How to define and quantify substitution effects in the bioeconomy: a scoping review

Key message

Research on substitution effects in the bioeconomy remains conceptually fragmented and methodologically narrow—focused predominantly on fossil-to-biomass material and energetic substitution, forest-derived biomass, carbon-related metrics, and single-method assessments. This limits its policy relevance. Comprehensive monitoring frameworks for sustainable biomass use must integrate environmental, behavioral, and systemic perspectives. Moving beyond a wood-based focus is essential to address socio-economic trade-offs and cross-border effects, thereby guiding robust, evidence-based policies.

Keywords
Bioeconomy; Biomass utilization; Climate change Mitigation; Displacement Factor (DF); Life Cycle Assessment (LCA); Monitoring

Publication
Gordillo, F., Weimar, H. How to define and quantify substitution effects in the bioeconomy: a scoping review. Annals of Forest Science 82, 26 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13595-025-01299-2

Data availability
The data set supporting the conclusions of this article is available in the Open Agrar repository. It can be found online at https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.3220/253-2025-2

Handling editor
Frédéric Bonin