21 October 2025 from 9:00 to 13:00 CEST
Online

Many of the products consumers purchase display eco-labels and are wrapped in promises of sustainability, bio-based content, or fair and ethical production conditions. The messages and criteria behind these labels and certification schemes often remain unclear. To simplify and decode these messages, the EU-funded research project 3-CO (Concise Consumer Communication through Robust Labels for Biobased Systems) focuses on improving how certification schemes and eco-labels communicate with consumers. By developing smart label design guidelines, digital support tools, and implementing social innovation strategies, the project addressed the challenges of transparency, trust, and consumer engagement, especially with regard to bio-based products. At its final online-event, 3-CO will showcase the project’s significant advances in consumer communication through investigating and implementing consumer perspectives and attitudes.
Taking place virtually on 21 October 2025 from 9:00 to 13:00 CEST, the event brings together international experts in certification, industry professionals, policy makers, researchers, (social) innovators, and stakeholders committed to driving a green transition of the EU’s bioeconomy and society at large.

Online-Event “Empowering Bio-Based Choices Through Smart Certification”
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sGB9lEzvTRq-E6Q3-K1_vw

Driving dialogue on certification and sustainability

In four sessions, the final 3-CO event will showcase panel discussions, expert presentations, case studies and best practise examples.

Session 1 (9:00 – 10:00): Certification and Labelling
This session kicks off the programme by highlighting how smart certification and clear labelling can enhance consumer trust in bio-based products. Expert presentations by Margaux Le Gallou (ECOS) and Loha Hashimi (ENIDE) will evaluate the role of label and certification schemes in consumer choices, put EU-eco-labels through a reality check, and introduce how the developed 3-CO-app helps consumers decode label-information and identify sustainable products.

Session 2 (10:00-11:00): Social Innovation
This session delves into the transformative potential of social innovation and includes recommendations for implementation of social innovations in EU-policy and brand strategies, presented by Zoritza Kiresiewa (Ecologic Institute). Noemi de Santis and Andrea Mangone from the Junker-App will introduce a successful example of social innovation with their user-friendly app that supports consumers in correctly recycling their packaging waste.

Session 3 (11:00-12:00): Policy
Putting the crucial role of policy frameworks at centre, this session explores the impact of policy and market instruments in establishing effective certification and scaling certified bio-based solutions. Kaj Seger (nova-Institute) will present the label design guidelines developed in the 3-CO project. Policy representatives will provide insights into how certification can be integrated with public procurement and regulatory strategies to foster sustainable consumption.

Session 4 (12:00 – 13:00): Consumer Perspective
This session presents the latest research on how consumers perceive and respond to bio-based products and what concerns they voice towards certification and labelling. Agnieszka Wiśniewska (University of Warsaw) will share key behavioural insights, while representatives from consumer associations will discuss communication strategies that enhance transparency, build trust, and ultimately promote sustainable purchasing choices.

Register here https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sGB9lEzvTRq-E6Q3-K1_vw

Download the preliminary agenda below
https://3co-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/25-08-12_3co_agenda.pdf

For more information and registration details, visit the official 3-CO project website at www.3co-project.eu.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

On 29 October 2025, the BioReCer project (https://biorecer.eu) invites stakeholder from the bio-based industries, research, certification and standardisation, and (consumer) organisations to its final event at the Ciudad de la Cultura in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Scheduled from 9:00 to 14:45 CET, this occasion marks the conclusion of the EU‑funded project, which over three years has worked intensely to improve the trust, traceability, and certification of biological feedstocks.
The BioReCer (Biological Resources Certifications Schemes) project has developed a framework for assessing the sustainability and circularity of biological resources, identified indicators of circularity, as well as guidelines for integrating these into established certification schemes. In addition, a Standardisation Toolkit was developed, which is a comprehensive online database designed to support professionals in the bio-based industry. Recommendations for the valorisation and use of biological feedstock propose integration of BioReCer findings into policy.
One key-outcome is the BioReCer ICT Tool (BIT). This digital app provides tracking and traceability information of bio-based solutions and feedstocks along the entire bio‑based value chain. By providing product information and assessing circularity indicators the BIT aims to improve decision-making through real-time data and actionable insights, but also to enhance sustainability through assessment and improved environmental performance. The tool further offers a self‑assessment function that enables companies to evaluate their own enterprise with regard to sustainability and circularity criteria, enabling evaluation on whether a company is fit for certification and what levers exist to achieve a higher certification.

