Bioeconomy meets logistics - new paths in value creation

In a recent trade press article entitled "New paths, new opportunities: Why the bioeconomy is revolutionising the logistics sector", our TransBIB project team member Thomas Waaden (research associate at the GEMIT Institute at Niederrhein University of Applied Sciences) talks about the growing importance of transport, storage and supply chain structures for the bioeconomy.

Biogenic raw materials differ considerably from fossil materials - for example due to their seasonal availability, decentralised sources and lower energy density. These special features present logistics service providers, supply chain managers and players in the value chain with new challenges - as well as significant opportunities.

One key finding: in many biomass supply chains, logistics costs can account for between 34% and 77% of total costs - in extreme cases even up to 90%. This illustrates how crucial efficient transport and storage concepts are for bio-based products to function economically.

The article shows various starting points:

• Development of new infrastructure such as regional transhipment and distribution centres for biomass.

• Use of free capacities - e.g. in inland shipping - for biogenic raw material flows.

• Digital tools and data platforms that can be used to connect supply, transport, storage and processing more intelligently.

This contribution is particularly relevant for the TransBIB project: It emphasises the importance of well thought-out logistics and network planning when it comes to successfully establishing bio-based value chains.