Are you an expert from research, industry, policy or civil society, with knowledge and experiences in plastics, construction, textile, or chemical sectors? Then, you shouldn’t miss the “From Vision to Implementation: Shaping Policies to Boost Circular Bio-Based Transition” closing event, organised by SUSTRACK!

The conference will be held online on 21^th of March 2025, 11:00 – 12:30 CET and is aimed to present an overview of:

• the main takeaways from the “From Vision to Implementation: Shaping Policies to Boost Circular Bio-Based Transition” workshop series, which involved more than 150 stakeholders, featured 10 inspiring keynote speakers and facilitated in-depth discussion about strengths and weaknesses of SUSTRACK proposed policy options. These sessions also identified further policy opportunities and approaches from various perspectives, including policy, research, industry, and civil society;
• SUSTRACK methods and tools to monitor the transition, available to support stakeholders’ actions boosting the circular bio-based transition;
• the key outcomes from the 11 SUSTRACK selected case studies in chemical, textile, plastics and construction sectors.

The closing event will offer you actionable knowledge into policy options that can advance the circular bio-based transition across these sectors. Additionally, through interactive sessions, participants will have the opportunity to provide feedback to refine SUSTRACK’s methods and tools, ensuring they better address stakeholders’ needs.

Have a look at the agenda and don’t miss the opportunity to share your vision and influence the development and implementation of policies that promote the circular bio-based transition.

Interested? Save the date and register here! 

Nanomaterials (NMs) are driving innovation across various industries, including healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and consumer products. However, ensuring their safe and sustainable use requires collaboration between scientific research, industry, policy, and society. This workshop aims to bring together key stakeholders to discuss challenges, validate solutions, and foster collaboration for the responsible development and use of nanomaterials.

The workshop is designed for industry professionals looking for tools to integrate safe and sustainable nanomaterials, policymakers ensuring compliance with evolving regulations, researchers and scientists advancing safety and sustainability, and citizen groups and NGOs advocating for transparency and public trust in nanomaterial applications.

Discussions will focus on identifying key stakeholder needs, addressing challenges from industry, policy, research, and societal perspectives. Participants will contribute to validating the structure, functionalities, and accessibility of the CheMatSustain Facility, a platform designed to serve as a knowledge hub and decision-support tool. The workshop will also encourage collaboration between policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and citizens to ensure the platform effectively meets diverse needs.

By joining this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to influence the future of nanomaterials by shaping a platform that aligns with sector-specific requirements. They will engage with key stakeholders across different fields, fostering meaningful connections and contributing to practical solutions that support risk assessment, regulatory compliance, and industry adoption. The discussions will be interactive, featuring live digital collaboration, allowing participants to share their perspectives, define key priorities, and shape the platform’s essential features.

The workshop will be held online on the 28th of March (10:00-11:30 CET) and is free of charge. It is organized by the CheMatSustain Consortium, for more information and registration, please follow the link: Register Here. We look forward to your participation.

If you would like to stay engaged with the project’s achievements please head to our website. To receive the latest news follow-us on LinkedIn and on watch our introductory video on YouTube.

Digital innovation can play a crucial role in strengthening the competitiveness of bio-based feedstocks and products in the European bioeconomy. By providing consumers and industry with essential information on sustainability and circularity criteria of bio-based products and their value chains, digital solutions and tools improve the tracking and traceability of biological feedstocks from their origin to a final product. These digital tools offer valuable insights into a wide range of sustainability criteria, e.g., climate impacts, environmental effects on soil, water and air quality and technical performance. By covering these key areas, digital tools enable a holistic understanding of the sustainability performance of bio-based products and processes throughout their lifecycle.

Digital solutions are set to boost the European bioeconomy by providing critical information on feedstock tracking, sustainability, and certification for bio-based products.

To showcase these advances, a free webinar hosted by Horizon Europe projects 3-CO and BioReCer will introduce several innovative digital tools.

Scheduled for April 8, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM CET, the event offers an excellent opportunity to understand the future of digital technologies in the bioeconomy. Four tools developed by EU-funded projects will be presented and made available to users in the near future.

Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lP06EuYaQ0arvrof5ZnEAw

Read more on the webinar content, the participating EU-projects and the speakers here

The Urban Forest Innovation Lab (UFIL) is launching the 6th edition of its entrepreneurship program in forest bioeconomy. This free program, funded by the Fundación Biodiversidad and supported by the City Council of Cuenca, offers a unique opportunity for innovators to develop sustainable business ideas in the forestry sector.

Who can apply?

UFIL is open to residents of the European Union with innovative ideas related to forest bioeconomy. No previous experience or specific background in the sector is required. Established companies who want to open a new line of business can also apply.

Program details

•Duration: March – July 2025

•Format: A combination of online training and mentoring, plus in-person workshops in Cuenca, Spain

•Total hours: 260 hours of training and mentoring

•Language: Spanish

•Certification: Participants will receive a certificate from the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM)

Areas of innovation

Selected projects should focus on one of these key areas:

•Protective forest: Business models for ecosystem services such as sustainable tourism, water conservation, or biodiversity.

•Productive forest: Sustainable use of wood and non-wood forest products.

•Innovative forest: Technological solutions for sustainable forest management, including Industry 5.0, deep-tech, and mobile applications.

Resources and support

Participants will have access to a fully equipped innovation lab, designed to support the development and testing of new business solutions. Experts from the public and private sectors will provide mentorship throughout the program.

How to apply?

The application deadline is February 16, 2025. Apply now via https://ufilcuenca.es/

Are you a policy expert with knowledge and experiences in plastics, construction, textile, or chemical sectors? Then, don’t miss the series of workshops “From Vision to Implementation: Shaping Policies to Boost Circular Bio-Based Transition” organised by SUSTRACK!

These workshops aim to:

• Gain insights from keynote speakers outlining the transition challenge, the policy landscape and visions for the transition of the chemical, textile, plastics and construction sectors;
• Explore policy options identified by the SUSTRACK project that may be considered to boost the circular bio-based economy transition in the different sectors;
• Collaboratively identify the strengths and weaknesses of the proposed policy options, as well as discuss further possible policy opportunities/approaches.

The workshop series will conclude with the online “IMPLEMENT Conference” on 21 March 2025, 11:00–12:30 CET, which will provide actionable knowledge and policy recommendations for fostering the transition to a circular bio-based economy.

The workshops will be held online between February and March 2025:

• CHEMICAL sector: 27th of February 2025; 10:00 – 11:30 CET – Agenda
• TEXTILE sector: 28th of February 2025, 10:00 – 11:30 CET – Agenda
• PLASTICS sector: 5th of March 2025, 10:00 – 11:30 CET – Agenda
• CONSTRUCTION sector: 6th of March 2025, 10:00 – 11:30 CET – Agenda

You’re welcome to join one or more workshops—simply register here and choose your preferred sessions.

Each workshop will include:

• Key note speeches to introduce the policy landscape, transformation status and challenges towards the transition to circular bio-based economy in the four sectors;
• Presentation of SUSTRACK approach to identify policy options and outline the selected policies in more detail.
• An interactive session, where participants will then be able to discuss the policy options, suggest alternative policies and share insights on implementing the policies and subsequent effects on the sectors.

This is your chance to share your vision and influence the development and implementation of policies that promote the circular bio-based transition.

Interested? Register now to one or more workshops and mark your calendars to join the series!