Sustainability assessments of bio-based products: From research to practice (and standards)

Abstract

The transition from a linear, fossil-based economy to a circular, bio-based economy is needed in order to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. However, it is important to ensure that the bio-based economy delivers the expected environmental and social impacts, by respecting and implementing sustainability principles. One effective way to reduce uncertainty regarding bio-based product properties and benefits is through the use of sustainability standards, certification schemes, and ecolabels. These measures can play a significant role in advancing the transition to a sustainable, circular bio-based economy. They provide a solid foundation for assessing sustainability of “green” products and initiatives and contribute greatly to building trust in products among consumers, providing a reliable framework for evaluation. To measure the sustainability of bio-based products, several robust and reliable tools are under development, gathering evidence from research and collaborative efforts of several European projects – including STAR-ProBio, which is the focus of the current paper and which resulted in the development of a pre-standard. The application of these tools represents a path alternative to the more treaded one of mandates issuing from government, bringing to the fore the idea of first convening to build consensus and bringing about the participation that is crucial for every sector, which then helps in the development of standards that will be effective and will be observed. In this paper, we report on the main achievements of the STAR-ProBio project to date and reflect on their societal impacts.