Europe’s Bioeconomy at a Turning Point: Survey Results

The EU Bioeconomy Strategy will help shape Europe’s industrial growth and climate leadership. Ahead of its publication, during our European Bioeconomy Conference, we asked you to share your vision:

Which ideas and priorities should guide Europe’s bioeconomy in the years ahead?

Discover the results of the survey!

1. From your perspective, what is the most pressing regulatory or market-related barrier the European Bioeconomy Strategy should address?

Respondents seek fair competition for bio-based materials, harmonised rules, reduced burdens, stronger market-pull measures, and incentives prioritising cascading wood use while keeping manufacturing and technological capacity in Europe.

2. How effective do you find current EU policies for promoting sustainable packaging (e.g., paperisation)?

EU policies support innovation but lack coherent implementation; inconsistent rules, burdensome requirements, and weak market incentives slow commercialisation despite strong progress in recyclable materials and bio-based alternatives.

3. Suggest a practical measure to improve access to raw bio-based materials, ensuring sustainable management of natural resources.

Different measures were listed among improving access by enforcing cascade-first rules, ending energy subsidies for quality biomass, boosting separate collection and sorting, promoting sustainable forestry, and strengthening economic incentives favouring recycled and bio-based feedstocks.

4. Beyond tissue paper, what other innovations could make Europe’s bioeconomy more human-centred, circular, or relevant from a societal standpoint?

Stronger industry engagement, enhancing public communication and replacing plastics with circular bio-based alternatives can make Europe’s bioeconomy more human-centred, trusted, and relevant to society’s environmental and everyday needs.