1. Products derived from renewable resources.
2. Products grown without the use of pesticides.
3. Products made exclusively from fossil resources.

Correct answer: a) Products derived from renewable resources.

Bio-based products are made using renewable raw materials such as plants, algae, and wood, instead of fossil resources like oil. These are sustainable solutions that reduce environmental impact. They replace fossil-based materials in everyday products and advanced technologies. From cosmetics to textiles, detergents to packaging, and even batteries.

Examples of bio-based solutions: 

1. Chemicals: Bio-based chemicals are used in various industries, such as cosmetics, paints, lubricants and adhesives.
2. Textiles: In recent years, new bio-based polymers produced from wood or algae, or fermented agricultural and food residues, have been used in new sustainable textile fibre production.
3. Construction or packaging materials: Insulation material used in construction can be made from agricultural waste and fungi. Microbial cells and enzymes can be used to produce bio-based plastics (biodegradable or not) in packaging, agriculture, and other industries as well as recycle such bio-based polymers. The glamour of biology knows no limits: Eucalyptus cellulose can even be used to produce bio-based and biodegradable glitter.

Read more on bio-based products  

1. The circular economy is based on the exclusive use of non-renewable resources to ensure maximum efficiency.
2. The circular economy aims to reduce, reuse, and recycle resources to minimize waste and environmental impact.
3. The circular economy promotes the production of new materials without considering the product lifecycle.

Correct answer: b) The circular economy aims to reduce, reuse, and recycle resources to minimize waste and environmental impact.

• A circular economy is an economic model that aims to eliminate waste and maximise resource efficiency by keeping materials and products in use for as long as possible. The European Union has introduced legislation and strategies to transition towards a circular economy. In essence, the circular economy represents a fundamental shift in how we produce, consume and manage resources, aiming to create a more sustainable and resilient economic system.
• Bio-based products are often more innovative and less impactful on the environment, helping to preserve natural resources and stimulate the circular economy.
• Circularity is essential for the sustainable transition of the EU economy because it promotes efficient use of resources, minimises waste, and reduces the environmental impact of production and consumption. By adopting a circular economy model, materials and products are reused, repaired, and recycled, keeping them in the economy for as long as possible. This reduces the demand for virgin resources, lowers carbon emissions and supports the EU’s goals for climate neutrality and sustainability. Circularity also encourages innovation, creates green jobs, and enhances economic resilience by reducing dependency on finite resources and external markets.

Read more on New lease of life: transforming biowaste into a valuable resource