In collaboration with the Biorenewable Deployment Consortium (BDC), Sweden-US Green Transition Initiative (GTI) and RISE launched a webinar to introduce the GTI program and the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) Bioeconomy innovation initiatives. The webinar was hosted by the BDC as part of their BDC 2023 Webinar Series.

Sustainable utilization of the forest is of extreme importance to Sweden and the United States. Despite the difference in size and populations, Sweden is the 4th largest exporter of pulp, paper and wood products following the USA, Russia, and Canada. Sweden is also a leader in the development of the bioeconomy and drives approximately 50% of its industrial sector with biofuels. The Swedish Forest industry’s path to sustainability has been through the development of the bioeconomy with bio-based smart packaging materials, wood-based construction, bio-based textiles and clothing, digital cellulose, and biofuels. Additionally, RISE with its more than 3000 researchers and scientists enabled the Swedish green transition by innovating with its applied research, testing and demonstration facilities.

Looking to the United States, over 85% of the U.S. industrial sector energy supply in 2022 was from fossil-fuel based sources. However, large scale public investments are now being made in the U.S. to develop and encourage the use of low-carbon fuels, feedstocks, and energy sources (LCFFES), energy efficiency, and zero-carbon based electricity for industry. GTI aims to further the ongoing US green transition, facilitating the sharing of Swedish innovations in the bioeconomy through the creation of small pilot projects in the U.S. that provide verifiable reductions of CO2 emissions.

Overall, the GTI-RISE BDC webinar provided an opportunity to learn about Swedish bioeconomy innovations, set against the backdrop of the United States' ongoing green energy and industrial transition.