BIOKET

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Sustainability initiatives were at the heart of WeLOOP's focus during the BIOKET 2024 conference, held in Reims, France, in March 2024.

BIOKET, the global conference focused on processes, innovation, and technologies applied to biomass, is a leading event that fosters innovation and collaboration in the field of key enabling technologies for the bioeconomy. This year's conference centred on harnessing the power of biomass—renewable organic materials—to create high-value products across various sectors.

The growing importance of bio-based products and new technologies cannot be overstated. As we strive to achieve climate neutrality and meet the United Nations' sustainable development goals, the bioeconomy presents a critical pathway. By efficiently utilising biomass resources, we can reduce reliance on fossil fuels, minimise waste, and foster a more circular economy. While the potential to replace fossil fuels with bio-based products is undeniable, several key areas still require further development.

It was particularly interesting to see how the discussions were connected to the Horizon Europe projects in which WeLOOP is involved: the CALIMERO project and the recently launched Bio4HUMAN project.

CALIMERO

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CALIMERO (Industry CAse studies anaLysis to IMprove EnviROnmental performance and sustainability of bio-based industrial processes) aims to enhance current life cycle assessment methodologies for bio-based industries. The project's objectives are as follows:

Identify the main challenges associated with applying life cycle analysis in bio-based industries by examining specific case studies.

Develop a shared framework to enhance life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) for bio-based industries, incorporating aspects such as regional impacts, circularity, and social impacts.

Develop applicable solutions to enhance the sustainability of bio-based industrial processes through a multi-objective framework.

Share the enhanced LCSA framework for bio-based processes or products with industry, policymakers, and the public.

The opening speeches at the BIOKET conference strongly resonated with the CALIMERO project's objective: addressing the limitations of current life cycle assessment (LCA) methodologies. Speakers highlighted that existing LCA data often favour fossil-based products due to their long-standing optimisation and the maturity of their processes, making it challenging to account for biogenic carbon using current methodologies. This creates an uneven playing field for bio-based alternatives. The CALIMERO project’s efforts to identify gaps in the PEF framework and highlight sustainability hotspots directly tackle this issue. By enhancing LCA methodologies for bio-based industries, we can ensure a fairer and more accurate evaluation of their environmental impact.

WeLOOP plays a leading role in this project within Work Package 1, focused on the challenges related to bio-based industries. Here, WeLOOP and the CALIMERO project partners are responsible for:

• Identifying and analysing the environmental impacts of five key bio-based sectors: construction, woodworking, textiles, pulp and paper, and biochemicals.
• Identifying hotspots and gaps in sustainability within current industrial processes.
• Understanding the challenges and opportunities related to sustainability assessment for bio-based industries.
• Identifying the missing elements in the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) framework that need improvement for bio-based industries.

By identifying and addressing these aspects, the CALIMERO project aims to establish a more comprehensive framework for bio-based industries to enhance their sustainability and environmental performance.

BIO4HUMAN

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Bio4HUMAN (Bio-based solutions for Solid Waste Management in Humanitarian Settings) focuses on identifying and promoting bio-based solutions for solid waste management in humanitarian contexts. Bio4HUMAN brings together humanitarian aid organisations and the bio-based products industry to explore innovative solutions to tackle the challenges of waste management in humanitarian settings, particularly in Africa. The project's objectives are as follows:

Identify bio-based solutions that can be applied in humanitarian contexts.

Evaluate the sustainability performance and circularity of these solutions through life cycle assessment.

Evaluate the socio-economic and governance aspects of the proposed solutions.

Develop guidelines and recommendations for implementing these solutions in various humanitarian contexts.

The speakers at BIOKET emphasised the importance of combining life cycle environmental assessments with other evaluation methods to obtain a comprehensive and holistic perspective. This integrated approach, exemplified by projects like Bio4HUMAN, ensures that bio-based products are not only environmentally friendly but also economically viable and socially acceptable. This holistic approach helps combat greenwashing and ensures that bio-based solutions provide genuine, long-term benefits for local communities. Ultimately, the success of bio-based materials hinges on their intrinsic competitiveness in the market.

WeLOOP plays a crucial role in the project by leading the life cycle assessment of promising bio-based solutions and contributing to the analysis of socio-economic and governance aspects. Specifically, WeLOOP and the project partners are responsible for:

• Analysing the hotspots of current and innovative solutions in humanitarian contexts.
• Identifying the best innovative solutions available based on environmental LCA.
• Evaluating socio-economic aspects through social life cycle assessment (S-LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC).

By fostering collaboration across various sectors, Bio4HUMAN aims to contribute to more sustainable and efficient waste management solutions in humanitarian settings.

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The WeLOOP team is honoured to be part of two innovative Horizon Europe projects focused on waste management and biomaterials. Participating in BIOKET 2024 was an excellent opportunity to connect with renowned academics, businesses, and policymakers who share our commitment to building a sustainable future.