Towards the circular bio-economy supply chains

: foresight and outlook

Abstract

Bioeconomy is considered to be a means to combat global challenges, the logic to do so it’s by substituting fossil resources with renewable and biological systems that optimize the cultivation or use biowaste with technological innovation that will reduce green gas emissions, CO2 and achieve sustainability. The motivation to achieve sustainability through bioeconomy came as an opportunity for the promotion of more circular systems and logistics. To support this transition for a more sustainable planet the United Nations created 17 goals, the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, not only focusing on economic factors but also by including human rights and environmental responsibility. So, the current research deals with the ability of bioeconomy promoting sustainable development in the course of the supply chains, integrating coherent views on how the shift towards a circular bioeconomy will be affected by downstream supply chains. The methodological approach to try filling this gap in the literature was by conducting a systematic literature review of 99 articles, analysing trends and research gaps. To support the analysis, it was conducted 9 interviews among experts inside the field of bioeconomy and logistical operations to draw further conclusions. The study unveiled a series of gaps in knowledge concerning the development and implementation of efficient systems for bioeconomy activities, due to the limited technology for some biomaterials and the deficiency in regulatory adaptations for the economic activity.

Date of Award	14 Jul 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Jorge Julião (Supervisor) & Marcelo Rudolfo Calvete Gaspar (Supervisor)