Biorefineries: New growth potential for the pulp and paper industry Paper Technology International 2025

PAPERTECHNOLOGYINTERNATIONAL
Market Growth and Industry Expansion
According to the study conducted for Cepi by the Germanbased nova-Institute, turnover in the forest-based biorefinery sector
has more than doubled over the past three years, reaching €6
billion. These facilities, which convert biomass into a diverse array of
value-added products, are integrated into pulp and paper operations,
where similar processing technologies have long been used to meet
internal energy needs, and can now be used for higher value added.
Biorefineries are no longer just theoretical—they are already
being implemented across the continent. The study identifies 143
biorefineries in Europe: 126 operational and 17 in development. The
highest concentrations are found in Sweden, Finland, Germany,
Portugal, and Austria. In total, 18 European countries currently host
operational or planned forest-based biorefineries.
Biorefinery products currently account for approximately 6%
of the total turnover of Europe’s pulp and paper sector. However,
based on identified investment plans, the study projects that this
share will grow significantly, with an annual sector growth rate of up
to 5% expected through 2050.
Cascading Use and Maximised Value
A key principle guiding the future of biorefineries is the
cascading use of biomass—the prioritisation of biomass applications
that deliver the highest added value. State-of-the-art biorefineries
can fractionate lignocellulosic biomass into cellulose, hemicellulose,
and lignin, each of which serves different high-value applications:
•
Cellulose: Used in the production of bio-based
materials and chemicals.
•
Hemicellulose: Converted into platform chemicals or
food and feed ingredients.
•
Lignin: Thermally processed into materials such as
activated carbon for air purification or hard carbon for
battery electrodes.
Emerging Bio-Products: The potential for biorefinery
product applications is nearly unlimited. Currently, the
most common bio-based products are man-made fibres,
electricity and district heat, fuels - including for sustainable
aviation, lignin, and tall oil products.
Such integrated biorefineries can co-produce food, feed,
chemicals, and materials from a shared biomass input, maximising
both economic return and resource efficiency.
Policymakers and stakeholders increasingly recognise
the need to align bioenergy strategies with the cascading use
principle. This approach ensures biomass is first used for high-value
materials and only later for energy applications, thereby enhancing
sustainability and supporting the development of a circular, biobased economy.
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