Biorecer is driving the EU bioeconomy by strengthening its certification scheme for sustainability, cyclicality and traceability of biological resources, ensuring a greener, more transparent future.
The EU-funded Biorector (Biological Resource Accreditation Scheme) project enters its most important stage, highlighting the key role of stakeholder participation in shaping the future of the EU’s bioeconomics. of biological resources from waste to products (eg, bioplastics, fertilizers, dietary supplements).
As highlighted by the European Commission in the EU’s Competitiveness Compass, life science and biotechnology are crucial in fostering innovation across sectors such as agriculture, energy, food and medicine. The 2025-2026 EU Bioeconomic Strategy positions Europe at the forefront of the rapidly growing bioeconomic market, unlocking the possibilities of bio-based materials, biomanufacturing and agricultural biology.
However, the success of the transition to a bio-based economy depends on the acceptance of bio-based products of consumers and the adoption of robust certification standards by the bio-based industry. Current certification schemes need to be strengthened as they do not adequately meet the specific requirements of biological resources.
Biorecer tackles these challenges head-on by developing enhanced standards for certifying biological resources. These advances aim to ensure that certification schemes reflect the needs of stakeholders across the EU bioeconomics, from policymakers to consumers.
Unlocking the possibilities of biological resources
Biological residues and waste such as food waste, organic urban waste (water), by-products from forestry, agriculture and fisheries are often underutilized. These materials have great potential to replace fossil-based ingredients, but the lack of comprehensive certification schemes limits industrial applications. Biorectors are filling this gap by introducing new standards to support the courage of biological resources. These standards ensure transparency throughout the supply chain and increase both consumer trust and industry incorporation.
Certification plays an important role in ensuring that your product meets specific sustainability, cyclical, and traceability requirements. However, existing labels and certification schemes are primarily designed for traditional raw materials such as wood and do not completely address the complexity of bio-based products derived from waste. Biorector innovation aims to bridge this gap, allowing authentication schemes to adapt to the modern value chain, often with multiple intermediate processing procedures.
Important achievements of biolexer
Since its launch in September 2022, Biorector has achieved significant milestones, each contributing to a more sustainable and competitive bioeconomy.
Evaluating raw material flow in four case studies
Biorector conducted material flow analysis (MFA) in four major sectors: the company, forestry, agriculture, and municipality. These case studies highlighted that a significant amount of organic residues were not collected and remained underestimated, with only a small percentage entering the bio-based industry (e.g. Forestry: 3%, Urban Solid Waste (OFMSW) 2%, Sewage Sludge: 0.3%). By mapping raw material flows, the bioresser identified opportunities to optimize closed-loop processes and improve the circulating bio-based economy. Biorec ICT Tool (Bit)
At the heart of the project is Biorecer ICT Tools (BIT), a cutting-edge digital platform that improves traceability and environmental performance of bio-based value chains. The tool collects real-time data on the origin and properties of raw materials, calculates transport joint emissions, and allows stakeholders to make environmentally friendly decisions. This bit also helps companies assess compliance with the biorector framework. This is a set of principles and criteria that existing authentication schemes can use to complement assessments. Currently, Bit is in the final development stage and is greatly benefiting from stakeholder feedback. A free webinar is scheduled for 1:00pm to 14:00pm until April 8th, 2025 to showcase these and other innovative digital tools. This event offers a great opportunity to understand the future of digital technology in the biological economy. Learn more about Webinar. Click here to register for free.
Standardization Toolkit
Biorecer compiled a comprehensive standardization toolkit with 149 national and international standards (e.g., UNI, EN, and ISO standards) and 26 certification schemes (including key schemes such as ISCC) spanning various aspects of the bio-based sector, focusing on environmental economic strategies, environmental management, resizing, product use, and product comparisons. This resource will provide anyone interested in insights into practical best practices for the bio-based sector, promoting the adoption of sustainable circulation strategies across the bio-based sector.