Trust, Traceability, and Certification – Valorising Biobased Feedstocks
29 October 2025
9:00 to 14:45 CET
Ciudad de la Cultura, Santiago de Compostela, Spain (only on-site participation)
Register here: https://novainstitute.aidaform.com/BioReCerFinalEvent

The BioReCer project (https://biorecer.eu) has validated its approach in four case studies on biological waste and residues, including

• agriculture (Greece),
• fishery (Spain),
• municipal organic waste and wastewater (Italy) and
• forestry (Sweden),

assessing material flows, and replicability and transferability across these sectors.

In various presentations BioReCer partners will showcase key results, explain the sustainability and circularity framework (University of Santiago de Compostela), discuss circularity indicators (Imperial College London), and explain how this framework can be integrated into certification schemes (Meo Carbon Solutions). A live demonstration of the BioReCer ICT Tool (EGM) will showcase its functions supporting product traceability, self‑assessment, and certification data management.
A second block of the event will feature two moderated round tables. The first expert round will focus on sustainability and circularity assessments in the bio‑based industry, drawing on lessons from BioReCer’s case studies and contributions from related projects. The second roundtable will address the future valorisation of biological feedstocks with insights from several other EU-projects.
An exposition corner will provide space to discover BioReCer and its related EU-projects, explore project results, and materials, and to speak directly with the members of the different projects.
This final event is open to stakeholders from industry, research, certification, policy makers and (consumer) organisations who want to gain first‑hand understanding of BioReCer’s tools and methods, and their relevance for creating transparent, impactful certification for biological feedstocks.

Find the preliminary agenda here: https://biorecer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/final-event-biorecer-draft-agenda.png

Further information on the BioReCer event are available at https://biorecer.eu.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

STAR4BBS Empowers Bio‑Based Industry Through Two High-Caliber April Trainings on Greenwashing & CSRD Compliance

STAR4BBS, with key support from projects such as SUSTCERT4BIOBASED and Engage4BIO, has released recordings and presentation materials from two impactful online trainings held in March 2025. These sessions addressed critical sustainability challenges for the bio‑based sector: tackling greenwashing, and meeting new EU requirements under the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

“Navigating the new EU legislations to address greenwashing: how standards and research projects can support the bio‑based industry”

Date: 25 March 2025
This session featured expert speakers including Elena Mocchio, Gustavo De Feo, Margaux Le Gallou, and representatives from BIOBASEDCERT. It offered a comprehensive examination of recent EU legislation aimed at combatting greenwashing—misleading environmental claims—and guided the audience on how standards and certification initiatives fortify credible sustainable branding bbs.unibo.eu+8star4bbs.eu+8star4bbs.eu+8.

Viewers are invited to:

• Watch the full recording.
• Download presentations from each speaker for insights on legal frameworks, green-claims substantiation, and certification tools.

“Training on Navigating the CSR Directive”

Date: 14 March 2025
Co-hosted by STAR4BBS, Engage4BIO, and SUSTCERT4BIOBASED, this 90‑minute session examined the EU’s CSRD and its transformative impact on companies within the bio‑based industry app.3blmedia.com+4star4bbs.eu+4eubionet.eu+4.
Key highlights included:

• A detailed breakdown of CSRD obligations – who must report, what data to provide, and compliance timelines.
• Findings from the STAR4BBS project illustrating how research outputs and voluntary standards can streamline reporting and align activities with the EU Taxonomy.
• SME-focused insights from Engage4BIO, offering practical support tools and innovation pathways to meet CSRD requirements.
  Participants also engaged in interactive Q&A with sector specialists.

Access Learning Materials

Both events are now available to watch on-demand. STAR4BBS encourages stakeholders across the bio‑based industry—environmental managers, compliance officers, SMEs, scheme owners, and policymakers—to leverage these resources to sharpen sustainability practices, strengthen reporting credibility, and enhance market trust.

