Forest-based solutions and innovations to promote the circular bioeconomy and sustainable carbon cycles

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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.

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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

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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.

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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).

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