Europe’s economy depends on oil and gas for energy and chemistry for all kinds of daily life products, but the use of fossil resources harms the environment and our climate. The bioeconomy offers a way out by providing industrial and consumer products made of biomass and waste.
This is a crucial moment for involving society in the transition to a more circular economy. Since all individuals, whether as citizens or consumers, will be affected, they should be able to play a role when shaping it. On the other hand, it goes without saying that the bio-based industry needs the input of citizens and consumers, to make sure that the products developed are in tune with consumers’ requirements and expectations.
In Allthings.bioPRO we put all emphasis on getting citizens involved in the bioeconomy and making their voices heard. We focused on issues and products, which connect with the daily life of citizens and consumers. Possible themes are the creation of growth and jobs, sustainable and circular use of resources or the societal dimension of the bio-based industry in Europe but also outside Europe, where the biomass products might impact societies in other countries. The personal viewpoint of a consumer considers quality, functionality and the costs of products but does also care about sustainable production and the environmental impact of daily life products.
In Allthings.bioPRO we used serious gaming to channel citizens’ voices to the bio-based industries. We developed a serious game within a co-creation and co-design process involving both citizens and experts. To ensure focus, we already decided on the subject of the serious game but left the final creation of its content to the engagement process.
AllThings.bioPRO also used mobile phones as a means to collect data that comes from citizens. By developing a mobile application that scans logos, labels and certification schemes and provides users with information on the sustainable performance of the scanned bio-based/biodegradable products, the app generates data that can be used by bio-based industry actors and provide important insights to policy makers. Based on the assumption that the bioeconomy is in the process of transforming from a fossil-based economy to a sustainable bio-based economy, the ATB scanning tool aims to specifically inform consumers about "bio-based" aspects, providing information about what the (eco-) label stands for, on which products and product categories it can be found, which aspects it covers, what it guarantees and who owns or operates the label.