Policy Recommendations
Using its material flow analysis and findings from case studies, Biorecer has developed a brief policy brief with practical recommendations for policy makers. These include setting clear sustainability targets, promoting the use of organic residues in bio-based products, and ensuring that adaptive authentication schemes are central to the greenwashing and enhancing consumer trust. It promotes the use of organic residues in EU bio-based products, particularly when organic residues cannot be reduced or avoided, and justifies use with safety standards when necessary. Clearly set quantitative sustainability goals and strategies for exploiting organic residues. If possible, clarify future bio-based requirements for the product and which of these requirements can be met by organic residues. An adapted certification scheme should be recognized as a central solution to avoid greenwashing and consumer deceptions and ensure corporate due diligence. Implementation of Mass Balance and Free Attribution (MBFA) in EU policies to promote transformation of the EU economy into a circular biological economy. Concise consumer information and awareness campaigns regarding bio-based products should be promoted.
The final policy brief, which incorporates additional insights, will be released in the summer of 2025.
Stakeholder Engagement: The Pillar of Biorector’s Success
The success of biorectors is deeply rooted in collaboration with stakeholders from across the bioeconomy. Biorecer’s Stakeholder Platform (BRSP) serves as a hub for engagement, enabling stakeholders to share their expertise, identify challenges, and provide feedback on project development. From workshops and webinars to group and research focus, stakeholder contributions have contributed to refinement of tools such as bits and strengthening authentication schemes.
The BRSP remains open for participation and invites stakeholders to influence future recommendations from policymakers and accredited bodies. Stakeholders can register at https://biorecer.eu/brsp/.
Looking ahead
Once the biorector enters the final stage, the focus of the project will be to integrate the findings into guidelines for certification schemes, including sustainability, origin and traceability criteria. These guidelines aim to ensure economic and environmental sustainability while converting biological residues, converting waste into valuable resources and driving the green transition in Europe.
For more information, please visit the project website
https://biorecer.eu, and check out the project video for a brief overview.
reference
The Biorecer Consortium is composed by the Fundacion Centro Gallego de Advictaciones del Agua Cetaqua and Centro Tecnologico del Agua. Universita Degli Studi di Roma Unitelma Sapienza; Brunel University London; University of Santiago de Compostela; Uni-Ente Italiano di Normazione; Rise Process AB; Asociacion Nacional Fabricantes de Conservacion Deproductions de la pesca (Anfaco-cecopesca); Politecnica Delle Marche University; Meo Carbon Solutions GmbH; Cap Holding Spa. Nova-Institut Fur Politische und Okologische Innovation Gmbh; Spring Sustainable Processes and Resources for Innovation and National Growth. Simple Global Market SAS (EGM); ethniko kentro erevnas kai technology anaptyxis (certh); Cittadinanzattiva (ACN); Betania Legio Sl. https://biorecer.eu/consortium/ com (2025) 30 final, communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, Council of Europe, Council, European Economic and Social Commission, and Regional Commission. Competitive Compass for EU https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/10017EB1-4722-4333-ADD2-E0ED18105A34_EN
Acknowledgments
Project Bioreka (No. 101060684) receives funding from the European Union.
However, the opinions and opinions expressed are solely by the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the European Union or European research enforcement agencies. Neither the European Union nor the permitting authority can be held liable for them.
This article is part of a communications activity carried out by Cittadinanzattiva/Active Citizenship Network in the context of a project bioreca (biological resource authentication scheme) funded by the EU with the support of the Innovation News Network.
For this special feature, the author would like to thank Jack Thomas of the Innovation News Network. Anke Schwarzenberger of Nova-Institut, responsible for Biorecer’s communications activities. Bioreca Project Coordinators, Setaqua’s Lucia Jimenagonzalez and Pedro Villanueva.
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Daniela Kuagya
Senior Project Manager at Cittadinanzattiva
Mariano Votta
I will be in charge of Cittadinanzattiva’s EU issues
Tigiana Toto
Responsible for Cittadinanzattiva’s consumer policy
This article will also be featured in the 21st edition of Quarterly Publication.
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