1. Only the quality of the final product.
2. The environmental performance and sustainability of raw materials.
3. The product’s durability.

Correct answer: b) The environmental performance and sustainability of raw materials.

• The innovations in the BioReCer project include certification schemes for bio-based products that guarantee their sustainability, fostering their spread among both industries and consumers.
• A small change in our purchasing habits can have a big impact on our future.
• Certification is part of testing and inspection of a product and its value-chain, and the provision of written assurance (a certificate) by an independent body. This certificate confirms that the product in question and its value-chain meets specific requirements. These certificates are publicly available, and in many cases, certifiers award product labels that consumers can use as a guide for purchasing choices.
• In case of bio-based products, certification is challenging. This is because existing Labels and Certification Schemes (LCS) mostly use indicators and criteria that have been developed for traditional feedstocks (e.g. wood) and their applications. Also, in comparison to conventional fossil feedstock, value chains of biological resources are often longer due to numerous intermediate processing steps. Consequently, more effort is required to monitor the entire supply chain and obtain transparency.
• BioReCer will complement current certification schemes including new criteria for certifying the sustainability, origin, and traceability of biological resources derived from waste, and ensuring applicability in the EU and globally.

1. Fossil raw materials are renewable natural resources that regenerate quickly.
2. Fossil raw materials are non-renewable resources and include oil, natural gas, and coal.
3. Fossil raw materials are synthetic products created by humans to replace natural resources.

Correct answer: b) Fossil raw materials are non-renewable resources and include oil, natural gas, and coal.

• Defossilisation involves the replacement of fossil carbon (carbon found below the ground) derived from coal, oil and natural gas with renewable carbon sources. This shift is crucial for achieving net-zero emissions in the chemicals and materials industry, given that the majority of chemicals and materials are primarily composed of carbon that is embedded in their molecular structure. Defossilisation, representing the transition from fossil to renewable carbon within the chemicals and materials sector, and parallels the decarbonisation achieved through renewable energy sources.
• Bio-based products are made using renewable raw materials such as plants, algae, and wood, instead of fossil resources like oil. Choosing these products means contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable world.

1. They are cheaper.
2. They use renewable resources instead of fossil resources.
3. They are not biodegradable.

Correct answer: b) They use renewable resources instead of fossil resources.

• Bio-based products help protect the environment, boost the economy, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels like oil and coal. 
• Sustainability starts with Waste! Some waste and by-products, such as agricultural, urban, and industrial waste, can be transformed into valuable bio-based materials for industry. 
• BioReCer works to improve the use of these materials, focusing on bio-based production through innovation and sustainability. Every year, humanity generates enormous amounts of waste that, if not properly managed, end up in landfills or are incinerated. These wastes can be a valuable resource. 

Read more on Biogenic waste and residues – a valuable renewable resource

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