The EU Commission recently published the document A Strategic Framework for a Competitive and Sustainable EU Bioeconomy, which redefines the role of biological resources (biomass) for Europe’s competitive and sustainable future.
Among the various aspects of the bioeconomy, the document highlights the crucial importance of the relationship with the ESPR Ecodesign Regulation for two main objectives:
- Ensuring the circularity of biobased products: ESPR will be used to establish performance and information requirements for products, including those made from biological resources. The aim is to ensure that biobased materials are not just a substitute, but are designed from the outset for maximum circularity.
- Promoting sustainable lead markets: Future ESPR measures will aim to develop lead markets for the most advanced and sustainable biobased materials and technologies. The priority sectors mentioned are textiles and furniture.
In essence, the strategic framework recognises that the success of the bioeconomy depends on the ability to design products that are durable, reusable and recyclable, a principle that the ESPR is set to make mandatory.
For companies operating in biobased supply chains or material-intensive sectors such as textiles and furniture, now is the time to define and align their innovation strategy with the Ecodesign principles that will soon be the norm!
For years, Matrec has been successfully collaborating with companies in various sectors, including fashion and furniture, to develop circularity models and measure materials and products for the application of ESPR.