Renewable Carbon in Industry 4.0: Toward the Sustainable Bioeconomy

The concept of renewable carbon and its relevance in the context of sustainable economy and mitigation of environmental impacts caused by fossil fuel usage is essential. Carbon is a versatile chemical element, present in various molecules and widely utilized in the industry for fuel production, chemicals, polymer materials, energy, and others. However, the use of fossil carbon is limited and has adverse environmental impacts, such as the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) responsible for global warming. In pursuit of alternatives, the concept of renewable carbon gains prominence, referring to resources that can be regenerated through the carbon cycle, such as CO2 and methane from natural or anthropogenic sources. Renewable carbon sources include microalgae biomass, lignocellulosic residues, the pulp and paper industry, as well as fruit and vegetable processing waste. The production of biofuels and high-value products from these sources forms the foundation of sustainable bioeconomy, which seeks to employ advanced technologies for efficient and circular utilization of natural resources. Sustainable bioeconomy is crucial to address the challenges posed by the growing global population and to ensure environmental preservation. Combining agricultural and forest biomass is a promising strategy to meet the demand for raw materials and expand clean energy and bioproducts production. However, the implementation of biorefineries and other renewable carbon technologies still faces challenges, such as the lack of detailed technical–economic assessments and adequate life cycle analyses.