EU Bioeconomy Strategy
Summary
The EU Bioeconomy Strategy combines regulatory, investment and market actions to support sustainable and circular bio-based activity. The Commission plans work on biotechnology, construction-product standards, biomass monitoring, bio-based plastics, public procurement, biogas and biomethane, and industrial symbiosis. It will also establish forums and investment arrangements, support blue-bioeconomy innovation, provide practical guidance for land managers, and pursue international cooperation, stakeholder dialogue and EU-wide monitoring.
Action items
Adopt Biotech Acts 2025 3Q 2026
Establish a European Bioeconomy Regulators and Innovators’ Forum 1Q2026
Adopt standardisation requests for doors & windows, structural timber products/elements and ancillaries, wood-based panels and elements, thermal insulation products under the Construction Products Regulation 2026
Support co-operation of primary producers to drive joint investments in innovative bio-based value chains through CAP investment support, sectoral interventions and the European Innovation Partnership 2026
Launch of a European Bioeconomy Investment Deployment Group 2026-2028
Review the current CBE JU partnership arrangement, and identify the most effective and impactful future collaboration options under the next Multi- Annual Financial Framework 2026-2028
Ensure that sustainable biomanufacturing and other bio-based economic activities are appropriately recognised in the upcoming revisions of the EU Taxonomy Delegated Acts 2026-2028
Revise the Recommendation on the use of Environmental Footprint (EF) methods and provision of data 4Q2026
Analysis and exchange of best practices on cascading use with a community of practitioners within the EC Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy 2026-2027
The Energy Union package for the decade ahead will take into account the experience gained by the implementation of the RED Directive including its sustainability and greenhouse gas emissions saving criteria, and technological developments in energy from renewable sources. 2026
Publish a report, in line with Article 3(3) RED, on the impact of Member States’ support schemes for biomass, including on biodiversity, climate and the environment, and on possible market distortions. 2027
Adoption of criteria and targets for bio-based plastics under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation 2027
ESPR delegated acts on eco-design requirements for textiles and furniture, as announced in the first ESPR working plan 2027-2028
Continue standardisation work for bio-based construction products under the Construction Products Regulation 2026
Support the development of industrial symbiosis valleys and bioeconomy hubs As of 2026
Launch the Competitiveness Coordination Tool including voluntary ‘Bio-based Europe’ Alliance Q2026
Certification methodology for long-lasting carbon storage in buildings under the Carbon Removals and Carbon Farming (CRCF) Regulation 2026
Improve green public procurement requirements and create lead markets for bio-based materials and clean strategic technologies through the revision of the EU public procurement legislation Rolling
Exchange good practices for local circular uses of animal by-products supported under the CAP network 2027
Support biogas and biomethane production valorising bio-waste and residues and enabling the use of the co-produced digestate as bio based fertilising products through a tripartite agreement 2026
Assess best bioeconomy practices and innovations to increase nitrogen use efficiencies in bioeconomy systems and value networks as of 2026
Issue guidance on circular business models 2027
Improve data and modelling for monitoring biomass availability (relying on the Commission’s Knowledge Centre for Bioeconomy) As of 2026
Launch of the blue bioeconomy innovation initiative and related Horizon Europe funding 2026-2027
Incentivise data-driven approaches to the development of a sustainable bioeconomy: integration of Earth Observation (EO) data to monitor sustainable biomass availability and related land-use changes and biodiversity concerns. 2027
Develop an EU-wide repository of knowledge with practical, locally adapted guidance to support farmers, foresters, and land managers in improving biomass productivity, resilience to extreme weather, and the delivery of ecosystem services, including under the Mission Soil By 2030
Use the EU free trade agreements and other partnerships and international fora to advance cooperation on expanding market access for sustainable bioeconomy solutions. Identify and address regulatory and technical trade barriers to support investment in bio-based sectors Rolling
Work with selected partner countries to promote European innovation and build strategic partnerships and facilitate investments, including through Clean Trade and Investment Partnerships and Global Gateway. 2026-27
Advance global cooperation and streamline global governance on sustainable and circular bioeconomy, Rolling
EU bioeconomy dialogues with Member States on the implementation of the EU bioeconomy strategy, mobilisation of the Circular Economy and Bioeconomy Stakeholder Platforms, the European Board for Agriculture and Food (EBAF) and EU Bioeconomy Youth Ambassadors Programme. As of Q12026
Monitoring of the EU bioeconomy through the EU Bioeconomy Monitoring System economic and environmental aspects. As of 2026