On 2nd May 2025, from 11:00–12:00 CET, our 5th Network of Interest (NoI) meeting was a great success!

After 3 years of exciting activities, our final NoI meeting brought together 15 participants from across the bio-based sector to explore how voluntary sustainability systems and ecolabels can support the transition to a circular bioeconomy.

The meeting kicked off with a warm welcoming note from Antonia Kalimeri (White Research), who set the stage by reflecting on the project’s ongoing engagement with stakeholders and the importance of community in driving sustainable change.

Next, Pinelopi Kaslama (White Research) shared updates on what’s next for the SustCert4BioBased Network of Interest. She highlighted upcoming opportunities for collaboration, including national stakeholder dialogues and the final project conference. She also encouraged members to stay actively involved in shaping the project’s policy recommendations and best practices.

The thematic presentations began with Maira Devisscher (Innovations Manager at ISEAL), who gave a compelling talk on the role of voluntary sustainability systems in advancing a circular bioeconomy. She spoke about the increasing demand for credible sustainability assurance and how certification systems can evolve to better address circularity, traceability, and social responsibility in bio-based value chains.

Following this, S. Karthikeyan (Chair of the Board at the Global Ecolabelling Network) delivered a presentation titled “The Power of Ecolabels: Shaping a Sustainable Market.” He illustrated how ecolabels contribute to consumer trust, support green public procurement, and drive market transformation. His talk included practical examples from India and emphasised the importance of intersectoral cooperation in ecolabelling efforts.

The meeting wrapped up with an engaging open Q&A session, where participants raised insightful questions and shared feedback on the role of certification and labelling in making bio-based markets more transparent, reliable, and sustainable.

This 5th Network of Interest meeting marked the final Meeting of our stakeholder network under the SUSTCERT4BIOBASED project. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all participants and attendees who have joined us throughout this journey.

Your insights, feedback, and continued engagement have been instrumental in shaping our work and strengthening the conversation around sustainability certification in the bio-based sector. We look forward to sharing the final outcomes of the project with you soon—and continuing the dialogue beyond the project’s lifetime.

Thank you for being part of the SUSTCERT4BIOBASED Network of Interest!