Choose Blue, Live Green: A collective commitment to the future
The Blue Wink-E 2024 marks another significant milestone in the B2E CoLAB’s mission to promote the blue bioeconomy as a strategic pillar of sustainable development in Portugal and Europe. This year, under the theme “Choose Blue, Live Green,” we bring together experts, decision-makers, and civil society to discuss and map out pathways that not only preserve our marine resources but also foster a more sustainable and inclusive economy.
Among the key topics shaping the sector, the “Roadmap for the Blue Bioeconomy” stands as a central reference point. This strategic document, which guides the development of the blue bioeconomy in Europe, underscores the importance of placing consumers and value chains at the heart of the conversation. One of the critical challenges for advancing the blue bioeconomy is increasing consumer awareness and acceptance of the sector’s products.
Understanding the value of blue bioeconomy products is essential for market acceptance and for consumers to make informed and responsible choices. However, beyond simply improving communication, it is crucial to highlight innovation as the foundation of sustainable progress. New uses of marine resources that would otherwise be wasted offer unique opportunities to develop innovative products, enabling “blue choices” and a “greener” lifestyle. Companies, in this context, play a vital role: they must not only adapt to sustainability demands but also lead the way in creating solutions that promote the circular economy. Investing in innovation, whether through new materials or processes, is essential to turning the potential of the blue bioeconomy into tangible reality, contributing to a more balanced and sustainable future.
Ensuring that the needs of the blue bioeconomy sector are integrated into business strategies and that the resulting products have a positive impact on both the market and society is key.
Sustainability, therefore, is not just a technical or economic issue; it is a continuous commitment to innovation and responsibility, one that must be shared across all sectors of society.
For this, the existence of robust public policies aligned with the sector’s objectives is also essential. Some areas that still require resolution and continued effort include incentives for innovation, particularly to enable companies to create new products; support for the circular economy through the creation of more up-to-date regulations, such as for the utilisation of by-products; improving consumer support, especially in terms of certification and/or available labelling; and promoting public awareness campaigns on these themes.
In this context, B2E CoLAB’s work extends beyond the realms of science and technology; it also reaches into the sphere of strategic collaboration with businesses, where we must actively support the development of initiatives and partnerships that promote innovation and sustainability. Ensuring that the needs of the blue bioeconomy sector are integrated into business strategies and that the resulting products have a positive impact on both the market and society is key.
Blue Wink-E 2024 is, therefore, a moment of collective reflection and action, where we address the future of our oceans and our economy. We believe that by Choosing Blue, we are opting for a path where economic development is harmonised with environmental protection and social well-being. By Living Green, we reaffirm our commitment to a future where sustainability is not an option, but an indispensable condition for the survival and prosperity of future generations.
We invite everyone to join us on this journey. The future of the planet depends on the choices we make today.
