The Sustainable Futures Conference, co-organised by the Horizon Europe-funded projects BlueRev, Engage4Bio, BlueBioClusters, and SKILLBILL, underscored the importance of integrated, cross-sectoral collaboration in driving Europe’s green and just transition. The urgency of reducing dependence on material and energy imports is closely tied to the need to empower regional and local communities. These communities must be equipped to forge their own sustainable pathways towards resilience, climate neutrality, and long-term socio-economic prosperity.

While each project addresses distinct thematic areas, their shared experiences revealed that common challenges—such as resource autonomy, regional sustainability, and citizen engagement—are most effectively addressed through collaborative tools and synergistic approaches.

The conference highlighted that Horizon Europe projects can:

• Act as catalysts for dialogue among diverse stakeholders, including businesses, public authorities, and civil society.

• Emphasise local value creation and promote the co-design of solutions that enhance long-term impact and acceptability.

• Empower marginalised and underrepresented communities by equipping them with the tools to actively shape the green transition, fostering inclusive, bottom-up innovation.

• Increase citizen awareness of their role in influencing future markets, governance, and sustainability trends.

  Key Policy Recommendations

  Drawing on the outcomes and insights from the participating initiatives, the following policy recommendations are proposed to inform both EU and national policy development and programme design:

  1. Promote Synergistic and Multi-Project Approaches
  Encourage funding instruments that connect complementary projects across bioeconomy sectors, blue, green, circular, as well as renewable energy. Cross-project collaboration should be supported to enable the reuse of tools and methodologies, improve efficiency, and strengthen coherence across initiatives.

  2. Strengthen Stakeholder Engagement for Co-Creation
  Create structured platforms and provide incentives for inclusive multi-stakeholder collaboration. Involving SMEs from the early stages is critical for building viable, long-term business models. Likewise, the inclusion of municipalities and regional authorities ensures continuity through integration with local governance structures.

  3. Address Skills Gaps through Regional Training Ecosystems
  Support the development of tailored training programmes co-designed by companies, universities, and local actors to reflect territorial needs. Investments in Vocational Education and Training (VET) should be aligned with both market demands and regional sustainability goals.
  Specialised training for public bodies is also essential to equip decision-makers with the knowledge needed to adopt innovative solutions.

  Strengthening academia–industry collaboration is vital. While these sectors differ in focus, they are fundamentally complementary. Industry requires a skilled workforce with both theoretical and practical expertise, while universities gain from opportunities for hands-on training and alternative funding streams. Identifying shared goals can foster impactful partnerships and mutual benefits.

  There is also a pressing need to enhance gender inclusion in the renewable energy sector. Conference participants agreed on the need for communication strategies that challenge stereotypes, create welcoming environments, and empower women to thrive and contribute equally in science, technology, and innovation.

  4. Ensure Long-Term Sustainability of Project Tools
  Horizon Europe projects should be encouraged to integrate sustainable business models for the maintenance and development of digital tools and resources. Identifying potential future tool owners, such as SMEs, NGOs, or public bodies, early in the project lifecycle can ensure continuity and scalability. Where appropriate, tools developed within EU-funded projects should be incorporated into EU-level platforms (e.g., European Commission repositories) to maximise reach and longevity.

  5. Harmonise EU-Wide Educational Standards and Procedures
  Efforts should be made to streamline the cross-border recognition of academic degrees and training certificates to reduce barriers to mobility and speed up validation processes.
  The development of EU-wide frameworks for course structures would also support mutual recognition and improve efficiency.

  Digital innovation should be leveraged to widen access to education, particularly for learners in remote areas. This includes:

  • Providing subsidies for digital equipment;

  • Offering incentives for AI-powered educational content;

  • Supporting the design and dissemination of high-quality online courses.

  6. Foster the Role of Art and Culture in the Green Transition
  Artistic and cultural initiatives should be recognised and supported as powerful drivers of awareness, inclusion, and creativity in the sustainability space. These interventions can help engage broader audiences and inspire innovative thinking.

  7. Support Local Governance Capacity-Building
  Empowering local and regional authorities with financial and institutional resources is critical to enable the adoption of innovative governance models. Aligning these local efforts with EU-wide strategies, such as the European Green Deal, Farm to Fork, and the Circular Economy Action Plan, will reinforce strategic coherence and strengthen impact. Regional actors should be more closely connected to EU policy dialogues and implementation frameworks.

  By implementing these recommendations, policymakers can significantly enhance the transformative potential of local sustainability initiatives. These actions will also help ensure that grassroots innovation aligns with Europe’s overarching ambitions for a greener, more inclusive, and competitive future.

The BlueRev project has developed a set of practical guidelines to support small businesses in the blue bioeconomy on how to effectively communicate innovation, climate neutrality, environmental performance, and trade-offs of their products and services to consumers.

The guidelines, co-created with input from pilot regions (Italy, Estonia, Denmark/Greenland), combine best practices, tools, and case studies to help SMEs identify their target audiences, craft clear and credible messages, and select the most effective communication channels. They also inspire real-life examples of successful communication strategies, from valorising fish by-products to algae-based innovations.

