Development Goals, in most of the cases with a synergistic effect (Ronzon and
Sanjuán 2020).
Over time, the concept of bioeconomy has been growingly connected to that of
circular economy as one of its key elements (Patermann and Aguilar 2017; Koukios
et al. 2018). The circular economy concept relates to the idea that the economy
should rely more on the reuse of resources that are already in the system and less on
external raw materials. The connection with the bioeconomy is evident looking not
only at the strategic and policy agenda, but also at the practical fact that a large
number of technological solutions proposed for the bioeconomy actually target
waste and by-products reuse, hence aiming to contribute to circularity (Ronzon
and Sanjuán 2020).
Of the about 260 bioeconomy-related papers published in Scopus in the years
2018–2020, in the disciplines of economics, management and social sciences, about
40% also attach the issue of circularity to the bioeconomy. While it can be claimed
that circularity is inherently an issue for the bioeconomy, in reality the bioeconomy
does not imply circularity. The current literature highlights not only the variety and
ambiguity of the circularity concept, but also the relevance of obstacles and hindering factors its realisation is finding (Jarre et al. 2020). In addition, from an economic
point of view, it can be questioned that the higher possible level of circularity is an
objective per se, without properly considering costs and benefits of achieving
circularity.
In this context, the objective of this chapter is to discuss the concept of the
optimal level of circularity, how it can evolve over time and how it can be operationally used in decision-making about the bioeconomy. The main contribution of
the chapter rests on using simple economic analysis to frame the discussion of
circularity in economic terms, an issue poorly addressed by the literature up to
now. In the next section, we provide a representation of bioeconomy systems also
emphasising circularity. In Sect. 1.3, we analyse the issue of the optimal rate of
circularity. In Sect. 1.4, we discuss the limitations and research needs, followed by
concluding remarks in the last section.
1.2
Circularity in Bioeconomy Systems
Several graphical representations of the bioeconomy are available in the literature,
each highlighting different aspects (Wesseler and Von Braun 2017; OECD 2009).
Figure 1.1 sketches the main components of the bioeconomy and their relationships,
with a view on also making explicit the main circular components.
This representation of the bioeconomy emphasises biomass flows from
ecosystems to consumers. Part of this biomass is destroyed in the process and part
goes back to ecosystems, or to some of the previous steps of the process. Examples
include food wastes used in non-food systems (e.g. bioenergy) and biomass feeding
back agricultural soils.
There are different waste and by-products that can become usable as raw
materials. First, wastes and by-products can be used as such, without any
2
D. Viaggi
Sanjuán 2020).
Over time, the concept of bioeconomy has been growingly connected to that of
circular economy as one of its key elements (Patermann and Aguilar 2017; Koukios
et al. 2018). The circular economy concept relates to the idea that the economy
should rely more on the reuse of resources that are already in the system and less on
external raw materials. The connection with the bioeconomy is evident looking not
only at the strategic and policy agenda, but also at the practical fact that a large
number of technological solutions proposed for the bioeconomy actually target
waste and by-products reuse, hence aiming to contribute to circularity (Ronzon
and Sanjuán 2020).
Of the about 260 bioeconomy-related papers published in Scopus in the years
2018–2020, in the disciplines of economics, management and social sciences, about
40% also attach the issue of circularity to the bioeconomy. While it can be claimed
that circularity is inherently an issue for the bioeconomy, in reality the bioeconomy
does not imply circularity. The current literature highlights not only the variety and
ambiguity of the circularity concept, but also the relevance of obstacles and hindering factors its realisation is finding (Jarre et al. 2020). In addition, from an economic
point of view, it can be questioned that the higher possible level of circularity is an
objective per se, without properly considering costs and benefits of achieving
circularity.
In this context, the objective of this chapter is to discuss the concept of the
optimal level of circularity, how it can evolve over time and how it can be operationally used in decision-making about the bioeconomy. The main contribution of
the chapter rests on using simple economic analysis to frame the discussion of
circularity in economic terms, an issue poorly addressed by the literature up to
now. In the next section, we provide a representation of bioeconomy systems also
emphasising circularity. In Sect. 1.3, we analyse the issue of the optimal rate of
circularity. In Sect. 1.4, we discuss the limitations and research needs, followed by
concluding remarks in the last section.
1.2
Circularity in Bioeconomy Systems
Several graphical representations of the bioeconomy are available in the literature,
each highlighting different aspects (Wesseler and Von Braun 2017; OECD 2009).
Figure 1.1 sketches the main components of the bioeconomy and their relationships,
with a view on also making explicit the main circular components.
This representation of the bioeconomy emphasises biomass flows from
ecosystems to consumers. Part of this biomass is destroyed in the process and part
goes back to ecosystems, or to some of the previous steps of the process. Examples
include food wastes used in non-food systems (e.g. bioenergy) and biomass feeding
back agricultural soils.
There are different waste and by-products that can become usable as raw
materials. First, wastes and by-products can be used as such, without any
2
D. Viaggi