About STAR4BBS
Led by Technische Universität Berlin, the STAR4BBS project fosters sustainable bio‑based systems via effective certification, labelling, and monitoring. By developing new indicators, tracking trade flows, and collaborating with scheme owners and industry partners, STAR4BBS supports the European Green Deal’s goals

The BIOBASEDCERT research cluster has revealed critical gaps in sustainability certification across the EU bioeconomy, calling for immediate policy intervention to address fragmentation and improve transparency in bio-based markets.

The comprehensive research, conducted by three Horizon Europe projects (HARMONITOR, STAR4BBS, and SUSTCERT4BIOBASED), found that current certification schemes and labels (CSLs) for bio-based products vary significantly in scope, ambition, and implementation, creating confusion among stakeholders and undermining market confidence.

Key Findings

Market Monitoring Gaps: The EU lacks systematic tracking of bio-based product trade flows and certification levels. While certification rates are relatively high for palm oil and wood products in Europe, data remains insufficient across most bio-based sectors.

Policy Fragmentation: EU bioeconomy policies remain fragmented across sectors, with notable scarcity of sector-specific sustainability targets outside the energy domain. This fragmentation has limited the effectiveness of circular economy measures, particularly in product design.

Certification Variability: Assessment of dozens of certification schemes revealed significant differences in governance, sustainability requirements, and verification processes, despite generally strong commitments to transparency and credibility.

Breakthrough Innovation: The BIOBASEDCERT Monitoring Tool

The research cluster has developed the innovative BIOBASEDCERT Monitoring Tool (BMT) – the first harmonized system to assess the robustness, comprehensiveness, and effectiveness of sustainability certification schemes for bio-based products. The tool evaluates schemes across three levels:

• System Level: Operational and procedural aspects including governance and assurance
• Content Level: Sustainability criteria covering environmental, circularity, social, and economic dimensions
• Outcome Level: Real-world effectiveness and impact measurement

Testing with nine certification schemes and ecolabels demonstrated the tool’s potential to drive continuous improvement and provide clarity for policymakers.

Urgent Policy Recommendations

The research team issued seven key policy recommendations:

1. Address Policy Fragmentation: Establish cohesive, sector-specific sustainability targets across the EU bioeconomy
2. Enhance Trade Monitoring: Develop robust mechanisms for systematic monitoring of bio-based product trade flows and certification levels
3. Strengthen Certification Standards: Improve coherence of policy targets to provide clear direction for certification schemes
4. Quantify Costs and Benefits: Prioritize research to understand the full economic, environmental, and social impacts of certification
5. Foster Collaboration: Promote continuous cross-sector dialogue among certification owners, policymakers, and industry leaders
6. Support Local Value Chains: Expand use of locally sourced feedstocks, particularly in timber and waste management sectors
7. Adopt the BMT: European Commission adoption of the monitoring tool would drive transparency and provide much-needed direction

Industry Impact

“The bio-based economy should not be assumed to be inherently sustainable,” the researchers warn. “Comprehensive evaluations must include environmental, circularity, social, and economic considerations, with robust methodologies to facilitate fair comparisons with fossil-based alternatives.”

The study revealed that consumption-based accounting of the EU bioeconomy indicates higher greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water use compared to production-based accounting, highlighting the EU’s reliance on imports and impacts outside its borders.

Collaborative Platform Continues

The BIOBASEDCERT cluster established a successful Collaborative Roundtable Platform bringing together certification schemes, policymakers, and stakeholders. Due to strong member support, discussions are underway to continue this forum beyond the project timeline.

About BIOBASEDCERT

The BIOBASEDCERT cluster comprises three Horizon Europe projects awarded under call ZEROPOLLUTION-01-07, working to assess and improve sustainability certification for bio-based systems in support of EU Green Deal objectives.

