Summary
Meeting RRM-Group 2 April 2014
at the premises of EU Commission, DG Enterprise and
Industry in Brussels
Before starting the agenda the chairman highlighted the priority works of this group,
contributing on economic market data and available biomass flow data for industrial
use, intermediates and bio-based products to the activities of the EU Bioeconomy
Observatory together with other stakeholders, e.g., Nova Institute, Cefic and
EuropaBio.
To identify and define sustainable biomass as well as bio-based products different
aspects needs to be taken into account. Standardisation, certification and labelling will
play an important role for the RRM-Group, since experts of the RRM-Group are being
also members of the different CEN TC 411 ‘Bio-Based Products’ Working Groups and
the Commission Expert Group on Bio-Based Products .
All parties are successfully cooperating with each other. A direct link between
standardisation and public procurement activities in the area of bio-based products is
essential allowing, for example, the passing of information on the nomenclature of biobased products for possible criteria drafting in public procurement.
The above principles were followed in this RRM-Group meeting agenda that was
agreed with DG Enterprise as well.
1.
Collection and Evaluation of Economic Market Data
1.1
Actualised ERRMA Template
Following the concept of the value chain, starting from biomass origin and its
subsequent flow to intermediates, platform chemicals and bio-based products, Dr.
Busch explained the structure of this template. Thanks to the contribution of, e.g., AAF,
Fediol, CEFS and different CEFIC sector groups a number of aggregated data
contributions were received, discussed and integrated. This successful process is seen
as an important step forward in obtaining a better grip of the biomass flow situation and
market development of bio-based products forming a priority activity area in the
European Industrial Policy and a substantial update of the results presented at the last
RRM-Group meeting in November 2013.
The template will be further updated and will be posted on the ERRMA-website
together with this meeting summary and all presentation as usual (time period
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May/June 2014).There was consensus that this will continue to be a dynamic approach
and will be progressing also in the future.
1.2 Quantification of Renewable Raw Materials (RRMs) used by the EU
Chemical Industry
Based on studies from FNR, VCI and CEFIC Members, the quantitative structure of raw
materials used in the European chemical industry, the RRMs input to the organic
chemicals sector of this industry and the quantitative use of RRMs in different
applications by the chemical industry was discussed and further explained. The use of
RRMs by the European Chemical Industry covers about 9% based on the total
available organic resources (including naphta, natural gas,, coal)The presentation is
available on the ERRMA website.
1.3
Summary of the Report of the Nova-Institute on the Biomass Flow
The results presented included the overall biomass flow especially related to the
industrial materials use of biomass for the manufacturing of high value added products
including bio-based products. This also included different applications beyond chemical
industry, the impacts on economy and ecology as well as the technical–economic,
social and environmental evaluation of biorefineries and other bio-based products
based on the results recently becoming available from different EU-Research Projects
including the EU-SUPRABIO, BIOCORE and EUROBIOREF (see
http://www.suprabio.eu/events/final-conference/ )-Projects as well as various market
studies on bio-based comoposits.
This very comprehensive study included European and worldwide data. The
information is available from the Nova-Institute on request as well as via its web-site
(see http://www.nova-institut.de/bio/?lng=en ).
2.
Status of the EU Bioeconomy Observatory
Based on the 2013 DGJRC Report (see also ERRMA link of the RRM-Group meeting
13 November 2013) the timelines of the set-up of the bioeconomy observatory were
highlighted as follows:
Duration: Starting 2013 until 2015 and beyond. Dissemination of the bioeconomy
observatory website is foreseen for the second quarter 2014 (test phase) until
September 2014 (online). This web-site is expected to provide information on industry
statistics, market studies, research projects and policy recommendations. The
information sources include EU Commission, Member States, industry and other
stakeholders. Contributions of the RRM-Group and other organisations are welcome.
The presentation on this agenda item is available on the ERRMA website.
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Thematic Issues:
“Bio-based Industry Survey”
The objectives of this survey of the bio-based industry are as follows:
General Objectives:
 Description of the current status and evolution of the EU bio-based industry.
Specific Objectives:
 Analyse business activity in the EU bio-based industries;
 Share of biomass (input) in the bio-based products (output);
 Drivers and constrains affecting the development of bio-based products;
 Impact of EU bio-based industry on the EU economy;
 Performance of the bio-based in comparison to. fossil-based products;
 Quantitative/qualitative comparison of the EU bio-based industry with key EU
competitor countries.
