Abstract
Sustainable development is an integrated approach to tackle ongoing global challenges such as resource depletion, environmental degradation, and climate change. However, a paradigm shift from a fossil-based economy to a bio-based economy must accomplish the circularity principles in order to be sustainable as a solution. The exploration of new feedstock possibilities has potential to unlock the bio-based economy’s true potential, wherein a cascading approach would maximize value creation. Seaweed has distinctive chemical properties, a fast growth rate, and other promising benefits beyond its application as food, making it a suitable candidate to substitute fossil-based products. Economic and environmental aspects can make seaweed a lucrative business; however, seasonal variation, cultivation, harvesting, and product development challenges have yet not been considered. Therefore, a clear forward path is needed to consider all aspects, which would lead to the commercialization of financially viable seaweed-based bioproducts. In this article, seaweed’s capability and probable functionality to aid the bio-based economy are systematically discussed. The possible biorefinery approaches, along with its environmental and economic aspects of sustainability, are also dealt with. Ultimately, the developmental process, by-product promotion, financial assistance, and social acceptance approach are summarized, which is essential when considering seaweed-based products’ feasibility. Besides keeping feedstock and innovative technologies at the center of bio-economy transformation, it is imperative to follow sustainable-led management practices to meet sustainable development goals.
Highlights
Sustainable development is an integrated approach to tackle ongoing global challenges such as resource depletion, environmental degradation, and climate change
Focusing on reducing our dependency on the fossil-based economy and shifting toward a bio-based economy could help in tackling these situations, as well as for achieving sustainable development goals (SDG’s) [2]
The accomplishment of a bio-based economy is entirely dependent on the utilization of renewable resources, especially biomass, to produce multi-functional applications, including food, animal feed, bio-based materials, energy, and pharmaceuticals
Summary
A systematic review on seaweed functionality; Seaweed characteristics and potential value chains; The exploitation of quantitative and qualitative analysis seaweed value chain benefits; Summary of the “PBFS” approach, essential for considering seaweed-based products’.
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