The EU bio-based industry: Results from a Survey
Providing regular analysis and data is fundamental for policy makers and stakeholders to monitor the development of an economic sector and make the necessary decisions to maximize the benefits it generates, be them of economic, social or environmental nature. In this line, this report contributes to quantifying and benchmarking a relevant economic sector in the so-called European Union Bioeconomy, the bio-based industry. The use of biomass feedstock in this specific industry has the potential to contribute to Europe's industrial and economic growth while significantly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, other environmental burdens, and resource dependency, through the displacement of fossil-based products with bio-based alternatives. The report focuses on a list of relevant and bio-based products and it is based on a survey of 133 companies, the full population, producing or about to produce these products (with turnover or employing labour in the EU). We find a high diversity of companies in terms of size, products and time in the market. Some companies' operations are entirely bio-based and for some other bio-based products represent a relatively small fraction of their operations. The population includes companies producing commodity and speciality chemicals and material goods into a wide range of sectors. Fifty companies answered a structured questionnaire of about 70 questions during the survey (in 2015). The response illustrates that there are a diverse set of active players ranging from large to micro companies, developing and producing a wide range of products from a wide range of feedstocks. The companies that responded to the survey report total bio-based product turnovers of the order of 6.8 billion EUR globally and 1.4 billion EUR in the EU. All respondents are positive about the outlook for growth in the industry. The response also indicates a rise in company activity since 2011, and there appear to be shifts in products being developed and produced, probably as a result of market testing, and technical development. The active European companies produce and sell globally, testimony of the global nature of the sector.
NATRASS Lucy;
BIGGS Clifford;
BAUEN Ausilio;
PARISI Claudia;
RODRIGUEZ CEREZO Emilio;
GOMEZ BARBERO Manuel;
2016-03-16
Publications Office of the European Union
JRC100357
978-92-79-54969-4,
1831-9424,
EUR 27736,
OP LF-NA-27736-EN-N,
https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC100357,
10.2791/806858,
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