Small-scale biorefining solutions for circular bioeconomy

Bio-refining enables sustainable conversion of biomass into marketable products, closing material, water, and carbon cycles within the circular bioeconomy. Based on the IEA Bioenergy Task 42 classification, it includes biochemical (fermentation, anaerobic digestion), chemical, thermochemical, and mechanical processes. EU leaders Finland, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Italy deploy biorefineries primarily using secondary biomass—such as agricultural and forestry residues, microbial biomass, and recycled bio-based materials—alongside primary sources like aquatic biomass and specialty crops. Upgrading existing facilities through bottom-up pathways enhances efficiency. The image, funded by the European Union and produced by the BioRural Consortium in 2022, illustrates feedstock-to-product flows, highlighting applications in food, feed, energy, and materials.