Overview of bio-based industries

Abstract

The increasing population, rapid depletion of nonrenewable resources, and global warming are major driving forces to radically change our production and consumption approaches. Focusing at processing, storage, recycling, and disposal of biological resources, bio-based industries are leading the transition toward a more sustainable bioeconomy worldwide. These industries use starch-based, sugar-based, lignocellulose, algal biomass, and waste-derived feedstocks to produce a wide range of biofuels, polymers, and other significant products within a biorefinery perspective. The present chapter provides a general overview of prominent bio-based industries working on in Europe and globally and lists some of the most relevant projects that are leading the transition to a nonfossil era.