Webinar: Digital Solutions for a Bio-Based Future – Empowering Industry and Consumers
8 April 2025, 13:00-14:30 CET, online
Digital innovation can play a crucial role in strengthening the competitiveness of bio-based feedstocks and products in the European bioeconomy. By providing consumers and industry with essential information on sustainability and circularity criteria of bio-based products and their value chains, digital solutions and tools improve the tracking and traceability of biological feedstocks from their origin to a final product. These digital tools offer valuable insights into a wide range of sustainability criteria, e.g., climate impacts, environmental effects on soil, water and air quality and technical performance. By covering these key areas, digital tools enable a holistic understanding of the sustainability performance of bio-based products and processes throughout their lifecycle.
Digital solutions are also instrumental in the realm of Labels and Certification Schemes (LCS) for bio-based products. These digital tools provide essential information on trustworthy eco-labels and clarify requirements for concise certifications of bio-based value chains. This capability is particularly valuable in promoting transparency and boosting consumer confidence in bio-based products. By offering clear insights into eco-label standards and certification processes, these digital tools empower both consumers and industry stakeholders to make informed decisions, ultimately fostering greater trust in the bio-based sector.
Building upon these capabilities, artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies offer a unique advantage in this context. These tools are designed to continuously learn from user and developer input, enabling them to analyse and pass on current and real-time data on raw material flows, value chain information, and the sustainability of bio-based products.
Digital solutions are set to boost the European bioeconomy by providing critical information on feedstock tracking, sustainability, and certification for bio-based products.
To showcase these advances, a free webinar hosted by Horizon Europe projects 3-CO and BioReCer will introduce several innovative digital tools.
Scheduled for April 8, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM CET, the event offers an excellent opportunity to understand the future of digital technologies in the bioeconomy. Four tools developed by EU-funded projects will be presented and made available to users in the near future.
- Armand Carreras from ENIDE will present the consumer-based digital solutions developed within the project 3-CO that provides information on eco-labels and certification of bio-based products from different categories in order to support sustainable consumption.
- The BiobasedCert Cluster consists of the three EU-funded projects Star4bbs, HARMONITOR and Sustcert4Biobased. Luana Ladu from TU Berlin will present an app that assesses the robustness, comprehensiveness and effectiveness of existing certification schemes and labels for bio-based value chains.
- David Nettleton and Poojan Timilsina from IRIS Technology will present the BIORADAR project’s digital self-assessment tool that assesses the performance of industrial bio-based systems, aiding relevant stakeholders in informed decision-making.
- Romain Magnani from EGM will present the BioReCer ICT tool (BIT), an automated assessment tool that collects and transmits real-time data on the environmental performance of bio-based value chains promoting environmentally conscious decisions and sustainable practices in the bioeconomy.
Webinar: Certification in Bio-Based Construction
25 February 2025, 13:00-14:30 CET, online
The construction sector is one of the most significant contributors to global CO₂ emissions, accounting for approximately 37 % of energy- and processing-related carbon dioxide emissions worldwide (UNEP, 2022). As the industry seeks to reduce its environmental impact, bio-based materials are emerging as a promising solution for more sustainable construction sector. Certification plays a critical role in this transformation, providing a robust framework for validating the sustainability, performance, and environmental credentials of these innovative bio-based materials.
This informative event, scheduled for 25 February 2025, at 13:00 CEST, will explore the broad landscape of bio-based materials and their diverse applications. The webinar will cover crucial aspects of sustainable construction, including:
- The importance of certification for bio-based products,
- Sustainable building design, conception, and planning,
- Material recommendations,
- Building passports as tools for capturing and communicating building data, material composition, and environmental performance,
- Circularity indicators and their role in assessing a building’s sustainability, including the new ISO 59040 standard for Product Circularity Data Sheets, which emphasises circular concepts such as design for disassembly.
- Different assessment methods for sustainability of buildings and for constructions, including the Quality Seal for Sustainable Buildings (QNG), e.g., CO₂-footprint for buildings.
The webinar brings together a distinguished panel of experts from certification bodies, public ministries, and innovative producers:
• Martin Behrens (Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR))
• Sergiy Kovalenkov (CEO and Founder of Hempire)
• Hein van Tuijl (EPEA Benelux)
Take the “Lured by Labels” Challenge
When purchasing clothes, consumers often pay special attention to eco labels. But do they know what they actually mean? We invite you to test your own knowledge in this field. Match these common textile and clothing labels to the correct corresponding descriptionDid you get them all right?
