A. Relevance and sustainability context
A.1 Policy relevance
The indicator measures the biomass use for material applications for three material use sectors — construction, chemical and growing media — e.g. expressed as a share of overall input material in %. The indicator thereby provides insights into the role of biogenic input material in replacing fossil and other input materials in those sectors.
German policy relevance:
Construction: Provides evidence for increasing the use of renewable construction materials and assessing the contribution of biomass materials to carbon storage in buildings. Relevant policy: Charter for Wood 2.0 (Charta für Holz 2.0), Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMLEH).
Chemical industry: Supports Germany’s transition towards a climate-neutral and resource-efficient chemical sector by measuring the replacement (defossilization) of fossil-based feedstocks with renewable biomass-based raw materials. Relevant policy: National Bioeconomy Strategy, Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) & Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMLEH).
Growing media: Supports the transition from peat-based and fossil-related inputs towards renewable biomass-based alternatives in horticulture. Relevant policy: National Peatland Protection Strategy, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN); Peat Reduction Strategy, Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMLEH).
European Union policy relevance:
Supports the objectives of the European Green Deal, EU Circular Economy Action Plan, and EU Bioeconomy Strategy by monitoring the transition from fossil-based materials towards renewable biological resources.
The underlying data supports the objectives and reporting within the European Environmental Economic Accounts (EEEA) and provides information on the use of renewable biological resources in the economy, linking material flows with environmental and economic activities.
note to Karl, I removed promoting circular construction practices as the indicator in the report is only on new buildings. If there is data on refurbishment, we should definetly include this back!
A.2 Sustainability and / or comparative evaluation options
The data of the sectors included in the indicator is outlined in particular as a share (in %) in order to facilitate comparison of biogenic input materials shares compared to fossil/non-biogenic input materials within those sectors. The data can also be accessed as absolute values; however, the data is outlined in different units (tons fresh matter, m3). Further, the biogenic input material of the respective sectors can be differentiated by biomass types. Specifically for the construction sector, the data can also be disaggregated by the type of buildings (residential/non-residential).
B. Data availability
B.1 Stage of development
Semi-established indicator, since the reporting of the relevant data is well established and is part of long-term and regularly updated initiatives by the Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR), the German growing media association (IVG) and the Federal Statistical Office of Germany (Destatis).
B.2 Data sources
Construction:
- Destatis (2026): Bauen und Wohnen. Baufertigstellungen von Wohn- und Nichtwohngebäuden (Neubau) nach überwiegend verwendetem Baustoff.
https://www-genesis.destatis.de/datenbank/online/statistic/31121/table/31121-0006.
Chemical sector:
- https://statistik.fnr.de/einsatzmengen.php
- https://www.fnr.de/fileadmin/Statistik/Statistikbericht_der_FNR_2026_bf_web.pdf
- https://www.fnr.de/fileadmin/Statistik/Statistikbericht_der_FNR_2025_web.pdf
- https://www.fnr.de/fileadmin/Statistik/Statistikbericht_der_FNR_2024_web.pdf
- https://www.fnr.de/fileadmin/Statistik/2023.pdf
Growing media:
B.3 Coverage over time and replicability
For the construction and chemicals sector, the data is available from 2015 until 2024/2025. The data of growing media is available from 2021 until 2025. Further, there is an annual reporting by FNR, IVG and Destatis. Hence, the indicator can be updated yearly.
B.4 Coverage across scales and sectors; compatibility
Coverage at national scale. Limitation in options for country comparison with EU data since sectoral biomass use data for other EU countries only partially available and not updated regularly. The data can support reporting requirements towards the EU questioned in the context of the European Environmental Economic Accounts (EEEA).
C. Considerations for operationalization
C.1 Feasibility: Fit for monitoring
The indicator is very fit for monitoring (methodologically sound, reliable, and fit for bioeconomy monitoring).
C.2 Institutions
FNR, IVG, Destatis
C.3 Future prospects
Indicator ready. Monitoring will be continued.
C.4 Costs, considerations and reproducibility
There is a conceivable interest in linking the data source to the bioeconomy monitoring.
C.5 Potential for automation
Medium-Strong: Destatis (and FNR) provides data as API interface. IVG and FNR provide the relevant data as pdf files.
C.6 Presentation options and breakdown / sub-indicator needs
The indicator can show the historic relative trend developments of biomass use for material applications by sector. The data can be further sub-divided by sub-sectors and feedstock types.
C.7 Potential for scenario integration
There is a potential for scenario integration in bioeconomy scenarios and modelling, e.g. using past trends (status quo and future goals).
C.8 Interlinkages and alignment with other monitoring activities
Interlinkages and alignment possible within the EU biomass flow monitoring, e.g. integration of sectoral use data. https://datam.jrc.ec.europa.eu/datam/mashup/BIOMASS_FLOWS/