A Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for bio-based industries has been set up by paper companies and the European Commission. It brings together €3.8 billion to advance the bioeconomy in Europe. The European pulp and paper industry is a strategic partner in the PPP, with 13 of the 48 member companies from the sector as well as CEPI (Confederation of European Paper Industries) as an associate member.
The partnership combines €1 billion of public support from the EC's Horizon 2020 programme with €2.8 billion of industry investment. It is expected to create new markets and value chains for bio-based products, bringing jobs and growth to Europe.
At the heart of the development are biorefineries which - unlike conventional fossil refineries that use finite fossil sources - produce everyday products from various sources of sustainable biomass and waste. The biorefinery concept is well placed in the pulp and paper industry, which already constitutes a large part of the bioeconomy in terms of volume and value.
The industry's expertise in forestry, recycling, wood chemistry and fibre processing provides a unique and strategic opportunity in this initiative.
