Protocol for monitoring of material streams in the biobased economy

The Dutch government refers in its coalition agreement to the biobased economy (BBE) as one of the pillars of ‘sustainable growth and development’, where a choice is made for a realistic and ambitious renewable growth strategy. The EU also has ambitious objectives for the BBE. The use of biomass, renewable raw materials and the reutilisation of scarce materials correspond to the objectives for the circular economy. Incentive policy measures are implemented in various ways, such as the blending obligation or certification and the SDE: Renewable Energy Production Incentive Scheme (Stimulering Duurzame Energieproductie, Netherlands Enterprise Agency). The use of biomass is thus on the rise for heat and energy generation and for production of biofuels. Comparable incentive measures still lack for other sectors in the BBE, such as the chemical industry.
The transition from an economy based on fossil raw materials, to the biobased economy (BBE) and circular economy, requires a structural approach to innovation and consistent policy aimed at the efficient use of biomass and residual streams. To determine the effects of government policy in this field and in order to direct policy, it is necessary to be able to track the development of the BBE and to be able to compare this to international trends. This requires a proper and unequivocal method of data collection and definition of terms.
From this perspective, a monitor is needed with which the use of renewable biobased raw materials in the Dutch economy can be observed. It is important, for reliable monitoring of the BBE, that unequivocal definitions and units are used and that the system boundaries are established unequivocally in a protocol. Transparent information on available and usable sources is important in order to obtain a clear picture of the BBE over time. This calls for analysis of the goals, the data required, and available basic data in order to achieve a monitoring methodology. This protocol for monitoring will bear a strong resemblance to the Renewable Energy Monitoring Protocol started around 1995.