The European bioeconomy currently has a turnover of €2.1 trillion (£1.6 trillion) and provides 18.3 million jobs, according to a study by the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC).
According to the ‘European Bioeconomy in Figures’ report – which used Eurostat figures as the main source of its data – food, feed and beverage sectors account for roughly half of the turnover, with food products making up 44 per cent alone.
Bio-based industries (including chemicals and plastics, pharmaceuticals, paper, textiles, biofuels and bioenergy) contributed around €600 million (£465 million) to the overall turnover and 3.2 million jobs.
Primary biomass production (agriculture, forestry and fishery) is the biggest contributor to the 18.3 million jobs, providing around 58 per cent. When focusing only on industrial sectors, the total employment is 3.2 million jobs, with forest-based industry (43 per cent), textiles (24 per cent) and paper and paper products (20 per cent) the biggest contributors.
The analysis shows different situations among member states. While Eastern European countries such as Poland, Romania and Bulgaria are strong in primary production, with high employment to turnover ration in commodities sectors, Western and Northern European countries generate a much higher turnover, and therefore have lower employment/turnover ratios.
The study shows an overall increase in the bio-based share of the total chemical industry in the EU-28 from five per cent in 2008 to six per cent in 2013. Only taking into account organic chemistry, the overall bio-based share increased from 10 per cent in 2008 to 12 per cent in 2013. Denmark stands out as the Member State with the highest bio-based share in the chemical industry, due to the high production of enzymes. Latvia and Sweden follow due to a large production of charcoal and tall oil.
An internal survey conducted alongside the macro-economic study also found that BIC members are currently investing more than €2.1 billion (£1.6 billion) in demonstration and flagship infrastructure.
Marcel Wubbolts, Chair of the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), said: “Bio-based industries show €600 billion turnover and 3.2 million employees. The Bio-based industry is already an important part of the European economy and a pivotal element in the transition towards a sustainable, circular economy in Europe with renewable raw materials as key enablers. Europe should continue on this path and create stable policies to further accelerate the European Bioeconomy.”
Dirk Carrez, Executive Director of BIC: “The commitment of the industry is there, and the new BBI public-private partnership certainly shows its first impact. Now politics has to follow and enable a swift transition from fossil to bio-based resources.”
Michael Carus, Managing Director of nova-Institute, added: “Of particular interest are the often underrated bio-based industries, such as chemicals and plastics, pharmaceuticals, paper and paper products, forest-based industries, textile sector, biofuels and bioenergy.”
The full ‘European Bioeconomy in Figures’ report can be downloaded from our reports page.