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December 2025
AustroCel Hallein demonstrates how Europe’s bioeconomy works in practice: First, it transformed itself into a zero-waste model biorefinery, and now the company is involved in the European Biosolutions Coalition to further promote nature-based solutions for climate protection and competitiveness – and is therefore committed to innovation-friendly EU framework conditions.
AustroCel as a flagship project for Europe
The EBC sees biosolutions as a key lever of Europe’s competitiveness, resilience, and sustainability. Biological innovations can reduce emissions, make supply chains more resilient, and create new industries. AustroCel Hallein is featured in the EBC’s online magazine for this: Cases - EU Bio Coalition*
During a visit to Hallein Sofie Carsten Nielsen, Director of the European Biosolutions Coalition, was impressed:
“AustroCel shows how bio-based industry works on an industrial scale – from ‘adding value to wood’ to ‘unlocking the power of nature for a greener tomorrow’. The company proves that sustainable industrial production and economic success can go hand in hand. It is a true European showcase for the bioeconomy.”
AustroCel Hallein is thus regarded in European industry as a prime example of successful bio-based transformation. At the invitation of Director Sofie Carsten Nielsen, the company is involved in the European Biosolutions Coalition (EBC), an EU-wide initiative that promotes the expansion of nature-based, sustainable solutions as a path to a climate-neutral and competitive European economy.
The aim of the cooperation is to establish biosolutions as key technologies for the industrial future of Europe – and at the same time to further develop the regulatory framework at EU level so that innovation and transformation can be implemented more quickly, sustainably and economically.
Impulses from Austria for the European bioeconomy
AustroCel stands for the use of regional raw materials and the scaling of energy-efficient processes to refine former by-products into new, bio-based quality products. AustroCel is thus actively contributing to advancing the bioeconomy as a central component of the European Green Deal.
AustroCel Hallein CEO Wolfram Kalt emphasises:
“We are delighted that our efforts are also being recognised internationally! Our goal is to fully exploit the potential of a biorefinery on an industrial scale and to demonstrate in a practical way that climate protection and competitiveness are not contradictory. With our focus on bioprocesses and zero-waste business models, we are transforming the industry, unlocking the full value of natural resources and strengthening profitability. This makes us a good example of how domestic companies can successfully use their innovative strength to create a climate-neutral Europe with a resilient industry.”
AustroCel presented its approach at the High-Level Conference on Biosolutions and the Working Party on Competitiveness and Growth of the EU Council in Brussels. CEO Wolfram Kalt also took part in the Japan–EU B2B Matching Event to deepen international cooperation in the fields of bioindustry and critical raw materials.
About the European Biosolutions Coalition (EBC) The European Biosolutions Coalition was established in 2023 as a Coalition of like-minded and ambitious industry organisations across Europe. The Coalition works to fulfill the potential of biosolutions for companies to stay and grow in Europe by paving the way for the next generation of European biosolutions companies. Their aspiration is for Europe to build on its innovative stronghold and spearhead the biosolutions industry to strengthen Europe’s geopolitical competitiveness, resilience and sustainability. Read more at www.eubiocoalition.eu