The bioeconomy is a key strategic sector for both Europe and Finland, contributing to sustainable growth, innovation, and resilience. According to the EU’s Competitiveness Compass, bioeconomy and biotechnology are essential for closing the innovation gap, achieving climate neutrality, and reducing dependencies—making them central to Europe’s strategic autonomy and supply chain security. The forthcoming EU Bioeconomy Strategy will further emphasize circularity, promoting the efficient use of biological resources, high-value applications, and industrial symbiosis to strengthen competitiveness and environmental sustainability.
Defossilising Industry with Bio-based Materials
Accelerating the transition away from fossil-based materials is essential for achieving climate neutrality and industrial sustainability in Europe. One of the most promising pathways is the use of bio-based substitute materials derived from agricultural and woody biomass. According to a joint study by the Nova Institute, the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), and the Renewable Carbon Initiative (RCI), sustainably sourced biomass could cover at least 20% of the carbon demand of the chemicals and derived materials sector by 2050—up from just 5.5% in the EU in 2023. The study also highlights that technological innovation and policy support are critical to unlocking the full potential of biomass, enabling the chemical industry to defossilise while enhancing Europe’s strategic autonomy and competitiveness.
In Finland, the 4R ecosystem brings together a wide range of actors to co-develop circular economy solutions to the plastics challenge. By fostering collaboration across research, industry, and public sectors, 4R supports the creation of scalable innovations that reduce fossil dependency and promote sustainable material flows.
Accelerating Bio-based Innovation: From Consumer Needs to Scalable Products
To succeed in replacing fossil-based materials, bio-based alternatives must deliver performance in real-world conditions—functionality, durability, safety, cost-efficiency, and aesthetics. Crucially, consumer acceptance also depends on price: bio-based products must not significantly exceed the cost of current fossil-based options. This requires integrating behavioral insights, validating use cases, and aligning service models like collection and recycling from the outset. At the same time, we must shorten the route from process to product. Too many promising bioprocesses do not reach even pilot scale. Faster translation from lab to industrial scale is essential. This is not just a technical goal—it’s a strategic opportunity to unlock new investments into Finland’s bioeconomy. By aligning consumer relevance with technical scalability, Finland can position itself as a leading hub for circular, bio-based solutions that meet market demands and environmental goals.
While Finland has strong capabilities in bio-based innovation, not all parts of the value chain are always available domestically. However, this does not limit our potential. Finland can commercialize bioeconomy solutions through technology exports and by actively participating in European value chains. CLIC plays a key role in helping Finnish actors connect with cross-European consortia and joint projects, enabling scalable impact beyond national borders.
For more information
Aila Maijanen
Head of Bioeconomy, currently also Executive Officer for IBC Finland ry
Tel. +358 50 375 1182
aila.maijanen(at)clicinnovation.fi
