Valorization of Renewable Resources for the Production of Biobased Products through the Implementation of Circular Bio-Economy Principles

Dear Colleagues,

The increasing generation of waste and the reduction of primary resources are major problems of modern society closely interlinked with escalating raw material costs. Their efficient management is of outmost importance to meet sustainability. The alternative of a circular bio-economy would convert end-of-life goods into resources, minimizing waste and replacing production with sufficiency. The transition to a low carbon economy must be based on the utilization of renewable resources incorporating novel technologies and bioprocessing to provide clean energy, green chemicals, biodegradable and safe products of high quality and functionality. Sectors of the EU bioeconomy have been reported to be worth €2 trillion in an annual turnover, and they account for approximately 9% of the EU workforce.

Contributions to this Special Issue may include empirical studies, case studies, and comparative and theoretical studies. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Biomass pretreatment and waste valorization;
• Biorefinery development for bio-based products;
• Recovery of values added products from agricultural waste streams;
• Sustainable production of biobased products;
• Biofuels towards a carbon neutral economy;
• Sustainable applications in food formulations, packaging, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, etc.;
• Development of bio-economy business models;
• Sustainability challenges and aspects of the circular economy;
• Life cycle assessment for bio-based production using renewable resources;
• Policy and social strategies, finance and the transition towards a circular bioeconomy.

Based on the aforementioned topics, this Special Issue will supplement the existing literature by providing a holistic overview regarding waste valorization and bio-based production within a cicrcular bioeconomy era. “State of the art” and “beyond the state of the art” scientific research is anticipated to update the current situation enlightening and giving directions for sustainable future development and innovation.

Dr. Erminda Tsouko
Dr. Sofia Maina
Dr. Maria Alexandri
Guest Editors

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