The list of bio-based products subject of the study include:
 Chemical Building Block Substances;
 Polymers;
 Paints & lacquers & coatings;
 Lubricants;
 Surfactants;
 Enzymes;
 Materials and composites;
 Insulation materials;
 “Phase Change Materials”.
The presentation on this topic can be downloaded from the ERRMA website.
3.
Results of the last meeting of the Commission Expert Group on Bio-Based
Products
The objective of the Commission Expert Group for Bio-based Products is to issue an
interim report after two years on the state of play concerning the implementation of the
Lead Market Initiative (LMI) priority recommendations in the framework of the reviewed
industrial policy including information on biomass supply, standardisation activities,
public procurement, and awareness raising.
So far two sub-groups have been proposed by DG ENTR one on “Public Procurement”
(coordinators: Ana Maria Bravo and Harmen Willemse) and one on “Awareness
Raising” (coordinators: Daniele Colombo and Christine Stiehl). Members have been
recruited from the Expert Group. The group coordinators are required to ensure the
consistency of the activities of the working group with the objectives and guidance
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given by the Expert Group.
4.
Bio-Based Products and Public Procurement
The results and consequences of the Krakow Conference held on the 14 and 15
November 2013 were judged by DG Enterprise successful, since the industry
representative could demonstrate the importance of the available standardisation
documents from different CEN TCs and CEN TC 411 Working Groups (WGs) for public
procurement (example: bio-based and biodegradable plastics for food and catering
services for large public events in regions in Italy.
The details can be found in different presentations that are available for downloading
on the ERRMA website.
DG Research and Innovation reported on the Horizon 2020 call topic Number “ISIB 7
2014: Public procurement networks for innovative based products” as follows:
The specific challenge:
By introducing requirements for sustainability in tender specifications, the demand from
public authorities could significantly increase the market for bio-based products and
drive technological innovation in this area.
Scope:
Coordination and support activities aim at investigating the feasibility and the
preparation Innovation in Public Procurement in the area of bio-based products and
related services. The specific aim is boosting the knowledge and application of biobased products. Improving skills of public actors related to bio-based products and
increasing awareness of bio-based products and their potential capabilities building
upon the completed LMI activities and contributing to also Green Public Procurement
activities.
There was consensus amongst RRM-Group Members that the activities in Italy will fit
well into such activities.
The presentation of DG Research and Innovation can be downloaded from the ERRMA
website.
5.
Progress on Sustainability Indicators and Assessments for Bio-Based
Products:
The NEN secretary of CEN TC 411 reported on its activities on
nomenclature/vocabulary, methods and techniques for the determination of the biobased content of products, sustainability indicators including assessment approach,
LCA and certification schemes. These activities are essential allowing for harmonised
approaches for the determination of sustainability and certification of biomass and biobased products. The presentation of CEN TC 411, WG 4 and WG 5 reported at the
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last RRM meeting in November 2013 can also to be downloaded from the ERRMA
web-site like the one presented at this meeting.
6.
“Sustainable Supply of Raw Materials for the Industrial Use of Biomass”;
Conference of FNR / BMEL on the 3 April 2014 in Brussels
The initiative of the German Ministry of Agriculture/FNR covers sustainability
requirements for the industrial, food- and feed based use of biomass building upon the
activities of the EU Renewable Energy Directive (RED) taking into account the specific
needs of industry (e.g. food, feed and chemical industry) and closing this existing gap
by an Industry Self-Commitment instead of setting up a specific regulation. The
coherence with CEN activities (see agenda 5) is seen as being essential. In that sense
a presentation of CEN will also be performed at this conference. The presentation of
FNR on this agenda item can be downloaded from the ERRMA website.
7.
Communication on the European Industrial Renaissance Bio-Based Products and Availability of Raw Materials
The bioeconomy strategy and its action plan aim to 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. Research and innovation agendas in bioeconomy sectors
contribute to a more coherent policy environment. The aim is to find synergies and
respect complementarities with other policy areas such as the CAP, environmental,
industrial, employment combined with energy and health policies. Bio-based products
form one of the different priority topics.
The policy context is summarized as follows:
 Granting access to sustainable raw materials at world market prices. 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
(e.g. energy).
 Ensuring access to biomass for different purposes to enable efficient application via
the application of the cascade use principle for biomass.