On the 31st of January 2024, the BOOST4BIOEAST project – BOOSTing the bioeconomy transformation FOR (4) the BIOEAST- region has officially kicked off its activities in an online meeting which will be supporting the BIOEAST Initiative in the next three years.
The BOOST4BIOEAST project – coordinated by the Hungarian Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (ÖMKi) – aims to empower national stakeholders in the Central Eastern European and Baltic countries for the development of national bioeconomy action plans and to build long-lasting structures and spaces of dialogue for national and macro-regional cooperation. The 30 partners of the project cover all BIOEAST countries and countries from Western Europe (Belgium, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, and Spain) have been included to stimulate dialogue and knowledge exchange throughout different regions.

The project follows the footsteps of its predecessor, the BIOEASTsUP H2020 project, building upon its outcomes that laid the foundation for macro-regional networking among bioeconomy experts and policymakers through the development of its Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) and 11 Bioeconomy Concept Papers.

THE BIOEAST HUBS AND THEIR ROLE IN BOOSTING BIOECONOMY
At the core of the project, there is the need to establish or improve national bioeconomy expert communities (BIOEAST HUBs) as focal points of capacity building and catalyst for stakeholder engagement at national level for decision-making through participatory processes. The BIOEAST HUBs will be linked to public administrations, ensuring a direct and efficient link to policymaking that highlights the relevance of the solutions identified by the HUBs’ actions. In the next three years, the HUBs will be engaged in the development of national bioeconomy action plans validated by public administrations, and in fostering national bioeconomy innovation ecosystems through cross-sectoral collaboration, capacity building and facilitating access to knowledge and networks to all bioeconomy stakeholders. Furthermore, at macro-regional level, they will contribute to the specific strategic areas of the BIOEAST Thematic Working Groups in updating the BIOEAST SRIA of 2022 (developed in the BIOEASTsUP project).

ENRICHING KNOWLEDGE ON BIOECONOMY WITH A MULTIDIMENSIONAL ASSESSMENT AND THE KNOWLEDGE PLATFORM
BOOST4BIOEAST will undertake a wide mapping of biomass availability, usage, bioeconomy competences, educational needs, and innovation systems with the goal of promoting knowledge on bioeconomy in the macro-region. Moreover, a BIOEAST Knowledge Platform will be set up to act as a central point to find knowledge materials and relevant information on bioeconomy. The Platform will be open and tailor-made to the needs of BIOEAST countries, allowing wide range of its bioeconomy actors to access, share and store materials on national languages, therefore, stimulating active contributions and knowledge sharing in and across each member states.

STIMULATING BIOECONOMY RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
Given the great importance that innovation and education have in promoting and reinforcing bioeconomy activities, the project sets also the ambitious objective to bring together public and private funders with entrepreneurs and young professionals to provide exposure to business opportunities through a macro-regional Open Innovation Challenge (OIC) and pitching events. The project will also expand activities of the Network of Bioeconomy Universities in the BIOEAST (BIOEAST UniNet) to support stronger collaboration between universities and educational institutions of the macro-region in order to integrate bioeconomy into their educational profile. Moreover, the project will continue to rely on the already existing, macro-regional expert-policy networks, the seven Thematic Working Groups (Agroecology & Sustainable Yields, Bioenergy & New Value-Added Materials, Food Systems, Forestry Value Chain, Freshwater-based Economy, Advanced Biobased Materials and Bioeconomy Education), set up by the BIOEASTsUP project to work on priority research topics on the macro-regional level to facilitate more inclusive decision-making and to develop sustainability strategies for TWGs and national HUBs to secure their long-term functioning.

THE ANNUAL BIOEAST BIOECONOMY CONFERENCE
To kick-start the community-building and establishment of the national expert networks , the BOOST4BIOEAST project and the BIOEAST Initiative will organize the Annual BIOEAST Bioeconomy Conference on 6-7 March 2024 in Budapest, Hungary. The theme of the event will be “The role of national HUBs in national and macro-regional bioeconomy policies and R&I priorities in the BIOEAST countries”.
The conference aims to bring together a wide range of stakeholders from the BIOEAST countries, coming from all bioeconomy related fields and with varied professional and academic background.
The Conference will promote information about latest updates from the BIOEAST Initiative in the context of ongoing European and upcoming EU presidency priorities, to provide practical knowledge, in order to kick-start and facilitate collaboration, and present opportunities in joint programming initiatives.
More information and the registration to the conference is available here.

To download the Press Release, please click on the following link