Founded on distinct principles to the fossil fuel-based, linear economy, the sustainable, circular bioeconomy requires different social values and institutions and a better understanding of the complexity of the production process. A circular bioeconomy provides a framework for using renewable natural capital to manage land, biodiversity, food, and other industries, with the aim of improving social well-being and environmental safety.

The contributors to this book analyse the evolution of the economic system towards the circular economy and bioeconomy and its place in the paradigm of sustainable development. They look at institutions and their importance for the bioeconomy and examine the question of the behaviour of market entities – enterprises and consumers – as well as the meaning of social and environmental responsibility for these entities. They also discuss the issues of the product itself: the process of creation, production, processing and the quality of the product, including its environmental impact throughout its life cycle. The authors also refer to the potential pitfalls and threats related to the implementation of the bioeconomy in both socio-economic and environmental contexts. Individual processes and phenomena are illustrated with case studies and the authors' own research.

The book deliberately fosters an interdisciplinary approach founded on cooperation between economists, management specialists, agronomists, biotechnologists, chemists and soil scientists, who together underline the complexity and importance of the interdependence of the economy, society and the natural environment.

The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons [Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND)] 4.0 license.

Małgorzata Pink, PhD, Department of Economics and Food Economy, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Poland. She completed her studies in economics and comparative civilisation studies, and earned a PhD in economics. She has 20 years of experience in university teaching. In her teaching, she emphasises the impact of the economy on social welfare and the natural environment. Her research interests include sustainable development, particularly in the context of the circular bioeconomy, and the transformations in socio-economic values that underpin it. Additionally, she is interested in the developing wine industry in Poland and, on a macro level, the market for natural wines. In the administrative field, she has led international projects in the bioeconomy area, including Horizon 2000, and international strategic partnerships.

Agnieszka Józefowska, Assoc. Prof., Department of Soil Science and Agrophysics, University of Agriculture in Krakow. She is a soil scientist at the Department of Soil Science and Agrophysics, University of Agriculture in Krakow. Her scientific work primarily focuses on soil ecology and its reclamation. In her university classes, she educates students on the impact of human activities on the environment, methods for assessing soil quality, and the multifaceted approaches to environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources.