Forest-based solutions and innovations to promote the circular bioeconomy and sustainable carbon cycles
We fully support the EU objective to reach climate neutrality by 2050. The EU needs to recognise the role of the bioeconomy as a crucial part of the circular economy and the role of sustainable carbon cycles. A circular bioeconomy reduces resource depletion, waste generation and pollution,while promoting a more sustainable lifestyle. According to the analysts of AFRY*, the global market for wood-based products will potentially increase by EUR 175 billion by 2035. By becoming a pioneer in innovation activities,the EU could take full advantage of this growth.
POLICY ASKS
- Boost the EU’s economy by promoting market access for innovations and products from the bio-based economy.
- Fully recognise sustainably sourced renewable content and raw material as circular input in different product regulations.
- Focus on promoting renewable materials to help avoiding the use of fossil materials causing fossil emissions.
- Highlight the biorefinery concept and industrial ecosystems as a platform to promote the cascading use of biomass.
Ambitious climate policy by phasing down fossil emissions and replacing fossil raw materials via sustainable forest-based value chains
We have known for decades that we must phase down fossil emissions since they are the main cause of climate change. Finnish forest industry companies have dramatically reduced their GHG-emissions, fully aware that even the remaining low levels of emissions must be cut. Capturing bio-based carbon can create a whole new platform to produce fuels, chemicals, and materials from a sustainable carbon source, and reduce the EU’s dependence on fossil raw materials.
POLICY ASKS
- Keep bio-based and fossil emissions separate in reporting and targets. Carbon removals based on capturing of biogenic CO2 should be reported under LULUCF.
- Maintain carbon neutrality of CO2 originating from sustainably grown biomass.
- Encourage operators to take voluntary actions to capture bio-based CO2 as it has an essential role for the development of the hydrogen economy and P2X.
- Support, but not mandate, capturing of bio-based CO2 (due to uncertainties such as technology, finance, infrastructure, availability of electricity and hydrogen).
