What does that mean: the circular bioeconomy

Any scientific or economic sector uses specific vocabulary, and the circular economy is no different. Some concepts are easy to work out, others less so. Some are familiar but you’d find it difficult to define them. Acronyms can be a headache.

This series will look at concepts used in articles on this website and endeavour to provide straightforward definitions.

Concept: Circular bioeconomy

This is where the circular economy and the bioeconomy overlap. 

• The circular economy aims to keep raw materials looping round and round for as long as possible while generating the lowest possible amount of waste and pollution. 
• The bioeconomy uses natural resources as raw materials. 
• The circular bioeconomy uses readily renewable natural resources as raw materials. This includes organic waste such as wood offcuts, pineapple tops and sewage sludge. It emphasises the importance of biodiversity and nature preservation, with end-of-life products designed as far as possible to be biodegradable, thus improving soils.