The primary objective of this paper is to identify the possibilities of using sugar beet pulp as feedstock to produce a variety of added-value products. Such an application of the sugar production byproducts contributes to implementing circular bio-economy, which is a source of many economic, social, and environmental benefits. Specific objectives of this paper are: (1) Presenting the concept and meaning of circular bio-economy. (2) Characterizing properties of the sugar beet pulp from the perspective of using them as feedstock. (3) Determining the volume of production of the sugar beet pulp and the current methods of using them. (4) Determining the methods of obtaining attractive bioproducts and renewable energy from sugar beet pulp. Special attention was given to the amount of sugar beet pulp produced in Polish sugar refineries. Poland is among the European countries in which the volume of produced sugar is especially high. Therefore, the problem of appropriate waste management in the Polish sugar industry gains significant importance. The conducted literature review demonstrated that sugar beet pulp might be used as a feedstock in the production of many bio-products produced using a variety of methods.

Waste solid residue from the hydrothermal extraction of pectin derived from sugar beet pulp was used as feedstock in the production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). The depolymerization of pectin-free sugar beet pulp (PF-SBP) to monosaccharides and their dehydration to 5-HMF were conducted in subcritical water using a batch reactor. The experimental design methodology was used in order to model the hydrothermal process and to optimize the operational parameters of the reaction, namely temperature and holding time. These parameters are required to achieve the highest yield of 5-HMF. The model predicts, in good agreement with experimental results (R2 = 0.935), an optimal yield of 5-HMF (of approximately 38% in relation to the cellulosic fraction content in the PF-SBP) at a temperature of 192.5 °C and a holding time of about 51.2 min. 5-HMF was successfully isolated from the reaction mixture using the liquid–liquid extraction method. The results are suitable for industrial upscaling and may become an incentive to introduce a new, environmentally friendly, uncomplicated, and efficient waste treatment method. The method would be used to treat products from the sugar refining industry, the treatment of which has proven to be problematic until now.

The net migration rate is highly diversified and noticeable chiefly in municipalities directly adjacent to large cities. This trend is still maintained in Poland and is now becoming even more visible than previously. Most of the studies conducted to date have not focused on extracting economic and environmental factors or determining the role of individual factors in those decisions. Furthermore, they have not analysed the issue of differences in motives and directions of migration. Thus, the aim of the research was to establish the factors that determine contemporary migrations from the city to suburban areas and to outline the role of economic and environmental factors. For this purpose, 164 interviews were conducted with individuals who had migrated from the city to the countryside surrounding one of the most important urban centres in Central Europe—Wrocław. In the research, the multiple snowball sampling technique was used. It was found that the factors with the most significant impact on the decision to move from the city to the countryside were those of an environmental nature, whereas the selection of a specific location (village) was to a greater extent determined by economic factors. Compared to their previous place of residence, the respondents most positively rated the environmental benefits of living in the countryside, whereas economic factors, especially insufficient sewage and energy infrastructure, in addition to poor services and transport, were downvoted. The results therefore imply the need for better planning of suburban settlement patterns that takes account of the availability and development of the infrastructure network. The settlement dispersion, as shown through spatial studies, leads to higher unit costs, which generate higher public services costs and thus increasing local expenditures.

The article discusses major public funding sources available to promote investments in renewable energy projects in Poland. The main sources include environmental funds that are financed from environmental charges levied on companies that cause environmental damage and operational programmes funded by European Union funds. The aim of the paper is to reveal the amount of public support for renewable energy in Poland, after comparison of funding programmes implemented by environmental funds and EU funds managing authorities. The comparison includes the level of support and impact on objectives in relation to renewable energy production and greenhouse gas emissions. Based on available information it can be concluded that the level of financial support for investments in renewable energy provided by the environmental funds and operational programmes was quite comparable in recent years. Both types of funding sources are also important instruments to foster the use of renewable energies. An important result of the support is the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Environmental policy instruments allow to incorporate the problem of using the natural resources into the decision-making process of individual agents. One of the most efficient instruments for environmental protection are economic instruments, the indirect methods of influence on agents’ behavior. The aim of the article is to present the state of the Polish system of economic instruments in the light of other European countries’ experiences (especially European Union countries) and perspectives in the use of economic instruments for environmental policy during the coming years. The study is based on the literature review, reports ordered by the Polish Ministry of Environment and publications published by The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Environment Agency (EEA). The analysis suggests that economic instruments are widely used in Polish environmental policy. The main economic instruments in this policy are environmental charges and fines. Some of these charges and fines have been used in Polish environmental for several dozen years. Revenues from these instruments are earmarked for environmental expenditures. There are also some new, interesting economic instruments in Polish environmental policy, such as: deposit-refund systems, tradable energy certificates and emissions trading scheme. There are some opportunities for expanding the use of economic instruments for environmental policy in Poland. For example, there could be increased use of some environmental charges or taxes, and the environmental insurance. Poland could also implement an environmental tax reform.