World BioEconomy Forum goes virtual
- live from Ruka, Finland!
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World BioEconomy Forum 2020 is moving forward rapidly - Register to join our growing number of participants from all over the world!
The four sessions of the event now have their own icons, making the program easy to follow. The themes of the sessions create the outline for the Declaration 2020 that will be published at the end of the event.
We interviewed some of the speakers joining the program on their views on the circular bioeconomy, its role in the post Covid-19 world, and the investment opportunities in the circular bioeconomy. See their replies at the end of this letter!
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World BioEconomy Forum 2020 - Streamed live from Ruka, Finland!
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Register with Early Summer Prices
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Registration for the virtual event is ongoing - Register now and secure your spot at the World BioEconomy Forum 2020!
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The program runs on 10th September 2020 starting from the pre-session at 11 AM (EEST) until the post-session ending at 7:00 PM (EEST). The sessions now all have their own icons, making it easier for you to follow the program. Take a look at the latest updates below!
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We interviewed some of our speakers on their views on the circular bioeconomy, its role in the post Covid-19 world, and the investment opportunities in the circular bioeconomy. See what they had to say about the topics:
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Annica Bresky
CEO
Stora Enso
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How important is the circular bioeconomy to your business and the industries you serve, and do you have a specific, inclusive, bioeconomy strategy for the future for the company you lead?
Stora Enso is in a unique position to lead a transition from a linear to a circular economy.
The world needs materials that are both renewable, reusable, recyclable and fossil free - a circular bioeconomy - to combat global warming and to minimise waste.
We operate at the core of the circular bioeconomy. For us the overall business strategy is our bioeconomy strategy. It is not a separate process, but the essence of our business.
Do you see the circular bioeconomy as having an important role in the post Covid-19 world?
Indeed. As the global economy recovers, the world has an opportunity to speed up the transition away from fossil energy and material dependency. Here, our renewable materials are a key solution as they store carbon and replace fossil-based materials.
A direct impact from the coronavirus outbreak is the increased awareness about personal hygiene, food safety and safety of packaging and materials. Also here, renewable materials is instrumental as they are naturally suited to protect products in a safe, hygienic and sustainable way.
The World Bioeconomy Forum has a diverse range of high-level speakers and panellists, what are you hoping to achieve by taking part in the event, and what are your hopes for the future of the circular bioeconomy?
I look forward to sharing my experiences of how Stora Enso contributes to a circular bioeconomy. I also expect to be inspired from other sectors and companies work in this field.
In the future circular bioeconomy, there as many opportunities, for instance, the next generation of textiles, packaging materials, chemicals and wood construction to name a few.
To realize all the opportunities, it is instrumental that there is clarity from policy makers in the Nordics and the EU on the importance of the circular bioeconomy. Here I hope policy makers will step forward even further than today. We are ready to deliver.
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David Brand
CEO
New Forests Asset Management
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What is the appetite of the financial community to invest in new ventures taking place in the circular bioeconomy, particularly in the wake of Covid-19 and its impact on the global financial situation?
New Forests manages institutional investment in the forestry sector across Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia and the United States. We see a rising opportunity for the forestry sector to provide the feedstock for a whole range of new engineered wood construction materials, fiber-based packaging, cellulosic fabrics, bio-based materials, energy and fuels. We believe that there is a need to expand sustainably managed productive forestry plantations to increase the scale of consistent feedstocks for a rising bioeconomy-based demand. The Covid-19 has severely impacted many sectors of the economy, but in these economic disruptions, transitions are often accelerated. Climate change mitigation will emerge as a central driver of the forestry sector going forward, both via the concept of natural climate solutions and in the rising opportunities from the circular bioeconomy.
In a nutshell, what type of enterprises are you looking at when it comes to circular bioeconomy investment opportunities?
In our investment programs the forestry assets are the primary objective. However, we will invest in processing and infrastructure where it will support the returns from the forestry assets. We currently invest in conventional sawmilling operations, but are actively developing cross laminated timber and glue laminated timber facilities associated with our forestry assets. We are also exploring a composite decking product using plastic waste and sawmill waste as the feedstock. As a feedstock supplier we are also willing to enter into long term contracts with new innovative businesses whether that be for timber, wood fiber or woody biomass. As we expand our business in emerging markets, processing will become increasingly important in the investment strategy, to ensure we can deliver reliable investment returns. Our view is that processing hubs that can produce solid wood, wood fibre and biomass products together may well generate the best returns to the investor.
The World Bioeconomy Forum has a diverse range of high-level speakers and panellists, what are you hoping to achieve by taking part in the event, and what are your hopes for the future of the circular bioeconomy?
The shifts in building systems, materials, and energy are happening very quickly. We are looking to understand the status of various technologies, explore partnerships as a feedstock supplier, and potentially co-invest in processing technologies that can support our investment programs. The World Bioeconomy Forum is a great opportunity to learn about government policy, business and investment strategies, and the technologies that will underpin the circular bio-economy transition. There are a number of CEOs from businesses that have been leading the implementation of these products and markets. There are also government and inter-governmental organizations that can bring the ‘big picture’ thinking to this opportunity. While it is a virtual conference this year, I hope to continue to engage going forward as the forum returns to in person meetings. My view is that for a circular bioeconomy to really take hold we may need to increase the scale of the forestry sector 4-fold by 2050, and that will take substantial effort and investment flows.
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Courtney Lowrance
Head of EMEA Sustainability & Corporate Transitions Group (SCT)
Citibank
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What is the appetite of the financial community to invest in new ventures taking place in the circular bioeconomy, particularly in the wake of Covid-19 and its impact on the global financial situation?
While COVID-19 has disrupted the global economy, recent studies indicate that investor interest in ESG themes, including the circular bioeconomy, remains strong and has even increased. This is supported by the renewed commitment from the European Commission to a Green Deal, providing the financial community more certainty that future policy and regulation will support the circular bioeconomy. Additionally, the pandemic reminds us that financial markets are not isolated from environmental and social challenges. As we move into the recovery phase of the pandemic, the most attractive businesses will be those that play a role in transitioning the economy to a more circular, sustainable, and resource efficient one.
In a nutshell, what type of enterprises are you looking at when it comes to circular bioeconomy investment opportunities?
The businesses that are most exciting are those that have the potential to scale through growth in new markets. For example, the demand for bio-plastics is expected to grow as governments enact policies to curb pollution and GHG emissions. Innovative construction and building materials are particularly promising because of the recycling potential and ability to retain value. Finally, enterprises which can demonstrate efficient, synergistic resource use with strong cooperation across the value chain will have a competitive advantage.
The World Bioeconomy Forum has a diverse range of high-level speakers and panellists, what are you hoping to achieve by taking part in the event, and what are your hopes for the future of the circular bioeconomy?
The circular bioeconomy offers solutions to multiple environmental and social challenges, providing an opportunity to reorient consumption and production patterns within the limits of the planet. Sustainable business models are key enablers of this transition, and the Forum provides a perfect platform to discuss innovation in products, processes, and partnerships across the value chain.
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