Bioplastics are key to unlock Europe’s potential for a ressource-efficient economy

10th European Bioplastics Conference in Berlin attracts more than 350 experts from around the world

Berlin, 9 November 2015 – The 10th European Bioplastics Conference took place on 5/6 November 2015 in Berlin, attracting more than 350 participants from industry, policy, research, and media. In his keynote speech, Mr Reinhard Büscher, Head of Unit Chemicals, DG GROWTH at the European Commission, stressed the necessity to promote biobased products in the European Union in order to unlock Europe’s potential for a resource-efficient economy: “We need clear, harmonised standards that define the thresholds for sustainability and facilitate high-quality recycling, which is key to create a strong biobased circular economy.”

Opening the 10th anniversary edition of the European Bioplastics Conference, François de Bie, Chairman of European Bioplastics (EUBP), highlighted the achievements and outstanding developments of the bioplastics industry over the past decade as one of the most innovative and exciting sectors of the European bioeconomy: “Ten years ago, bioplastics was still a buzzword. Today, my son Olivier is learning about the benefits of biobased products in high-school. The understanding and awareness of our impact on the environment is clearly growing and bioplastics are at the centre of this change,” said de Bie.

A highly anticipated session was the presentation of the 2015 annual market data update delivered by Hasso von Pogrell, Managing Director of EUBP during the first day of the conference: “The positive trend of the past ten years continues. According to our latest market data, the global bioplastics production capacity is predicted to grow by more than 350 percent in the mid-term, from around 1.7 million tonnes in 2014 to approximately 7.8 million tonnes in 2019,” said von Pogrell. This development was confirmed in several presentations during the conference by big brands and retailers, such as IKEA and Marks & Spenser, outlining their commitments and initiatives to become more sustainable and the role of bioplastics in achieving these ambitious goals. “By 2020, 100 percent of our plastics will be made from renewable and recycled sources,” explained Per Stoltz, Sustainability Developer at IKEA.

Mitsubishi Chemicals Corp. and Sharp were awarded the 10th Annual Bioplastics Award, hosted by bioplastics MAGAZINE during the conference, for the development of the front panel of Sharp’s new smartphone made from Mitsubishi’s biobased engineering plastic DURABIOTM. It marks the first time a biobased plastic has ever been used on the front panel of any smartphone instead of glass, ceasing the problem of cracking while increasing durability and optical properties. Find more information about the Bioplastics Award, the winner, and finalists at www.bioplasticsmagazine.com.

The 10th European Bioplastics Conference 2015 attracted more than 350 participants from around 200 companies and 29 countries to connect and catch up on the latest developments, issues, debates, and trends in the bioplastics industry in Europe. 24 companies showcased a great diversity of the latest products, materials, and applications at the exhibition alongside the conference.

European Bioplastics extends a special thank you to the sponsors of this year’s anniversary conference: Vinçotte, Perstorp, Succinity, BASF, Braskem, Corbion, EREMA, Jinhui Zhaolong, NatureWorks, and BioAmber, for their support and dedication to the advancement of the bioplastics industry.

Impressions of the 10th European Bioplastics Conference 2015 are available at:

http://en.european-bioplastics.org/press/press-pictures/eventsactivities-2/
(© European Bioplastics)

More information on the market data update is also available on the website at:

http://en.european-bioplastics.org/press/press-releases/ and http://en.european-bioplastics.org/press/press-pictures/labelling-logos-charts/.

Speakers at the 10th European Bioplastics Conference 2015:

Reinhard Büscher (European Comission), Lara Dammer (nova-Institute), Christophe Doukhi-de Boissoudy (Novamont France), Dr. rer. nat. Oliver Ehlert (DIN CERTCO Gesellschaft für Konformitätsbewertung mbH), Berien Elbersen (Alterra Wageningen UR), Stefano Facco (Novamont S.p.A.), Milica Folić (Haldor Topsøe), Marius Gjerset (Zero Emission Resource Organisation ZERO), Andrew Gill (Floreon), Mahir Gorur (Cargill Starches & Sweeteners), Jens Hamprecht (BASF SE), Jan Henke (ISCC / Meo Carbon Solutions), Sam Hyde (Innocent Drinks), Toshinori Kimura (University of Hokkaido), Michael Knutzen (The Coca-Cola Company), Marcel Lubben (Reverdia), Antonis Mistriotis (Agricultural University of Athens), Douglas Mulhall (Rotterdam School of Management), Rob Opsomer (Ellen MacArthur Foundation), Victor Peinado (AITIIP Centro Technológico), Erin Simon (World Wildlife Fund), Kathryn Sheridan (Sustainability Consult), Per Stoltz (IKEA Group), Andy Sweetman (Innovia Films), Hugo Vuurens (Corbion), Kevin Vyse (Marks & Spencer).

Exhibitors at the 10th European Bioplastics Conference 2015:

AITIIP, API, BASF, BIOTEC, Braskem, Corbion, DIN CERTCO, ECHO, EREMA, European Bioplastics, FNR, FKuR, IfBB, IKT, Innovia, Bioplastics Magazine, NatureWorks, NEN, Novamont, Open-BIO, OWS, Perstorp, Vinçotte, Wacker Chemie.

 

About European Bioplastics:

European Bioplastics is the European association representing the interests of the bioplastics industry along the entire value chain. Its members produce, refine, and distribute bioplastics, i.e. plastics that are either biobased, biodegradable, or both.

Source

European Bioplastics e.V., press release, 2015-11-09.

Supplier

Agricultural University of Athens
Aitiip Centro Tecnológico
American Petroleum Institute (API)
BASF SE
BioAmber Inc.
bioplastics MAGAZINE (Zeitschrift)
BIOTEC GmbH & Co. KG
Braskem
Cargill, Inc.
Coca-Cola Co.
Corbion
DIN CERTCO Gesellschaft für Konformitätsbewertung
Ellen MacArthur Foundation
EREMA
European Bioplastics e.V.
European Commission
Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e.V. (FNR)
FKuR Kunststoff GmbH
Floreon Technology Limited Ltd
Haldor Topsoe A/S
Hokkaido University
IKEA
Innocent Drinks
Innovia Films
Institut für Biokunststoffe und Bioverbundwerkstoffe (IfBB)
International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC)
JinHui ZhaoLong High Technology Co., Ltd
Marks and Spencer Group plc
Meo Carbon Solutions GmbH
Mitsubishi Chemical
NatureWorks LLC
Netherlands Standardization Institute (NEN)
nova-Institut GmbH
Novamont S.p.A.
Organic Waste Systems (OWS)
Perstorp
Reverdia
Rotterdam School of Management
Sharp Corporation
Succinity GmbH
Sustainability Consult
Universität Stuttgart
Vinçotte International
Wacker Chemie AG
Wageningen University
WWF Deutschland
Zero Emission Resource Organisation (ZERO)

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