Webinar: Labels and certification for bio-based products: Counteracting greenwashing and increasing consumer trust
13 December 2024, 12:00-13:0 CET, online
The second episode of the certification webinar series by the Horizon Europe projects BioReCer and 3-CO will tackle two intertwined topics:
DIN CERTCO will give an introduction into certification in general and especially bio-based certification. Both bio-based and general certifications play a vital role in fostering innovation, ensuring product integrity. Furthermore, bio-based certification is a crucial process that verifies the bio-based carbon content of products and materials. Here, certification promotes the use of renewable resources and provides transparency and trust for consumers and businesses.
The presentation by ECOS picks up on labelling and certification schemes for bio-based products, and will present the variables determining consumer trust and thus shaping consumer behaviour. These variables include sustainability criteria, label design, the level of familiarity with labels by consumers and much more.
The 3-CO and BioReCer team kindly welcomes the following speakers:
- Berit Topolinski (DIN CERTCO, the certification body of TÜV Rheinland Group)
- Margaux Le Gallou (ECOS – Environmental Coalition on Standards)
Webinar: Potential and challenges of certification and development of new labels
5 November 2024, 11:30-12:30 CEST, online
Are you a member of the (bio-based) industry, a label and certification schemes holder, a policy maker or part of a consumer association? Then participate in the first joined webinar by the Horizon Europe projects 3-CO and BioReCer on November 5th 2024, 11:30 am to 12:30 pm (CET). The webinar will address the vital topic of new certifications and labels for the renewable, and especially bio-based, economy.
Certification and labelling play a crucial role in empowering consumers to make informed and sustainable purchasing decisions by impeding greenwashing and instead providing credible and reliable sustainability information. Furthermore, they facilitate the tracking and traceability of biological and other renewable feedstock throughout value chains, fostering transparency and accountability among stakeholders of the industry. However, there are a lot of challenges for current certification and labelling schemes, since they are often not sufficiently laid-out for bio-based and other renewable products and their value-chains.
In this webinar, REDcert and TÜV AUSTRIA will show their sytems for sustainability certification and will present new or soon to be published label and certification schemes (LCS) that are relevant for the bio-based economy. The speakers will talk about challenges on the way to the final label, and which gaps will be closed.
Join us on November the 5th and listen to the two presentations by REDcert and TÜV AUSTRIA. Together, we will explore their innovative new LCS that will support shaping a strong circular EU (bio)economy.
Speakers:
- Phillipe Dewolfs (TÜV AUSTRIA): From standardisation to communication – the role of a certification body
- Simon Schwarzwald (REDcert): Certification of sustainable products in the REDcert² scheme
BTG will present 3-CO at two events for consumers and the general public in Groningen
13 September to 5th October 2024 – Kleer’nzooi XXL
This event in the city centre of Groningen is all about sustainability and textiles. In the Forum Groningen, BTG will explain the role of labels and certification for choosing eco-friendly clothing. Take part in their game trail.
More on Kleer’nzooi XXL
27 September 2024 – European Researchers’ Night
Meet 3-CO’s consortium partner BTG at the Forum Groningen with the projects 3-CO and GenB (BIOVOICES). Visit their booth “Discover the Magic of the Bioeconomy,” where you can explore different types of biomass and their applications, and test your knowledge about sustainability labels of clothing. This year’s Dutch European Researchers’ Night has more than 90 booths with the theme “Living in a Smart World,” where you can learn about the latest innovations and technologies.
Learn more about the European Researchers’ Night
Summer Seminar in Marketing at the Faculty of Management at the University of Warsaw
12-13 June 2024
The conference brought together researchers to discuss various aspects of consumer behaviour towards sustainability and gamification in business. One panel was entirely dedicated to the presentation of the 3CO project assumptions and the research findings to date.
