.
 Promote the concept of the "circular economy", by facilitating the reuse of waste through standards & new business models that lead to
better material efficiency & sustainability.
 Stimulate the demand for bio-based products, by developing lists of
product groups & facilitating networking between public procurers.
On-going Activities & Discussions
 What is the growth potential of new "bio-based" products?
 How to further strengthen & apply the "cascading use principle"?
 Which role should European legislation/standardisation play to
promote bio-based products?
 How to better raise the awareness of public procurers for bio-based
products? - Why should preferential treatment be given to bio-based
products?
Thank you for your kind attention!