What does that mean: biomass

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: biomass

• Biomass is renewable organic material. It is categoried into crops, waste and algae.
• Biomass is carbon-based. Plants draw carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere (plant-based biomass) while animals eat the plants (animal-based biomass). The carbon dioxide is returned to the atmosphere when the biomass is burned.
• Biomass is primarily used for energy and as a feedstock for plastics and polymers. It replaces fossil resources and can be grown and used in a short timeframe.