The institutional operational structures include:
 Bio-economy Panel: high level Industry Stakeholders;
 Bio-economy Commission: Internal EU Inter-Service Group;
 Bio-economy Observatory performed by the JRC in cooperation with the RRMGroup and other stakeholders
 Renewable Raw Materials (RRM) Group: (Industry & MS-Agencies);
 Commission Expert Group for Bio-based Products.
All these groups are cooperating closely with each other enabling coherent policy
activities.
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The presentation is available for downloading from the ERRMA website.
8.
Study on Wood Raw Material Supply and Impact for the EU-Wood
Processing Industry
The EU Forest-Based Industry Strategy 2014-20 addresses the following aspects:
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To stimulate growth;
To save EU resource & energy efficiency objectives;
To determine raw materials, their sources and their flows;
Logistics (wood harvesting, infrastructures & transport);
Structural adaptation;
Innovation & RTD;
Education, training & skills;
Coherence of EU legislation and costs arising;
Implementation of EU climate policy, including beyond 2020;
International competition, trade and co-operation;
Information, communications and image.
Main recommendations of the study on wood raw material supply and impact for the
EU-Wood Processing Industry y include:
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On the supply side: Domestic EU wood supply can be addressed through:
• better motivation and organisation;
• better forest and public infrastructures – improving recovered paper
quality.
On the demand side: Encouraging sustainable building at EU and Member State
levels improving markets for wooden building products and bioenergy generation
from woody biomass. This use must be efficient, to reduce pressure on wood
supplies and prices. Combined heat and power should be prioritised.
It is important to integrate the Lead Market Initiative recommendations into the forest
policy to increase the bio-based products market.
The presentation is available for downloading from covered in the ERRMA website
9.
PROSUITE: “Biorefineries and organic waste management
– Final Sustainable Assessment”
The new approach developed by the EU-PROSUITE Project (see
http://www.prosuite.org/web/guest/prosuite-decision-support-systemdss;jsessionid=8D6478B756FAE443C0E2FCCB659620EA) and tested in different
case studies (see http://www.prosuite.org/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=5b77acb593d5-466f-9a67-3dd136a0a388&groupId=12772 or via
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http://www.prosuite.org/web/guest/project-casestudies;jsessionid=8D6478B756FAE443C0E2FCCB659620EA ) covering social,
economic and environmental aspects integrated five impact categories:
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Impact on natural environment;
Impact on exhaustible resources;
Impact on human health;
Impact on social well-being;
Impact on prosperity.
The presentation is available for downloading from covered in the ERRMA website.
An intensive cooperation and coordination between EU-PROSUITE-Project and the
CEN activities will be executed building also in the Standardisation Mandate.
10. Workshop on “Cross-Sectorial and Cross-border cooperation of Clusters in
Support of Green Chemical Industries” on 27. March 2014 in Brussels
The role of clusters was highlighted and will contribute to solve chemical industries
position being under strong competitive pressure. A stronger industrialisation of EU
industries is needed where bio-based chemicals can play an important role. In so far
regional clusters play a relevant role related to bio-based chemicals and EU
industrialisation.
Four principle aims are envisaged:
 The 20% GDP target for European Manufacturing is quite ambitious;
 Clusters will not replace a product by others but to create new industries;
 New value chains elaborated in the clusters in the field of bio-based industries are
requested;
 The integration must be reinforced along the value chain.
Clusters related to bio-based chemicals are aiming at:
 Work to attract new emerging industries in the field of greener chemicals;
 Work for cross sectorial and cross border relations with other clusters;
 Contribute to a structural change in the chemicals industry;
 Collaborate in cooperation platforms such as the ECCP, INTERREG projects
The conclusions of this workshop include:
 Green chemical industries are already created and will better grow around cross
sectorial clusters;
 Access to biomass and logistics can have different models (example
Champagne/Picardie – Sachsen-Anhalt or the customs of the Delta region);
 Access to finance can be favored through participation in clusters;
 Clusters bring together companies (feedstock-upstream and clients-downstream).
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It was agreed that such regional aspects will become more and more important for
cross border and cross sectorial cooperation allowing for an improved industrial
competitiveness towards third countries.
11. Date next meeting 2014
The date of the next RRM-Group meeting is scheduled for the 13 November 2014 at
the premises of DG Enterprise in Brussels.
16. May 2014