Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Launch of the ECE/FAO Publication
“Sustainable and Circular Bioeconomy in Forest-based Industries: How to Get There”
📅 10 June 2025 | 🕒 15:00–16:00 CEST | 📍Online
Background
As the world shifts toward more sustainable, resource-efficient economic models, the forest sector stands out as a vital enabler of this transition. Forests provide a renewable source of raw materials that and forest-based industries can play a critical role in reducing dependence on fossil-based resources and promoting nature-based solutions across a wide range of industries—from construction and packaging to textiles and chemicals.
The bioeconomy, when grounded in sustainable forest management and driven by circularity, offers an opportunity to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation while supporting rural development, innovation, and green job creation supporting societies to meet climate goals and shift toward more sustainable and resource-efficient economic models.
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Recognizing this opportunity, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have jointly worked on a publication: “Sustainable and Circular Bioeconomy in Forest-based Industries: How to Get There.” The publication explores pathways and actionable recommendations for advancing a sustainable, circular bioeconomy in the forest-based industries, while highlighting good practices, enabling conditions, and innovation trends across the forest-based value chains.
Objective
The event will serve to provide a platform for discussion among stakeholders on strategies for advancing circularity and sustainability in forest sectors. It will present key insights from the publication and showcase UNECE and FAO’s ongoing work on bioeconomy and forest-based industries.
Target Audience
The event is open to all stakeholders interested in forestry, sustainability, circular economy, and bioeconomy— including policymakers, industry representatives, researchers, NGOs, and international organizations.
Tentative Programme (75 min total)
Moderator:
Dominique Burgeon, Director, Liaison Officer, FAO Liaison Office in Geneva
Opening Remarks
- Paola Deda, Director, Forests, Land and Housing Division, UNECE (5 minutes)
- Zhimin Wu, Director, Forestry Division, FAO (5 minutes)
UNECE and FAO Work on Bioeconomy
- Florian Steierer, Economic Affairs Officer, Forests and Bioeconomy Section, UNECE (10 minutes)
- Sven Walter, Chief, Forest Products and Bioeconomy Section, Forestry Division, FAO (10 minutes)
- Lev Neretin, Senior Natural Resources Officer, Office for Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment, FAO (10 minutes)
Presentation of the Publication
- Kathryn Fernholz, Dovetail Partners Lead author of the UNECE/FAO publication: “Sustainable and Circular Bioeconomy in Forest-based Industries: How to Get There.” (15 minutes)
Q&A Session (15 minutes)
Closing Remarks
- Raschad Al-Khafaji, Director, FAO Liaison Office with the European Union and Belgium (5 minutes)