Circular Bioeconomes Report

Indigenous Peoples have been practicing circular economies as a way of life for millennia. Circular bioeconomies rely on biodiversity at the heart of a functioning ecosystem that can perform, adapt and evolve. Community impacts from circular bioeconomies include First Nations cultural revitalization, food sovereignty, and fulfilling Intrinsic Responsibilities. Circular bioeconomies are defined not just by products, but by people, practices, and culture. Healthy cultures encompass Medicines, Traditional Foods, Food Security, Cultural Revitalization, Being on the Land and Water, Language, Community, and Well-being. Indigenous circular bioeconomy practices include cultural burns, stewardship, harvesting, and seed collection. People are essential, including Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Leadership, Guardians, and Youth.

This report has been developed as part of the IEA Bioenergy Task 43 (Biomass Supply in a Nature Positive Circular Economy) on ‘Assessing social and socio-economic implications of biomass supply in nature-positive circular economies.

Download the full report “Circular Bioeconomes Report”

The report describes a series of three virtual workshops between October 2025 and January 2026 with Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and representatives from the national Indigenous forestry association (NAFA), businesses, a Tribal industrial investment organization, a Tribal Council, a social enterprise, as well as representatives from the Canadian Forest Service (CFS).

This Circular Bioeconomies Report documents perspectives from First Nation representatives from diverse parts of Canada on local circular bioeconomies and their social, environmental, economic, and cultural impacts on communities. The report presents opportunities for First Nations participants to describe the challenges, risks, and benefits associated with circular bioeconomies in relation to the Inherent Rights and Responsibilities of First Nations on Turtle Island. One important lesson from the workshop is that Indigenous Peoples will rise and fulfil our Intrinsic Responsibilities, shaped both by the distant past and colonial times as we continue to hold onto our values and adapt so that we can move towards balance, healthy communities, sustainable resource development and the circular bioeconomy.

Some key-findings for policy makers from the workshops:

• A circular bioeconomy offers the opportunity to transform our land, food, health and industrial systems where people sustainably manage natural ecosystems like forests for their livelihoods.
• Circular economies can offer economic security in remote areas where there are few industrial opportunities.
• Beyond the uses of biomass, people are at the heart of the circular bioeconomy.