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The report reviews 819 studies on ecotechnologies for nutrient recovery in the Baltic Sea Region, finding that while energy recovery is mature in wastewater and manure-based systems dominate agriculture, economic viability is heavily dependent on global market prices for phosphate rock and natural gas. It argues that current EU policies remain rooted in linear waste management and calls for harmonized regulations to promote a circular economy for nutrients.

The report evaluates different systems for nutrient and carbon recovery in the Vantaanjoki (Finland), Fyrisån (Sweden), and Słupia (Poland) catchment areas. Using a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) involving stakeholder weighting, the study compares baseline management against alternatives such as anaerobic digestion, pyrolysis, and source-separation. In Vantaanjoki, anaerobic digestion scored highest. In Fyrisån, source-separation was the most sustainable. In Słupia, nutrient extraction performed best, while source-separation was found to be potentially less sustainable than the baseline due to local context and low adoption rates.

The protocol outlines a systematic search of academic and grey literature from 2013 to 2017 to identify ecotechnologies that recover or reuse carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in agriculture. The goal is to address the eutrophication of the Baltic Sea caused by agricultural nutrient runoff by creating a searchable database and an interactive evidence atlas to identify knowledge gaps and clusters.

The report identifies significant regulatory and institutional hurdles to phosphorus (P) reuse in the Baltic Sea Region, particularly within the EU's fertilizer and waste frameworks. While the EU's Circular Economy package provides a positive signal, the study finds that 'silo-thinking' across sectors and a lack of harmonized national policies hinder the transition from linear to circular nutrient economies. It highlights a risk of 'lock-in' to sub-optimal technologies, such as mono-incineration in Germany, and recommends mainstreaming circular economy principles at local and national levels to support diverse systemic solutions like source separation.

The report examines the economic feasibility of ecotechnologies, specifically those focused on phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) recovery in wastewater and agriculture. It identifies a prevalence of private-cost analyses over social-cost assessments and notes that most recovery technologies are not currently market-competitive without subsidies or the inclusion of social externalities. The document outlines the application of Techno-Economic Assessments (TEA), Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA), and Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA), concluding that the social perspective significantly improves the perceived economic efficiency of these technologies.

The document provides a comprehensive mapping of ecotechnologies used to recover carbon and nutrients from wastewater and agriculture. For wastewater, the evidence base consists of 481 articles, showing a predominance of biological processes and a higher focus on energy recovery over nutrient recovery. For agriculture, 338 ecotechnologies were identified, with manure-based systems—particularly anaerobic digestion—being the most prevalent. The report highlights knowledge gaps in nitrogen recovery and the use of extracted nutrients like struvite in agriculture, noting that current policies still prioritise pollution reduction over resource recovery.

The BONUS RETURN project focuses on the implementation of eco-technologies in three river basins: Vantaanjoki (Finland), Słupia (Poland), and Fyrisån (Sweden). During its first year, the project established a broad definition of 'eco-technologies' as "human interventions in social- ecological systems in the form of practices and/or biological, physical, and chemical processes designed to minimise harm to the environment and provide services of value to society." Key activities included a systematic review of 77 articles to define the term, a search of nearly 35,000 records to identify existing technologies in agriculture and wastewater treatment, and the establishment of stakeholder platforms in the three catchment areas. Additionally, the project launched the 'Nutrients and Carbon Reuse Challenge', attracting 15 European applicants and selecting three winning innovations for pre-commercialization planning. Technical work included collecting data for SWAT modelling to establish baseline phosphorus (Ptot) and nitrogen (Ntot) loadings in the case study areas.

The BONUS RETURN project launched the Nutrients and Carbon Reuse Challenge in December 2017 to identify eco-technologies capable of transforming nutrients and carbon into benefits. Out of 13 applications, three winners—Biophree, TerraNovaUltra, and Ravita—were selected based on criteria including relevance, sustainability, and market potential. These technologies focus on recovering phosphorus and carbon from wastewater and agricultural sectors to support the Baltic Sea Region's environmental goals.

The report examines the transition from linear to circular resource use in wastewater management, focusing on the socio-cultural barriers to recycling sewage sludge as fertilizer. It analyzes historical practices in the EU and provides detailed case studies from three river basins in Sweden, Poland, and Finland, highlighting how perceptions of risk and regulatory gaps hinder the adoption of eco-technologies.

The document serves as Deliverable 2.2 of the BONUS RETURN project, providing a preliminary list of ecotechnologies designed to minimize environmental harm and provide societal value by recovering carbon and nutrients. It defines ecotechnologies as "human interventions in social-ecological systems in the form of practices and/or biological, physical, and chemical processes designed to minimise harm to the environment and provide services of value to society". The report details the methodology used to identify these technologies, including bibliographic searches of Scopus and Web of Science and grey literature searches via Google Scholar and organizational websites. To date, the mapping has screened 40% of agricultural evidence and 60% of wastewater evidence, with the full database intended for a subsequent deliverable. The project aims to address the degradation of the Baltic Sea by improving the adoption of technologies that reconcile eutrophication reduction with food and energy security.

