How can one find one’s way through the certification jungle of the bioeconomy? Representatives from industry, research, consulting, and certification organizations gathered in person and online at the SKZ Plastics Center in Würzburg for a final workshop. The focus was on the results of a multi-stage series of dialogues from the “Certification and Regulation” work package, which were discussed, evaluated, and categorized with a view to their further implementation. The role of TransBIB was also examined.

GmbH, left) and Philipp Wohlfahrt (SKZ) moderated and led the workshop. (Photo: Melly & Martin Photography)

Abschlussworkshop am SKZ zeigt Handlungsbedarfe und Lösungsansätze für Nachhaltigkeitszertifizierungen auf

Closing Workshop at the SKZ Highlights Areas for Action and Potential Solutions for Sustainability Certifications
The workshop marked the conclusion of a series of interviews and expert workshops that thoroughly examined both the benefits and challenges of sustainability certifications in the bioeconomy. The goal was to develop a well-founded understanding of the role of certifications and to derive concrete action points for practical application.

Key Areas of Action for Greater Transparency and Impact
The discussion centered on three key areas of action that had emerged as particularly relevant during the stakeholder dialogue. These include information and guidance resources, harmonization approaches for the existing certification landscape, and the role of public procurement as a potential anchor customer for bio-based products.

“Certifications offer clear added value for companies: as proof for customers and as a basis for sustainability claims. At the same time, however, the dialogue also revealed that the benefits of certifications extend further. For example, they can enhance a company’s credibility and appeal and provide a useful foundation for sustainability reports,” says Philipp Wohlfahrt, scientist at SKZ and head of the stakeholder dialogue.

Public Procurement as a Lever for the Bioeconomy
A key finding of the workshop was the realization that there can be no one-size-fits-all solution for all industries. At the same time, significant potential was identified in public procurement. As a major market player, the public sector can specifically boost demand for bio-based products, provided that sustainability criteria are applied in a legally sound and transparent manner and take the entire life cycle into account rather than focusing solely on the purchase price.

Harmonizing Aspirations and Reality
Participants had mixed views on harmonization efforts. Efforts toward standardization, such as minimum standards or overarching structures, often face criticism because, among other things, they compete with the self-interests of existing labels and therefore appear to have limited feasibility.
Many participants instead advocated for practical solutions. These include, in particular, industry-specific standards, such as those related to life cycle assessments or bio-based content. Likewise, better interoperability among existing systems and more intensive collaboration between stakeholders were considered beneficial.

Information Resources as the Key to Guidance
Information and guidance resources were identified as a particularly effective starting point, as they can facilitate companies’ access to certifications and simplify their implementation.

“This is exactly where we come in with TransBIB: With practical information resources, transparent presentation, and the goal of providing guidance through the jungle of certifications. A central point of contact for this is the TransBIB One-Stop-Shop, where—among many other resources—we’ve created a comprehensive database of certifications that can be intuitively searched using an AI chatbot,” says Romann Glowacki of the TransBIB team.

In addition, there are free learning modules that provide an introduction to the world of sustainability certification in short videos—including for bio-based plastics, adds Philipp Wohlfahrt. With these offerings, the transfer network makes an important contribution to translating insights from research and dialogue into practical application. At the same time, it was emphasized that the content must be continuously maintained and updated even beyond the first funding phase.

Knowledge Transfer as the Driving Force Behind the Industrial Bioeconomy
With the successful conclusion of the stakeholder dialogue and numerous new insights, TransBIB underscores its commitment to purposefully advancing the industrial bioeconomy. Through effective knowledge transfer, close networking among stakeholders, and practical tools, the network helps bring innovations to market more quickly and supports companies in their sustainable transformation.