ECN’s reaction to the adoption of the Bioeconomy Strategy

Following the adoption by the European Commission of the Bioeconomy Strategy on 27 November 2025, the European Compost Network (ECN), the European umbrella organisation representing the bio-waste recycling sector, is sharing its reaction and opinion on the content of the Strategy, as well as recommendations for its implementation. Indeed, although the Commission acknowledges in its Strategy the key role of bio-waste recycling and recovery in the EU Bioeconomy, it overlooks certain existing treatment processes that provide valuable solutions for recovering bio-waste.

First, we warmly welcome the inclusion of bio-waste within the scope of the Bioeconomy Strategy. Indeed, as rightly pointed out in the Strategy, bio-waste represents a huge potential in terms of recycling, and it should therefore be taken into account when developing policies to support bioeconomy activities. In particular, the upcoming Circular Economy Act should definitely support the collection and valorisation of bio-waste, given the current lack of implementation of existing legislation. The ECN has developed 12 policy recommendations accordingly.

The ECN also welcomes that the Strategy recognises bio-based fertilising products as lead markets for materials, and identifies as lead market for technologies biorefineries when producing, among others, organic fertilisers from bio-waste. The use of bio-based fertilising products produced from recycled bio-waste is indeed a sustainable and circular way of improving soil fertility while reducing dependency on imported raw materials.

However, the Strategy fails to consider the importance of the production of compost from biowaste, which is commonly used as a soil improver and a substitute for peat in growing media. Indeed, the transformation of bio-waste into bio-based fertilising products not only offers the possibility of recovering nutrients (such as nitrogen and phosphorus) and closing the nutrient cycle, but it can also improve soil health. Studies have shown that repeated use of compost increases soil organic matter, which has a positive effect on soil fertility but also on soil structure, water holding capacity, buffering capacity, microorganisms, etc. . The properties of compost make it also a sustainable alternative to peat in growing media. Therefore, when shaping future policies, the Commission should fully recognise the importance of organic soil improvers derived from bio-waste, such as compost from composting processes, alongside organic fertilisers like digestate from anaerobic digestion, which also produces biogas. This would moreover be in line with the cascading principle and the need to prioritise the material use of biomass. 

Finally, creating lead markets for bio-based products is crucial to build a sustainable and circular bioeconomy across the EU. To achieve this for compost and digestate produced from bio-waste, the ECN recommends to incentivise their use through mandatory green public procurement and carbon farming credits. 

Source

European Compost Network ECN e.V., press release, 2026-02-03.

Supplier

European Commission
European Compost Network ECN
European Union

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