The CASCADE project seeks to enhance urban and macro-regional resilience in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) by adapting risk assessment methodologies to the climate change context. The initiative focuses on bridging the gap between climate change professionals and civil protection experts, aligning with the UN Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and the Baltic 2030 Action Plan. The project intends to produce a training course for city officials responsible for civil protection that can be replicated across BSR countries and to initiate a region-wide policy dialogue on cross-sectorial cooperation and policy coherence regarding climate risk assessments.

The document examines the multifaceted nature of security in Europe, contrasting the 'politics of fear' used by national populists with a progressive vision of security. It analyzes threats ranging from terrorism and digital vulnerabilities to energy insecurity and climate change, while emphasizing that social investment and the protection of civil liberties are more effective tools for stability than mass surveillance or militarisation. The text specifically critiques the 'securitisation' of migration and the role of the state in managing perceived risks.

The report evaluates the early stages of SDG implementation in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR), analyzing 11 countries: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia, and Sweden. It finds that while the region performs well in areas like poverty reduction, renewable energy share, and corruption, it struggles significantly with domestic material consumption and energy intensity. Implementation is currently fragmented, with varying institutional responsibilities and a general reliance on existing administrative structures. The report emphasizes a critical need for improved monitoring systems and stronger political leadership at the parliamentary level to ensure the 2030 Agenda is integrated across all government sectors.

The report analyzes flood and nutrient risks in Kristianstad, Sweden, finding that current flood risk management is too narrowly focused on urban flood control via embankments and pumps, neglecting river basin-wide abatement and resilience. It identifies a lack of cross-sectoral integration between urban planning, agriculture, and forestry, and notes that governance structures for water quantity are fragmented compared to those for water quality. The author argues for a shift toward 'adaptive river management'—living with floods—to better address climate change and sea-level rise.

The document examines Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) as a tool to incentivize agricultural land managers to provide non-market environmental benefits. It distinguishes between action-based payments, which reward the adoption of specific practices, and outcome-based payments, which reward actual environmental results. The authors argue that outcome-based approaches are more effective at delivering biodiversity and ecosystem services because they encourage farmer innovation and target the most ecologically valuable land. While European examples often focus on site-specific biodiversity in grasslands, the report suggests that shifting from top-down contractual agreements to local governance and participatory design is essential for scaling these mechanisms. Barriers to implementation include scientific uncertainty, high administrative costs, and the risk of 'leakage' where environmental damage is displaced outside the PES zone.

The document argues that the 2007-2013 CAP implementation in the Baltic Sea Region failed to significantly reduce environmental impacts due to poor targeting of measures, administrative hurdles, and a lack of stakeholder involvement. It suggests that post-2013 reforms should embrace the region's agricultural diversity and shift toward a model where environmental services are a core value of farming rather than a precondition for payments.

The report examines Sweden's experience with wetland implementation, noting that the country achieved only 60% of its target to add 12,000 hectares of wetlands between 2000 and 2010. While the primary focus has been on nutrient reduction (nitrogen and phosphorus), the study argues for a 'multifunctional' approach that includes flood risk reduction, irrigation, biodiversity enhancement, and biomass production. Key barriers identified include complex water legislation, insufficient financial compensation for farmers' income loss, and a restrictive regulatory focus on nutrient retention. Conversely, successful large-scale projects are characterized by a river basin approach, strong local leadership, and comprehensive support systems.

The document assesses Sweden's progress in constructing wetlands to make agriculture more sustainable, noting that the country achieved only 60% of its 12,000-hectare target between 2000 and 2010. It argues for a shift from a narrow focus on nutrient retention toward a multifunctional approach that includes flood control, biodiversity, and irrigation. Key barriers identified include complex water legislation, insufficient financial compensation for farmers, and coordination challenges. Conversely, enabling factors include strong political priority, inter-institutional collaboration, and a robust knowledge base. The paper recommends adopting a water basin approach and involving local actors to foster long-term relationships with landowners.

The SEI Research Forum Book of Abstracts compiles 60 research summaries from the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) staff. The research spans four primary themes: Managing Environmental Systems, Reducing Climate Risk, Transforming Governance, and Rethinking Development. Key areas of investigation include the 'planetary boundaries' framework, the socio-economic drivers of clean cooking and sanitation in India and Africa, the effectiveness of climate adaptation policies in the UK and Sweden, and the geopolitical dynamics of climate negotiations involving BASIC countries. The document highlights a mix of completed research, ongoing projects, and future research ideas aimed at bridging science and policy for sustainable development.

The report analyzes the challenges of implementing agri-environmental measures under the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) within the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). It finds that a lack of coordination between agricultural and environmental sectors, insufficient stakeholder involvement, and an 'uneven playing field' in funding and entitlements have hindered the achievement of environmental boundary conditions. The authors argue that the CAP's national focus often undermines transboundary cooperation and regional cohesion. To address this, they recommend consolidating CAP Pillars 1 and 2 to treat environmental services as a core value of farming and introducing 'soft measures' to support stakeholder dialogue and regional nutrient reduction targets.