CC BY 4.0 · Sustainability & Circularity NOW 2025; 02: a25409377
DOI: 10.1055/a-2540-9377
Original Article

Transitioning to a Circular Economy Safely and Sustainably: A Qualitative Exploration of System Barriers and Drivers for Industrial Biotechnology in the EU

1   Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
,
Iduna Hoefnagel
2   Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, the Netherlands
3   Wageningen University and Research (WUR), Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708 PB Wageningen, the Netherlands
,
Petra A. M. Hogervorst
2   Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, the Netherlands
,
Pim Klaassen
1   Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU), De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
› Author Affiliations

Funding Information This research was partly funded by the Strategic Programme of the Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), grant number S/0300003.


Abstract

Innovations in industrial biotechnology promise great potential for contributing to the circular economy as they can reduce our dependence on fossil-based raw materials. However, their environmental impacts and sustainability benefits can differ greatly. Therefore, it is important to consider the values of safety and sustainability when designing innovative applications for the circular economy transition.

Transitions like the one from a linear to a circular economy are shaped by the dynamics between political, societal, economic, and technological developments. Insights from actors working with industrial biotechnology innovation or policies are useful to explore the barriers and drivers of legislation, culture, and the market in a circular economy transition.

Results indicate that sustainability legislation, genetically modified organism (GMO) legislation, governmental policies, and societal resistance hinder early research and development and appear to delay sustainable industrial biotechnology applications from entering the European market. But the tide might be changing. As market and societal actors are learning how to navigate the tensions between safety and sustainability, they more openly underscore the sustainability benefits of using genetically modified microorganisms over potential risks to environmental and human safety. European policy and legislation are beginning to recognize the need for integrated policies that align safety, sustainability, and circularity needs.

Primary Data



Publication History

Received: 30 October 2024

Accepted after revision: 06 February 2025

Accepted Manuscript online:
17 February 2025

Article published online:
21 March 2025

© 2025. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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Bibliographical Record
Denise Flaherty, Iduna Hoefnagel, Petra A. M. Hogervorst, Pim Klaassen. Transitioning to a Circular Economy Safely and Sustainably: A Qualitative Exploration of System Barriers and Drivers for Industrial Biotechnology in the EU. Sustainability & Circularity NOW 2025; 02: a25409377.
DOI: 10.1055/a-2540-9377