The forest-based bioeconomy sector is helping mitigate climate change, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil feedstock-based industries, and supporting integrated value chains across several different other EU industrial ecosystems.
These were some of the key messages emerging from a recent dinner that brought together leading MEPs, leaders from Europe’s paper industry, and researchers. The Strasbourg event was organised by Cepi, the European association that represents the pulp and paper industry.
The dinner was much more than a celebration of the significant impact already being achieved. It also provided an opportunity to set out an even more ambitious vision for the future, one shared by both policymakers and the paper industry, a key player in the transition to a circular bioeconomy.
Italian MEP Dario Nardella, who sits on the influential Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, was the host and one of the evening’s keynote speakers. He is in little doubt that the forest-based bioeconomy is already playing a critically important economic role.
This sector positions Europe as a leader in sustainable industrial practices while addressing some of the most pressing climate challenges of our time
Dario Nardella MEP
“This sector is a powerful engine for economic growth,” he told fellow MEPs and other invitees. “Representing 20% of our manufacturing companies and directly employing 4 million people, the forest-based bioeconomy is a cornerstone of the EU’s industrial landscape.”
MEP Nardella also predicted that the contribution of the sector will continue to increase as the European community transitions to a lower carbon future within the context of the EU Industrial Strategy. He told attendees that by 2030, the circular biomanufacturing market is forecast to grow by €7 trillion globally. By leveraging innovation and working collaboratively, that represents an exciting opportunity to deliver economic growth that benefits people and businesses across Europe.
“This is much more than just an industrial shift,” MEP Nardella explained. “It is an opportunity to create resilient jobs across Europe, especially in rural areas.”
MEP Nardella’s optimism is supported by industry data that demonstrates the positive climate impact the sector is delivering. Cepi figures indicate that the forest-based industry value chain, from forest to products, currently mitigates 806 million tonnes of CO₂-eq each year. That is equivalent to a staggering 20% of the EU’s fossil fuel emissions. The industry aims to increase that figure to 30% by 2030, making an even more substantial contribution to Europe’s transition to a low-carbon future.
Marco Eikelenboom, Cepi Chairman and CEO of Sappi Europe, is proud of his industry’s track record in the fight against climate change. He told attendees that in his view there is no tension between economic growth and the transition to a cleaner and more sustainable future.
“Policymakers, some present here today, and society as a whole have been clear,” Eikelenboom told dinner guests. “We need a change of paradigm. What’s good for the environment and people should be good for the economy and businesses.”
Shifting that paradigm and delivering on the ambitions of the sector requires collaboration between policymakers, businesses, and communities. However the prize on offer is substantial - a resilient, competitive, and sustainable future that will bring benefits to businesses and consumers right across Europe.
At the heart of delivering that vision will be innovation in biotech and biomanufacturing, where Europe’s forest-based industry is a global frontrunner. The sector is helping to establish Europe as a global leader in the approaches and technologies that are set to define its future, while helping it to deliver on the twin objectives of competitiveness and decarbonisation.
“In terms of sustainability and environmental responsibility, Europe is taking the lead,” Eikelenboom told attendees. “I think Europe is set to establish world standards for every other economic region.”
That global leadership role in innovation has only been made possible thanks to a series of close collaborations that exist between industry and researchers. Knowledge transfer from academics to industry has enabled cutting-edge research and development to be incorporated into the operating models of paper manufacturing businesses across the European Union.
Dr Asta Partanen is a senior expert at the German nova-Institute and an acknowledged authority in biobased materials and products. She told attendees that the forest-based bioeconomy can potentially play an important role in helping to devise materials and technologies for a future beyond fossil feedstocks.
On sustainability and environmental responsibility, Europe is set to establish world standards for every other economic region
Marco Eikelenboom, Cepi Chairman and CEO of Sappi Europe
“The circular economy needs everything,” Dr Partnanen explained, detailing the work of the nova-Institute. “Bio-based materials, CO2-based materials, and also recycling of fossil resources. Industry needs carbon, and that’s why we also have a renewable carbon initiative.”
In particular, Dr Partanen highlighted the role that a renewable and sustainable material like wood can potentially play in biorefineries. By utilising wood in biorefineries, Partanen explained, we can reduce reliance on fossil feedstocks, lower carbon emissions, and support a circular economy that will help combat climate change, while meeting the needs of society and customers.
“The industry is a rich source of innovation and smart thinking,” Eikelenboom told assembled guests. “Our materials are biodegradable, renewable, and recyclable. It’s not about creating new customer needs but rather satisfying existing ones with new, more sustainable bio-based materials.”
MEP Nardella believes the flexibility and dedication to continuous improvement, already shown by the industry, position it as a potentially vital driver of a cleaner and more prosperous future.
“This sector positions Europe as a leader in sustainable industrial practices while addressing some of the most pressing climate challenges of our time,” MEP Nardella explained. “The forest-based bioeconomy is a vital part of the EU’s Industrial Strategy, fostering innovation, creating jobs, and supporting the principles of the circular economy.”