sustainability, with particular regard to the potential repercussion on the environment and climate. On such a background, a transition toward bio-based economy,
called “bio-economy”, represents an opportunity to comprehensively address
inter-connected societal challenges such as food security, natural resource scarcity,
fossil resource dependence and climate change, while achieving sustainable economic growth [1, 2]. However, not only fossil-based products carry an environmental burden, but also bio-based ones. Furthermore, the use of bio-based resources
may raise issues on land competition for food production. Hence, to be effective,
bio-economy strategies should be founded on resource efficiency and
eco-innovation principles [3].
The concept of circular economy—a system in which the final disposal of waste
and by-products is minimised by promoting their reuse and valorisation—can be
successfully applied to bio-based production chains. Recent research developments,
indeed, have highlighted several options for the conversion of bio-waste and
bio-based by-products into either bioenergy, biofuels or valuable secondary raw
materials [4]. Bio-based waste, indeed, represents a considerable amount of material
at the global level, in the order of magnitude of gigatonnes per year [5]. The
bio-economy contribution to circular economy may arise from very different
typologies of bio-based products, such as wood, food, fibres, leathers and rubbers.
Moreover, each step in the supply chain of bio-based products may provide waste
or by-products with different characteristics, which can be valorised in various ways
[2].
The present paper proposes a framework which may unveil the potential for
circularity of bio-waste and bio-based by-products, coherently with the European
legislative framework for waste management [6]. Furthermore, some considerations
on the application of such framework to food waste and by-products, taken as a
case-study are reported. Firstly, strengths and weaknesses of existing data sources
and estimations approaches for food waste and by-products accounting are highlighted. Then, an overview of the options for valorisation for food waste and
by-products is presented. Finally, the challenges of optimising the use of Life Cycle
Assessment (LCA) when assessing the environmental performance of bio-economy
value chains are discussed.
2 Valorisation of Bio-Waste and Bio-Based By-Products
In the European context, bio-economy is considered an important area of research,
whose potential has still to be further disclosed. At present, the production of
bio-materials and bioenergy is using about 36% of the biomass in Europe.
However, further investigations are required to evaluate the potential availability of
additional biomass, currently unused, without compromising the positive effects
that biomass not removed from the field may have on soil fertility [7]. In this
context, the European bio-economy sector is growing, showing a 7% increase in the
turnover between 2008 and 2014. Particularly, some bio-economy branches
50
S. Corrado and S. Sala
called “bio-economy”, represents an opportunity to comprehensively address
inter-connected societal challenges such as food security, natural resource scarcity,
fossil resource dependence and climate change, while achieving sustainable economic growth [1, 2]. However, not only fossil-based products carry an environmental burden, but also bio-based ones. Furthermore, the use of bio-based resources
may raise issues on land competition for food production. Hence, to be effective,
bio-economy strategies should be founded on resource efficiency and
eco-innovation principles [3].
The concept of circular economy—a system in which the final disposal of waste
and by-products is minimised by promoting their reuse and valorisation—can be
successfully applied to bio-based production chains. Recent research developments,
indeed, have highlighted several options for the conversion of bio-waste and
bio-based by-products into either bioenergy, biofuels or valuable secondary raw
materials [4]. Bio-based waste, indeed, represents a considerable amount of material
at the global level, in the order of magnitude of gigatonnes per year [5]. The
bio-economy contribution to circular economy may arise from very different
typologies of bio-based products, such as wood, food, fibres, leathers and rubbers.
Moreover, each step in the supply chain of bio-based products may provide waste
or by-products with different characteristics, which can be valorised in various ways
[2].
The present paper proposes a framework which may unveil the potential for
circularity of bio-waste and bio-based by-products, coherently with the European
legislative framework for waste management [6]. Furthermore, some considerations
on the application of such framework to food waste and by-products, taken as a
case-study are reported. Firstly, strengths and weaknesses of existing data sources
and estimations approaches for food waste and by-products accounting are highlighted. Then, an overview of the options for valorisation for food waste and
by-products is presented. Finally, the challenges of optimising the use of Life Cycle
Assessment (LCA) when assessing the environmental performance of bio-economy
value chains are discussed.
2 Valorisation of Bio-Waste and Bio-Based By-Products
In the European context, bio-economy is considered an important area of research,
whose potential has still to be further disclosed. At present, the production of
bio-materials and bioenergy is using about 36% of the biomass in Europe.
However, further investigations are required to evaluate the potential availability of
additional biomass, currently unused, without compromising the positive effects
that biomass not removed from the field may have on soil fertility [7]. In this
context, the European bio-economy sector is growing, showing a 7% increase in the
turnover between 2008 and 2014. Particularly, some bio-economy branches
50
S. Corrado and S. Sala