Innovative Bio-based Circular Economy Schemes: The Case of Biomass and Food Waste Utilization as an Enabler of Regional Resilience

Abstract

The world is faced with sustainability challenges and recurring crises in all aspects of social, economic, and ecological life. Cities and regions seem to be increasingly susceptible to environmental changes, while natural hazards and disasters continuously test their resilience. Along with the climate change, the global coronavirus outbreak has once more underlined the importance of resilience in facilitating sustainable development. To successfully tackle these challenges and rapidly adapt to future crises and shocks, societies should focus on building resilience and shift to Circular Economy approaches and close the loop achieving a more efficient use of resources. To achieve greater resilience at a minimum environmental cost, it is important to increase circularity and accelerate the transition towards a sustainable bio-based growth. On this basis, the valorization of waste and by-products, the integration of different processes within the biorefinery concept and the production of bio-based added-value products could address major regional challenges, thus, yielding significant environmental, economic, and social benefits. The basic aim of this paper is to summarize recent development on biomass and food waste utilization and possible engagement of bio-based processes as an enabler of regional resilience. More specifically, the main purpose of this work is to introduce two relevant case studies illustrating the enormous potential of bio-based circular economy for a more sustainable and resilient society. Within this context, the exploitation of available biomass and organic waste residues in the Region of Central Macedonia and their utilization in the biogas production, as well as the investigation for the provision of alternative diet to pigs from food waste that is considered unfit for human consumption are examined. Future possible sustainable approaches to support the reveal of green supply chain models will also be discussed. The core outcomes will shed light on the potential of circular bio-based solutions targeting the enhancement of regional sustainability and resilience from an economic, environmental, and social point of view.