Bioplastics – efficient in use of resources and waste management

Berlin, 4 December 2014. The 9th European Bioplastics Conference took place on 2/3 December 2014 in Brussels, connecting more than 320 participants from administration, policy, industry and media. In his keynote speech, Dr. Helmut Maurer, European Commission – DG Environment, stressed the need for intelligent products that make efficient use of resources and show an acute awareness for waste generation. The benefits bioplastics offer in especially these two aspects were acknowledged by Axel Singhofen, the Greens/European Free Alliance.

“We appreciate that EU stakeholders increasingly recognise the potential and performance of our materials”, commented François de Bie, Chairman of European Bioplastics. “We are aware that the vast field of plastics that are biobased, biodegradable or both offer hundreds or thousands of benefit combinations that are hard to oversee for stakeholders. A step by step approach to understand the advantages of bioplastic materials is to look at different applications and what additional value the respective bioplastic offers in the case at hand.”

Helmut_MaurerEuropean_Commission-DG_Environment_speech_at_9th_EuBP_conference — Dr. Helmut Maurer (European Commission-DG Environment) keynote speech at 9th EuBP conference

The overall positive development trend of the bioplastics industry was mirrored in several speeches during the two day conference. Brand owners Tetra Pak and Ecover presented their initiatives to move to 100 percent biobased and recyclable packaging. The annual market data update of European Bioplastics and its scientific partners, IfBB – Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites, and nova-Institute, foresees a fourfold growth of production capacities by 2018.

During the bioplastics MAGAZINE’s 9th Annual Global Bioplastics Award ceremony two companies were honoured this year: organic ice-cream brand Zandonella received the award for its compostable bio-foam packaging – the first of its kind on the market provided by the Dutch company Synbra. The second winner is the Swiss Coffee Company, whose engagement for a responsible disposal of coffee by using a certified compostable coffee capsule and a correspondingly compostable three layer packaging for its brand Beanarella was acknowledged by the judges. More information on the award can be found at: http://www.bioplasticsmagazine.com/

During the 9th European Bioplastics Conference more than 320 participants coming from roughly 210 companies from 29 countries caught up on the latest discussions, developments and progress in the bioplastics industry. The adjoining exhibition with 30 companies showcased a tremendous diversity of the latest products and materials.

European Bioplastics extends a special thank you to its sponsors for a great conference: Braskem, Jinhui Zhaolong, Sinvestec, BASF, Corbion, EREMA, IfBB – Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites, NatureWorks and Sulzer Chemtech.

More information on the recent market data update is available at

The conference proceedings (download link) will shortly be available for purchase here: http://en.european-bioplastics.org/conference/

Speakers: Mario Abreu (Tetra Pak International), Martin Baitz (PE International), Laurent Bélard (NaturePlast), François de Bie (European Bioplastics, Corbion Purac),Gerold Breuer (EREMA), Ron Buckhalt (US Department of Agriculture BioPreferred Program), Michael Carus (nova-Institute), Bruno De Wilde (OWS), Tom Domen (Ecover), Oliver Ehlert (DIN CERTCO), Hans-Josef Endres (IfBB – University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hannover), Stefano Facco (Novamont), Linda Göbel (IKT – Institut für Kunststofftechnik), Jan M. Henke (ISCC – Meo Carbon Solutions GmbH), Constance Ißbrücker (European Bioplastics), Virginia Janssens (EUROPEN), Thomas M. Kläusli (AVA Biochem), Joanna Kuzincow (Packaging Research Institute COBRO), Kristy-Barbara Lange (European Bioplastics), John Leung (Bio-solutions), Dr. Helmut Maurer (European Commission, DG Environment), Molly Morse (Mango Materials), Ramani Narayan (University of Michigan), David Newman (International Solid Waste Association), Isao Noda (Meredian), Salvador Ortega (ANIPAC), Johnny Pallot (Roquette), Paolo Pavaj (Henkel), Paul Pereira (Meredian),Emmanuel Rapendy (Sulzer Chemtech), Kathryn Sheridan (Sustainability Consult), Eric Sievers (Ethanol Europe), Axel Singhofen (The Greens/European Free Alliance), Michiel Stork (Ecofys Netherlands), Joachim Venus (Leibniz-Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim), Harmen Willemse (CEN Technical Committee 411 Bio-based products), Krzysztof Wójcik (Packaging Research Institute COBRO), Linda Zellner (Perstorp), Patrick Zimmermann (FkuR Kunststoff).

Exhibitors: API, BASF, bioplastics Magazine, BIOTEC, BIO-TIC, Braskem, Corbion Purac, DIN CERTCO, ebeam Technologies, EREMA, EuropaBio, FKuR, FNR – Agency for Renewable Recources, Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites – University of Applied Arts Hannover, IKT, itene, Jinhui Zhaolong High Technology, Labtech Engineering, Limagrain, Mitsubishi Chemical, NatureWorks, Ningbo-Home Link, Novamont, Organic Waste Systems, Perstorp, PTT MCC Biochem, RSB – Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials, Showa Denko Europe, SULZER, Sustainability Consult, U.S. Pacific Nonwovens, Vinçotte, Wacker.

About European Bioplastics

European Bioplastics is the European association representing the interests of the industry along the complete bioplastics‘ value chain. Its members produce, refine and distribute bioplastics – plastics that are biobased, biodegradable, or both. You can find more information at www.european-bioplastics.org.