Dr. Maarit Halttunen from VTT presented the 3CO project assumptions, and Dr. Shahriare Mahmood from Spinnova discussed a case study on Spinnova. Dr. Marcin Żemigała from UW analyzed research trends on consumer behavior towards sustainable products based on the bibliometric analysis, further expanded by Hannamaija Tuovila from VTT, who focused on findings from scientific and grey literature review. Dr. Agnieszka Wiśniewska (UW) and Dr. Katarzyna Liczmańska-Kopcewicz (UMK) discussed consumer attitudes towards sustainability and willingness to buy bio-based products discovered after CAWI survey, while Dr. Magdalena Marczewska and Dr. Magdalena Klimczuk-Kochańska (UW) covered trends in responsible consumption identified after FGDs. Dr. Edyta Barmentloo (UW) spoke on managing data from gamification applications to better understand pro-environmental attitudes among consumers, and Dr. Michał Mijal (UW) concluded with a talk on gamification in business as an engagement tool. The conference provided a comprehensive overview of research and practical applications in sustainability and gamification.
Four members of the EAB of the 3CO project served as members of the advisory committee for the conference: Shahriare Mahmood (Spinnova), Malahat Ghoreishi (LAB University of Applied Science), Nelo Emerencia (Bio-based Industries Consortium, Chemicals), and Jos van der Sterren (Breda University of Applied Sciences).
First 3-CO webinar: Six pathways to smart certification of bio-based systems
7 June 2024, online, 11 am to 12:30 pm (CET)
Are you a policy maker, a member of the bio-based industry or a concerned consumer? Participate in the first webinar by the Horizon Europe project 3-CO on June 7th, 2024, 11 am to 12:30 pm (CET)! The webinar will address the vital topic of certification and labelling of biological feedstock, bio-based value chains and products.
Certification and labelling play a crucial role in empowering consumers to make informed and sustainable purchasing decisions by impeding greenwashing and instead providing credible and reliable sustainability information. Furthermore, they facilitate the tracking and traceability of biological feedstock throughout value chains, fostering transparency and accountability among stakeholders of the bio-based industry. However, there are a lot of challenges for current certification and labelling schemes, since they are often not sufficiently laid-out for bio-based products and their value-chains, and that they do not reflect the environmental and sustainability benefits.
Following different calls of the European Commission several Horizon Europe projects are currently tackling the issue of certification and labelling by taking into account current political and societal developments. The projects’ diverse approaches encompass assessment, monitoring, and validation of bio-based case studies, defining sustainability indicators, formulating guidelines for certification and labelling schemes, offering policy recommendations, and developing innovative digital tools to provide information on bio-based value chains to consumers or industry stakeholders.
Join us on June 7th and listen to pitches from three individual HORIZON Europe projects, i.e. 3-CO, BioReCer and SUSTRACK, and the BiobasedCert cluster formed by HARMONITOR, Star4bbs and Sustcert4Biobased. Together, we’ll explore their innovative approaches, recent advancements and latest results that pave the way for shaping a strong circular EU bioeconomy.
Agenda:
- 11:00 Maarit Halttunen on 3-CO
- 11:15 Pedro Villanueva Rey on BioReCer
- 11:30 Gülşah Yilan on SUSTRACK
- 11:45 Costanza Rossi, Luana Ladu & Iris Vural Gursel on the BiobasedCert Cluster (HARMONITOR, Star4bbs, Sustcert4Biobased)
- 12:20 Q&A
3-CO at the Bio-Based Innovations for Industrial Applications Event
24 April 2024, Brussels, Belgium 9:00-17:00 CET
How to successfully enable the bio-based trasition of industries? The event “Bio-Based Inovations for Industrial Application” jointly organized by the EU-funded research projects CHAMPION and PERFECOAT will provide comprehensive insights on bio-based components, assessment methods, application potential but also end user perspectives and certification of utilized bio-based feedstock. Costanza Rossi from 3-CO partner University of Utrecht will present relevant factors that drive sustainability in businesses and end-user uptake.
3-CO at the Cellulose Fibres Conference 2024
13-14 March 2024, Cologne, Germany and online
The Cellulose Fibres Conference 2024 brought together key players in the field of bio-based textiles and materials derived from cellulose fibres. With certfication being a key element especially in the fashion and fabric industry, presenting the 3-CO project to an international audience provided great opportunity to exchange and engage with 220 staleholders from industry and research.
More information on the event is available at https://cellulose-fibres.eu
European BioPlastics Conference, Berlin, Germany
12–13 December 2023, Berlin, Germany and online
Meet the 3-CO project at the European BioPlastics Conference 2023 in Berlin, Germany. We will introduce the project and would be happy discuss your potential participation in our external advisory board. You can find us in booth 10.
Find our more about the European Bioplastics Conference 2023.