“Assessing the availability of bio-based materials in product design” was presented by Vanessa Bach from TU Berlin [3]. The use of bio-based materials can be
considered as a key strategy in eco-design approach, also contributing to circular
economy at some points. However, several socio-economic factors induced by
market conditions or disrupting political structures within society can constrain
their availability. The presented work proposed a method for assessing bio-based
materials availability constraints, aiming at supporting eco-design strategies. The
method considers five main sources of constrains (environmental, socio-economic
and physical constraints to plants growth), over the materials supply chain, and
results in a set of availability indicators. For this study, the indicators were applied
to energy-related products, such as production of biodiesel from rapeseed and soy
beans, and showed that the indicators seem appropriate and that interpretation leads
to meaningful conclusions while methodological robustness of some indicators
could be refined.
The fourth presentation dealt with “Integrated market orientation in technical R&D
processes—opportunities and challenges for environmentally friendly bio-based
resins” by Miriam Lettner from K Plus, Austria [4]. The use of lignin, an
under-utilized by-product from the pulp and paper industry, has the potential to be
used as a valuable source for sustainable bio-based products. The market assessment
of emerging lignin products aims at support R&D process by providing information
on challenges and opportunities for such products at early design stage. Based on the
Smartli H2020 project outcomes and a case study performed with Delphi, it was
shown that the life cycle thinking integrated technical R&D processes based on the
involvement of stakeholders and on a multi-perspective assessment (economic,
environmental and technological) of newly developed products are highly valuable to
face the barriers and incentives for the product market diffusion.
Sebastian Sperling, Institute for Bioplastics and Bio-composites, University of
Hannover, gave the presentation “The sustainability of bio-based plastics—quantifying environmental and socio-economic aspects of a computer mouse for a circular
economy” [5]. Through the presentation of the environmental and socio-economic
impacts of a bio-based plastic housing of a computer mouse, the importance of
sourcing bio-based plastics and the associated social aspects in different countries was
revealed, despite the fact that these socio-economic aspects are often neglected and the
availability of such information is limited. An important conclusion is that a joint
guideline for bio-based plastic and fossil-based plastics is needed to reduce the
methodological gaps existing for the assessment for such materials.
3 Messages and Outcomes of the Session
The messages and outcomes of the session are manifold. Among the bio-based
processes there are both the well-proven processes (e.g. corn-based) and new
processes (e.g. waste-based), which span a large technical variety of technological
opportunities for the future to match with the objectives of circular economy.
Bio-based Materials Within the Circular Economy: Opportunities …
45
considered as a key strategy in eco-design approach, also contributing to circular
economy at some points. However, several socio-economic factors induced by
market conditions or disrupting political structures within society can constrain
their availability. The presented work proposed a method for assessing bio-based
materials availability constraints, aiming at supporting eco-design strategies. The
method considers five main sources of constrains (environmental, socio-economic
and physical constraints to plants growth), over the materials supply chain, and
results in a set of availability indicators. For this study, the indicators were applied
to energy-related products, such as production of biodiesel from rapeseed and soy
beans, and showed that the indicators seem appropriate and that interpretation leads
to meaningful conclusions while methodological robustness of some indicators
could be refined.
The fourth presentation dealt with “Integrated market orientation in technical R&D
processes—opportunities and challenges for environmentally friendly bio-based
resins” by Miriam Lettner from K Plus, Austria [4]. The use of lignin, an
under-utilized by-product from the pulp and paper industry, has the potential to be
used as a valuable source for sustainable bio-based products. The market assessment
of emerging lignin products aims at support R&D process by providing information
on challenges and opportunities for such products at early design stage. Based on the
Smartli H2020 project outcomes and a case study performed with Delphi, it was
shown that the life cycle thinking integrated technical R&D processes based on the
involvement of stakeholders and on a multi-perspective assessment (economic,
environmental and technological) of newly developed products are highly valuable to
face the barriers and incentives for the product market diffusion.
Sebastian Sperling, Institute for Bioplastics and Bio-composites, University of
Hannover, gave the presentation “The sustainability of bio-based plastics—quantifying environmental and socio-economic aspects of a computer mouse for a circular
economy” [5]. Through the presentation of the environmental and socio-economic
impacts of a bio-based plastic housing of a computer mouse, the importance of
sourcing bio-based plastics and the associated social aspects in different countries was
revealed, despite the fact that these socio-economic aspects are often neglected and the
availability of such information is limited. An important conclusion is that a joint
guideline for bio-based plastic and fossil-based plastics is needed to reduce the
methodological gaps existing for the assessment for such materials.
3 Messages and Outcomes of the Session
The messages and outcomes of the session are manifold. Among the bio-based
processes there are both the well-proven processes (e.g. corn-based) and new
processes (e.g. waste-based), which span a large technical variety of technological
opportunities for the future to match with the objectives of circular economy.
Bio-based Materials Within the Circular Economy: Opportunities …
45