In the current society, where sustainability represents the greatest economic challenge, the emergence of a circular and bio-based economy, relying on the use of renewable resources for the production of novel products for various applications, is fundamental. Indeed, the traditional linear economic models have proven to be unsustainable in a context of a finite world and finite resources. As a result, there has been in recent years a steady increase in calls for a transition to circularity and toward production and consumption partners that can support a carbon-neutral, and sustainable economy.

Among others, three key areas of change need to be addressed for the transition to occur: (1) consumers need to change their behaviors and embrace more sustainable patterns of consumption; (2) new markets and regulations need to be developed to provide a level playing field to sustainable products; (3) tools and metrics need to be developed to measure and assess sustainability.

In order to discuss these pressing and challenging topics, the Bioeconomy in transition research group (BiT-RG), together with the School of sustainability studies and circular economy (Sustain), is organizing a one-day conference to analyse key factors which hamper on the one hand and boost on the other this desired transition. The conference will provide the opportunity to presents findings of three Horizon Europe projects and a Life project: Sustrack, Star4bbs, Biorecer and Life-Ebp.