Co-products such as agricultural and forestry residues represent a potential cost-effective,renewable alternative:the energy generated through them is friendly to both human and environment health. The new technologies highly favor environmental protection and sustainable development by recovering and re-utilizing residues. This article aims at providing an overview of the various biomass residues valorization paths,focusing on the most carbon friendly ones. The production of biofuels,electricity,biochemicals and bio-plastic from biomass residues surely represent a valuable solution to partially replace fossil fuels and decrease global GHG emissions. <<