UNITELMA is responsible for conducting background research to provide information for the design of the monitoring system. These tasks include reviewing sustainability priorities under the 2030 Climate Target Plan, the Zero Pollution ambition, and other strategies; reviewing and analyzing international and EU SCS and B2B labels for biological feedstock and bio-based materials and products; understanding the contribution of SCS and labels to supporting climate goals and reviewing the existing monitoring schemes developed to assess and compare SCS and labels.

NOVA will collect specific data and information on the volume of biological feedstocks and bio-based materials and products in global trade flows, focusing on imports (and exports) from the EU and their geographical distribution. Furthermore, a distinction will also be made between certified and non-certified flows. Based on this analysis, NOVA will work with the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) to identify test cases from a range of industrial bio-based value chains to assess the costs of adopting SCS & labels and the feasibility of B2B labels. In addition, the impact of certification and labeling on market access and trade in bio-based feedstock, materials, and products will be examined.

USC is leading the identification and development of indicators, related metrics, and minimum requirements covering environmental, social, economic, and circular aspects. To this end, the SCS and MS identified by UNITELMA and TUB respectively, as well as the relevant literature, are analyzed in detail. The AUA is particularly involved in performing the economic dimension analysis. The results of this work package will be implemented in the monitoring system under development

TUB is leading the development of the monitoring system for assessing the robustness and effectiveness of the existing SCS and labels to establish a novel tool that can be applied in the bio-based industry. In addition, ISEAL is guiding the conceptualization of the monitoring system (vision, methodology, structure, and outputs). The final deliverable of this work package will provide the results of the testing of the monitoring system in selected labels/certification schemes.

AUA is leading the performance of cost & benefit analysis (CBA) for evaluating how the adoption of SCS and labels affects the overall sustainability performance of specific test cases in representative value chains. A techno-economic assessment and profitability risk analysis will be conducted to evaluate the economic aspects of the selected cases. USC will assess the environmental and social aspects of the selected cases using E-LCA and S-LCA. The combination of all results will be achieved under the cost of externalities perspective using the Life Cycle Costing methodology. Finally, UNITELMA will perform feasibility studies to assess the feasibility of selected B2B labels that award the best performances.

Stakeholder engagement is one of the dimensions considered in the European Commission’s RRI framework. Through participation and involvement, it contributes to improving mutual understanding between science and society by implementing the principles of inclusion, adaptability, reactivity, and desirability. It can be defined as a concrete measure targeted at supporting and improving the dialogue between science and society. Stakeholder mapping is part of stakeholder analysis. It is an exercise in which relevant stakeholders can be identified and then categorized to help with the implementation of the engagement strategy.
Following an internal consultation between APRE, TUB, NOVA, ISEAL, and UNITELMA (all partners are involved in Task 6.1), seven categories of relevant stakeholders have been identified that will be involved during the lifetime of the project: Standards setting, labeling, and certification organizations (including certification bodies); Academia, research institutions, and researchers; Value chains actors (feedstocks producers, processors, and industry associations); EU Policymakers; Intergovernmental organizations (e.g., FAO); Civil society organizations and end-consumers; EU funded projects on the same topic.
Since at least 5 online co-creation workshops are foreseen for STAR4BBS, the partners identified topics during the General Assembly held in March 2023 that can be discussed in separate co-creation activities.

APRE, as WP7 leader, is taking care of the dissemination and exploitation of results and the communication activities throughout the STAR4BBS implementation period, in close collaboration with the entire consortium. The “Strategy for dissemination and communication and of the Roadmap for STAR4BBS outputs exploitation and replication” (D7.1) was submitted at the end of February 2023 and social media has been operational since M1. On the STAR4BBS website, the Communication Kit including the project logo, visual identity, and guidelines as well as leaflets is available (https://star4bbs.eu/public-results/#box-1)

As project coordinator, TUB is responsible for the daily project management activities to ensure a smooth implementation of all project tasks and the timely delivery of the project results. In addition, it coordinates the communication among partners as well as between the STAR4BBS consortium and external actors. Part of this work package task also includes monitoring the use of resources and ensuring the effective management of all financial, contractual, and administrative aspects related to the STAR4BBS project.