The general objective of the article is to characterize two analytical categories such as social metabolism and bioeconomy from the perspective of ecological economics as bridges for discussion, critique, and solution of the problems of the 21st century. The methodology is qualitative, the method is a documentary review, and its type is exploratory. The main conclusion is that to solve the problems of the present it is necessary to generate theoretical frameworks such as qualitative and quantitative methods that seek a dialogue of knowledge, since the difficulties that exist are due among other things to the way in which capitalism has mutated for the benefit of large multinationals and not necessarily for human societies with harmful effects on the environment. Therefore, Ecological Economics and Metabolisms are approaches that, being anchored in interdisciplinary discourses, can contribute to generating solutions to problems.