Biocircularity: a Framework to Define Sustainable, Circular Bioeconomy

Abstract

Bioeconomy is proposed as a solution to reduce reliance on fossil resources. However, bioeconomy is not always inherently circular and can mimic the conventional take, make, consume, dispose linear economic model. Agricultural systems will be relied on to provide food, materials, and energy, so unless action is taken, demand for land will inevitably exceed supply. Bioeconomy will have to embrace circularity to enable production of renewable feedstocks in terms of both biomass yield and maintaining essential natural capital. The concept of biocircularity is proposed as an integrated systems approach to the sustainable production of renewable biological materials focusing on extended use, maximum reuse, recycling, and design for degradation from polymers to monomers, while avoiding the “failure” of end of life and minimizing energy demand and waste. Challenges are discussed including sustainable production and consumption; quantifying externalities; decoupling economic growth from depletion; valuing natural ecosystems; design across scales; renewable energy provision; barriers to adoption; and integration with food systems. Biocircularity offers a theoretical basis and measures of success, for implementing sustainable circular bioeconomy.

Preparation of cellulose nanocrystal (CNCs) reinforced polylactic acid (PLA) bionanocomposites filaments using biobased additives for 3D printing applications

“…Attributes such as biocompatibility, potential biodegradability and wideranging applications make them an ideal material for a circular bioeconomy. 10 Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) are rigid rod-shaped crystalline nanomaterials with diameters ranging from 1-100 nm and lengths between 50 to 1160 nm. [11][12][13] The interest in CNCs is due to their high aspect ratio, low density, renewability, biocompatibility, and biodegradability.…”

“…Attributes such as biocompatibility, potential biodegradability and wide-ranging applications make them an ideal material for a circular bioeconomy. 10 …”

Building a bioenergy system towards a circular bioeconomy in Africa

“…Holden et al [19] explain that bio-circularity aims to give all parties concerned a precise framework to work within when developing and putting into practice circular bioeconomy innovations for materials and products. The six measurable characteristics of bio-circularity are illustrated in Figure 5b.…”

Additive Manufacturing Using Agriculturally Derived Biowastes: A Systematic Literature Review

“…Combining AM with biowastes demonstrates the potential to encourage the application of eco-friendly design, such as designing of products by upcycling or recycling biowastes [16,17]. FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling), also known as Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) [18], Direct Ink Writing (DIW), also known as liquid deposition modeling (LDM) [19,20], stereolithography [21], and binder jetting AM [22] methods are used for 3D printing of agriculturally derived biowastes (Figure 1).…”