NaGeWe-Bio

The term “bioeconomy” refers to the use and processing of renewable biomass with the aim of achieving sustainable development. In practice, the development of bioeconomic value creation systems leads to conflicts of interest among the social, environmental, and economic dimensions of sustainability. In this context, the key questions arise: Under what conditions are bioeconomic business models and value creation systems actually more sustainable than conventional solutions? What contribution do they make to sustainable regional structural transformation? And which bioeconomic approaches should be prioritized in terms of their impact on sustainability?

As part of the "NaGeWe-Bio" project, a toolkit for the sustainability assessment of bioeconomy business models and value creation systems was developed and tested within the WIR! alliance Plant³. The assessment framework covers the economic, environmental, and social dimensions of sustainability, using existing and planned initiatives in northeastern Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (the Plant³ project region) as case studies. By integrating both the individual business perspective of bioeconomy enterprises and the associated value creation systems, the toolkit enables the evaluation of business models within the context of regional structural transformation.

The methodology developed draws on the perspectives of ‘sustainability of bioeconomic business models’ and ‘sustainability of bioeconomic value creation systems’, which can be applied either independently or in combination. The assessment and indicators for both aspects are based on the same set of criteria. The development of this catalogue through extensive research and dialogue formats is a key outcome of the NaGeWe-Bio project.

The sustainability check for business models in bioeconomy regions assesses the value creation potential of a company with regard to its ability to generate economic value while simultaneously pursuing ecological and social objectives. It supports the sustainable development of companies and business ideas, enabling them to contribute to a responsible bioeconomy. The Business Model Check can be completed easily through an online questionnaire available directly on this website.

The Sustainability Check for value creation systems in bioeconomy regions assesses the sustainability of regional networks of companies and organizations through dialogue with stakeholders from business, public administration, and research. The systematic assessment supports the identification of options for action and development pathways for sustainable regional structural change in bioeconomy regions. It is implemented using a practice-oriented guideline that accompanies the entire process, from defining the value creation system to data collection and analysis. The primary target group includes professionals and decision-makers in regional development and regional policy, as well as representatives of regional bioeconomy clusters and networks.

If required, the options for action and development pathways identified through the Value Creation System Check can be further explored from an individual company perspective using the Business Model Check . Linking both approaches enables a holistic analysis of the sustainability of processes and development opportunities in bioeconomy regions.