The guidelines have been translated into 24 EU official languages and complemented with an infographic and a dedicated webinar series in English and national languages. Together, these resources aim to empower SMEs to improve their market visibility, engage consumers, and strengthen their role in Europe’s sustainable blue bioeconomy.

Please find more information on the project website

D4.4 A Best Practice Guideline Including the Best Practices Coming from the 3 Pilot Regions

On May 13, 2025, the BIOBASEDCERT Final Conference in Brussels convened over 80 stakeholders from across Europe to explore the future role of voluntary sustainability certification in driving the EU’s green transition. Organized by the STAR4BBS, HARMONITOR, and SUSTCERT4BIOBASED projects, the event showcased key research results and sparked critical dialogue on the tools and policies needed to support a sustainable circular bioeconomy.

Certification at the Core of Policy Innovation

Central to the discussions was the BIOBASEDCERT Monitoring Tool (BMT), a novel framework developed to evaluate the effectiveness, comprehensiveness, and transparency of sustainability certification schemes (CSLs). Participants examined the tool’s potential use as a co-regulatory instrument within EU policy frameworks, particularly in the context of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and the Empowering Consumers Directive.

Interactive sessions and expert panels provided insight into the integration of certification schemes into emerging EU legislative landscapes, including digital product passports, substantiation of green claims, and alignment with broader sustainability goals. Speakers emphasized that while certification schemes can enhance transparency and trust, their successful implementation depends on balancing credibility, cost-efficiency, and inclusiveness—especially for SMEs.

Key Takeaways and Policy Recommendations

The conference generated a range of policy insights and actionable recommendations:

• Promote co-regulation: Use voluntary certification schemes to complement EU legislative tools, particularly in complex bio-based value chains.

• Strengthen data systems: Develop harmonized, EU-wide standards for trade flow monitoring to support traceability and informed policymaking.

• Support SMEs: Offer financial incentives, training, and access to shared infrastructure to reduce certification costs and promote uptake.

• Enhance credibility: Standardize claims, improve transparency, and align certification with EU priorities on climate, circularity, and consumer protection.

• Stimulate multistakeholder dialogue: Address governance and power imbalances by fostering inclusive conversations across industry, civil society, and public institutions.

Spotlight on Innovation

A standout moment was the policy workshop led by DG RTD.B1 on the ESPR and Consumer Empowerment Directive, where experts explored how these regulations reshape sustainability claims, labelling, and market access for bio-based products. Discussions highlighted the role of digital product passports and the need to ensure that certification and traceability mechanisms are both rigorous and feasible.

Moving Forward

The event concluded with a co-creation session translating research findings into future policy actions. Using real-time audience feedback via Mentimeter, participants reaffirmed the importance of continuous engagement with policymakers, robust monitoring tools, and coordinated policy frameworks.

By bridging research, regulation, and real-world practice, the BIOBASEDCERT Final Conference positioned voluntary certification not just as a compliance mechanism, but as a catalyst for innovation and trust in Europe’s sustainable bioeconomy.

Join the STAR4BBS and Engage4BIO projects for an insightful session on March 14th, 2025, from 09:30 to 11:00 CET, where experts delve into how the bio-based sector can meet sustainability reporting requirements under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

The bio-based industry is at a pivotal moment, is asked to comply with increasing regulatory expectations surrounding environmental impact. The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) is a significant regulatory development that mandates companies to disclose detailed information about their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance.

To help businesses in the bio-based sector navigate these complex regulations and leverage the latest standards, the Star4BBS, Engage4BIO, and Sustcert4biobased projects are proud to present a focused training event designed to provide clarity on the CSRD and offer insights on how research, standards, and innovation can support companies in meeting these requirements.

Event Details:

• Date: March 14th, 2025
• Time: 09:30 – 11:00 CET
• Duration: 1.5 hours
• Registration Link: Sign up here

What will be discussed?

Understanding the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD): analysis of the CSRD, from key requirements, to how companies can comply, and what implications the directive has for organizations within the bio-based sector.

How Research Results Can Support the CSRD and EU Taxonomy: The Experience of the Star4BBS Project: findings from the Star4BBS project and how they offer crucial insights and practical tools to help bio-based companies align with the CSRD and the EU Taxonomy for sustainable activities.

Building Sustainable Bio-Based Innovation: Training and Support for SMEs from the Experience of Engage4BIO: lessons learned from the Engage4BIO project, focusing on how small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the bio-based sector can access training, resources, and support to foster sustainability innovations and meet the CSRD’s requirements.

Moreover, during the final discussion, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with the experts.

Check out the full agenda here: CSRD training_Agenda

This event is tailored to stakeholders who are keen to understand and navigate the regulatory landscape of sustainability reporting. You should attend the webinar if you are interested in gaining insights on:

• CSRD requirements and how to effectively comply;
• Key takeaways from leading research projects that help integrate sustainability reporting into business operations;
• Support tools for SMEs;
• Opportunities for networking with experts and like-minded professionals in the bio-based industry.

Don’t miss out!

Register today to secure your spot for this must-attend event: Register Now.