The BIOMATTERS cluster, of which GREEN-LOOP is a proud member, has released an updated version (v3, March 2026) of its joint policy paper, originally submitted to the European Commission in June 2025 as a contribution to the new EU Bioeconomy Strategy for 2030.
The update adds a new and significant section: a side-by-side comparison between the cluster’s original recommendations and the content of the Bioeconomy Strategy adopted by the European Commission at the end of 2025. The outcome is encouraging. Several of the cluster’s core proposals have been explicitly reflected in the official strategy document.
What made it into the Strategy?
Five key areas of alignment have been identified:
- Regulatory Simplification and Sandboxes. The cluster had called for harmonized regulatory frameworks and the introduction of “regulatory sandboxes” for bio-based innovations. The Commission responded by announcing the EU Biotech Acts, which introduce exactly these mechanisms, alongside accelerated authorization procedures for microbial solutions and simplified permits for biomanufacturing.
- Overcoming the “Valley of Death.” BIOMATTERS had flagged the persistent funding gap between laboratory validation (TRL 4) and pilot scale (TRL 6), recommending blended finance instruments to de-risk investments. The Strategy addresses this directly, dedicating a full section to the “two valleys of death” and announcing the creation of the Bioeconomy Investment Deployment Group in 2026 to mobilize private capital around bankable projects.
- Public Procurement. The cluster had urged a revision of the EU public procurement framework to give preference to bio-based solutions. The Strategy confirms this direction, and also announces the launch of the Bio-based Europe Alliance (BEA) — a voluntary initiative targeting €10 billion in bio-based product purchases by 2030.
- Standardization and Consumer Awareness. In response to the cluster’s criticism of terminological confusion between “bio-based” and “biodegradable,” and the resulting greenwashing risks, the Commission has planned a revision of Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methods and announced work on harmonized standards for bio-based construction products by 2026.
- Circularity and Secondary Raw Materials. The cluster’s call for greater support for agricultural residues and second-generation biomass has been acknowledged: the Strategy defines circularity as a “pivotal principle” and includes concrete measures to valorize bio-waste, support biogas production, and promote bio-based fertilizers.
As the BIOMATTERS cluster put it: “It is rewarding to see that our primary recommendations have been successfully integrated into the EU’s 2025 Bioeconomy Strategy. The mapping provided clearly demonstrates the impact of our collective efforts in shaping a more supportive European framework for bio-based innovation.”
For GREEN-LOOP, this update confirms that collaborative, evidence-based advocacy within European research clusters can make a tangible difference in shaping policy. We will continue to contribute to this process as the implementation phase of the new Strategy unfolds.