EU Releases New Bioeconomy Strategic Framework

Anchoring on the dual core of "competitiveness + sustainability"

On November 27, the European Commission officially released its new bioeconomy strategic framework. The strategy centers on the dual pillars of competitiveness and sustainability, aiming to accelerate the circular economy and decarbonization transition while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels. It also identifies ten key application areas for bio-based materials and technologies, covering end products such as plastics, textiles, and chemicals, as well as critical technological directions including biorefining, advanced fermentation, and permanent bio-carbon storage.

The European Commission emphasized that the bioeconomy is central to enhancing Europe's economic resilience and replacing fossil-based products, supporting 17.1 million jobs while helping the region seize global leadership in clean industries. In 2023, the EU bioeconomy reached a scale of 2.7 trillion euros, with applications continuously expanding: algal-based biochemicals are widely used in pharmaceuticals and consumer goods, bio-based plastics are increasingly replacing traditional materials in packaging and automotive parts, and demand for bio-based construction materials and textile fibers continues to rise steadily.

"From everyday consumer goods to industrial manufacturing, the scaling potential of the bioeconomy is everywhere," said EU Environment Commissioner Jutta Paulus, adding that the strategy will achieve triple goals of enhanced resilience, stronger competitiveness, and ecological protection, ensuring natural ecosystems remain the foundation of economic development.

To unlock this potential, the EU has established a three-dimensional implementation system combining regulation, funding, and market mechanisms: on the regulatory front, it will create a simplified and harmonized institutional framework to incentivize sustainable business models under safety guarantees; on funding, it will direct EU budgetary support toward bio-based technologies and establish an investment deployment task force to attract private capital through project pipelines and shared risk mechanisms; on the market side, legislation will set demand targets, and the "European Bio-based Alliance" will be formed to drive collective corporate procurement of 10 billion euros worth of bio-based solutions by 2030. The new strategy also stresses ecological compliance in biomass sourcing, strictly respecting the carrying capacity limits of resources such as forests and soil.

Industry players have responded positively, albeit with expectations. The European Chemical Industry Council acknowledged the sector's pivotal role, with Director General Marco Mensink calling for action from vision, urging dedicated legal frameworks, clear production and supply planning, and market premium mechanisms for low-carbon products. Ricardo Gent, Managing Director of the German Biotechnology Industry Association, warned that Europe urgently needs stronger policy guidance to make the proposed EU Biotechnology Act a turning point for the industry, accelerating commercialization of innovations and securing long-term competitiveness.