Exploring the Nexus Between Bioeconomy and Sustainability: Towards a Sustainable and Circular Bioeconomy Enabled by Innovation

Bioeconomy is currently perceived by scientists and policymakers as a solution to reduce human dependence on fossil resources by using biomass as an alternative energy and material input. Although bio-based economies are not new, the concept of the bioeconomy has considerably evolved over the last decades. It has become a technology-driven economic paradigm expected to bring substantial benefits to people and the environment thanks to the potential of technological innovations to eliminate or mitigate some of the negative impacts caused by fossil resources. However, despite the considerable potential that several bio-based innovations are bringing to the market, the level of sustainability of the current and future state of the bioeconomy is uncertain, and the side effects during and after its implementation are often underestimated. This is especially relevant for the early stages of the value chain when biomass is produced and pre-treated. In this context, the chapter examines the nexus between sustainability and bioeconomy and analyses how the sustainable development framework has reshaped the understanding and purpose of such an economic paradigm. It explores the bioeconomy evolution as a concept and investigates how the circular economy, chemistry, biotechnology, and Power-to-X processes could support the transition towards the ‘sustainable and circular bioeconomy’.