BBI JU supports major investment in circular economy

The Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (BBI JU) has announced €120m in new investment for ten circular bioeconomy projects through Horizon 2020.

The European Commission is releasing €50m of EU public money via the BBI JU leveraging, and €70m of investments from industry into projects aimed at boosting the EU capacity to stimulate growth and jobs via a more circular, low carbon and sustainable bioeconomy.

Seven of the funded research projects will tackle specific value chain challenges such as sustainability, technology and competitiveness. In addition, the two demonstration projects will determine the technological and economic viability of biorefinery systems and processes for making chemicals from wood, and for making high value products for detergents, personal care, paints and coatings and composites from sugar beet pulp.

Commenting, Marcel Wubbolts, chairman of the BBI consortium, and chief technology officer of Royal DSM, said: “We celebrate the translation of the vision of the BBI Consortium into concrete projects that will help Europe develop a future economic model that is fully sustainable. The bioeconomy is global and these investments ensure that Europe remains a sustainable, competitive and innovative region.”

Adding his thoughts, Dirk Carrez, executive director of the BBI consortium said: “No doubt that the BBI, and the bioeconomy in general, will play an important role in the Juncker Investment Plan and in enabling the European circular economy.”

The BBI is a €3.7bn public private partnership that was officially launched in July 2014. Driven by a unique cross-sector industry grouping, the BBI focuses on using Europe’s biomass and biowastes to make high value products and bring them to market.