In traditional linear economies, residues and by-products are seen as costs. They are expensive to manage, difficult to dispose of, and often overlooked in terms of value creation. Industries spend substantial resources each year on disposal, while at the same time relying on imported raw materials to sustain production. This model is not only environmentally damaging but also economically inefficient.
The European Union has set out a different vision. Through the European Green Deal, Europe aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, with the circular economy at its core. This means moving away from the linear “take, make, dispose” approach and embracing models where resources are kept in use for as long as possible, generating value at every stage of their lifecycle.
The EU Bioeconomy Strategy adds another important dimension. It highlights the potential of renewable biological resources — from crops to forestry residues, from dairy by-products to fish scales — to become drivers of sustainable growth. By using what is already available, Europe can create new products, new markets, and new jobs, while reducing dependence on fossil-based and imported materials.
Together, these two strategies form a powerful framework for transforming the way Europe thinks about waste. They show that residues are not the end of a process but the beginning of a new economic opportunity.
Connecting Policy and Practice
The ONE EARTH project is an example of how these strategies can be put into practice. By exploring how residues from food and farming systems can be valorised, the project contributes to the EU’s broader vision. Research within ONE EARTH is directed towards turning by-products into:
- Fertilizers, derived from phosphorus-rich fishbones and other nutrient sources.
- Proteins and bioactive compounds, extracted from feathers and scales for use in cosmetics and nutraceuticals.
- Aquaculture feed ingredients, providing sustainable alternatives to marine-based resources.
- Other bio-based applications, including adhesives and functional food inputs.
While still in its early stages, the project demonstrates the economic potential of treating waste as a starting point for innovation rather than a burden. By reimagining residues as resources, new value chains are created that connect agriculture, fisheries, industry, and consumers.
Why It Matters
The benefits of this approach are wide-ranging and directly align with Europe’s policy goals:
- Environmental: Reduced waste sent to landfill or incineration, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and better resource efficiency.
- Economic: Transformation of disposal costs into revenue streams, new business models for SMEs, and opportunities for innovation-driven competitiveness.
- Social: Strengthening rural and coastal communities through sustainable jobs, diversifying income for farmers and fishers, and fostering regional resilience.
The European Green Deal and the EU Bioeconomy Strategy provide the roadmap. Projects such as ONE EARTH show what these strategies mean in practice and how they can be translated into solutions that are good for the environment, the economy, and society.
Europe’s transition towards a circular bioeconomy is therefore not only a question of environmental responsibility — it is also a matter of economic logic and social opportunity. By making better use of the resources we already have, Europe takes an important step towards a climate-neutral and competitive future.
More info:
https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en
https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/research-area/environment/bioeconomy_en