CBE JU-funded AFTERBIOCHEM biorefinery in Saint-Avold, France
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The European Commission presented today its Competitiveness Compass, a strategic plan for the next five years. The Compass translates Mario Draghi’s report into reality, envisioning a Europe where innovative technologies and clean products are developed, manufactured, and marketed, all while progressing toward carbon neutrality and becoming the first climate-neutral continent by 2050.
CBE JU welcomes the adoption of the Competitiveness Compass, as it reinforces the priorities the initiative has long championed to drive innovation and competitiveness in Europe.
Key focus areas for competitiveness
The plan outlines three transformational goals:
- Closing the innovation gap: strengthening Europe’s technological leadership and accelerating innovation processes.
- Decarbonisation and competitiveness: aligning the green transition with economic growth.
- Reducing dependencies: diversifying supply chains to increase resilience.
The circular bio-based sector is central to achieving these goals by reducing fossil dependency, diversifying supply chains, advancing sustainable materials, and creating new value chains, thereby boosting Europe's resilience and competitiveness. Through its funding and collaboration efforts, CBE JU has helped drive progress in creating resource-efficient and sustainable bio-based industries since 2014.
Bioeconomy and biotechnology: pillars of green growth
Biotechnology and the bioeconomy are recognised as key drivers of innovation, economic resilience and competitiveness. CBE JU’s focus on empowering start-ups and SMEs is critical in shaping the future economy. Supporting decarbonisation and early movers in the green transition highlights the importance of fostering bio-based solutions.
Efforts to tackle regulatory barriers, market fragmentation and finance access, along with improvements in permitting, standard-setting, and public procurement, are essential for enabling bio-based innovation.
As the Competitiveness Compass charts a course toward a more sustainable and innovative Europe, CBE JU-funded projects like AFTERBIOCHEM illustrate how the bio-based sector is translating these ambitions into measurable results, from cutting CO₂ emissions to reducing dependencies from fossil fuels.
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AFTERBIOCHEM: bio-based chemical innovation
The French start-up Afyren Neoxy’s flagship biorefinery in Saint-Avold, France, converts sidestreams from the sugar industry and organic waste into high-value bio-based organic acids. Supported by €20 million in funding from CBE JU, the AFTERBIOCHEM project’s process is circular, sustainable, and zero-waste, reducing CO₂ emissions by 80%.
At full capacity, the biorefinery will produce 16,000 tonnes of organic acid per year, providing sustainable alternatives to fossil-derived ingredients in food, personal care, and industrial chemicals.
Supporting farmers and strengthening agriculture
AFTERBIOCHEM provides a new income stream for French and German farmers, who face challenges from falling sugar beet prices and overproduction. By selling sugar beet by-products, the project supports a more resilient agricultural sector. The project has already created over 60 direct jobs and 200 indirect jobs in manufacturing, construction, and engineering.
Circular economy in practice
The project also produces a potassium-rich bio-based fertiliser as a sidestream, replenishing the soil and supporting new biomass growth. A collaboration with Suez explores further uses of organic waste streams, such as food waste and agro-industrial residues, to optimise feedstock use and expand the reach of the innovative technology.
The success of the Saint-Avold biorefinery has sparked plans to build two additional plants by 2027. These will be located near feedstock sources and end users.
Strengthening the bioeconomy
The AFTERBIOCHEM project is a prime example of how European innovation is driving a circular, sustainable economy. By turning waste into value and reducing reliance on fossil resources, the project exemplifies how to meet the goals of resource efficiency and carbon neutrality.
