27 February 201822 February 2018 EU urged to do more to protect forests Forest nations are calling on the EU to strengthen the control of supply chains for products causing deforestation such as palm oil or cocoa
21 February 201814 February 2018 Failed EU Commission advanced biofuel policy wastes billions of euros The Commission and the Parliament have neglected two common sense rules
2 February 201831 January 2018 Study warns wood bioenergy supporters can’t see carbon emissions for the trees New research challenges the popular belief that biofuels are better for the environment
30 January 201822 January 2018 EU Parliament ends palm oil and caps crop-based biofuels at 2017 levels For the ethanol industry, the 12% target for renewables in transport leaves room in the EU energy mix for sustainable biofuels to replace fossil fuels
24 January 201823 January 2018 Palmöl-Streit mit Südostasien: Europa droht ein Handelskrieg Das EU-Parlament will umstrittene Palmöl-Importe eindämmen. Doch der Schritt, der die Umwelt schützen soll, sorgt in Malaysia und Indonesien für Empörung. Kleinbauern fürchten um ihre Existenz
18 January 201823 March 2018 Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand looking to WTO if EU doesn’t shift on palm oil Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand will retaliate if the EU’s ongoing discrimination and attack on the palm oil industry becomes legislativ
9 January 201822 December 2017 First-gen biofuels suffer as EU Council announces 2030 targets Announcement could have significant ramifications for the continent’s biofuels industry, and has already sparked controversy
21 December 201715 December 2017 Commission welcomes agreement on key legislation to tackle climate change A robust climate policy framework is a key element of the EU's Energy Union and a successful transition to a modern and clean economy
5 December 20171 December 2017 MEPs raise ambition on transport with ‘sustainable’ biofuels MEPs in the industry, research and energy committee voted to increase targets on renewable energy from the Commission’s proposal of 27% to 35% by 2030
27 November 201722 November 2017 “Green Gold” documentary blames EU biofuel lobby for bad policy The Belgian documentary-maker spoke to EUobserver in a cafe in Brussels, ahead of the preview screening of his film in the city's centre for fine arts Bozar
14 November 201710 November 2017 Over 150 organisations back call to ban oxo-degradable plastic packaging Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy initiative has published a statement calling for a ban on oxo-degradable plastic packaging.
Sabah chooses new palm oil certification to cater to Europe’s needs SABAH’s move for a full compliance of the Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO) by 2025 is to ensure the survival of the sector
8 November 201715 November 2017 Good day for bioenergy, bad day for crop-based biofuels, as European Parliament’s environment committee votes on RED II proposals MEPs voted to ban the use of biodiesel from all vegetable oils by 2030 and of palm oil biodiesel as early as 2021 under the revised RED
6 November 201729 October 2017 European Parliament supports use of biodegradable mulch films Amendments acknowledge the innovative potential of biodegradable mulch films to provide positive agronomical effects and to help avoid the accumulation of microplastics on fields
23 October 201718 October 2017 Airbus exec.: EU ‘bonus’ for aviation biofuels may be too little Thierry Nowaczyk from Airbus in an interview with EURACTIV.com
Airbus-Manager: EU-Bonus für Biokraftstoff in der Luftfahrt wohl nicht ausreichend Thierry Nowaczyk von Airbus im Interview mit EURACTIV.com
17 October 20179 October 2017 Member states seek to water down food waste proposal Member states have been trying to exclude pre-retail food waste from the directive and avoid specific deadlines
EU-Länder wollen Vorschlag gegen Lebensmittelverschwendung verwässern Die Abfälle im sogenannten Pre-Retail-Bereich machen 59 Prozent aller Lebensmittelabfälle in der EU aus
16 October 201712 October 2017 Biofuels phase-out will raise demand for feed imports, industry warns EU executive decided to cut the cap on biofuels in transport from 7% to 3.8% EU
20 September 201718 September 2017 Under EU attack, top palm oil producers rethink trade strategy Increasing fire in Europe over its impact on forest destruction, encouraging producers to look at new markets
18 September 201712 September 2017 Some MEPs blast new RED proposal for lack of basis on scientific evidence REDII proposal it not evidence based in its push away from conventional biofuels
15 September 201713 September 2017 EU warned against renewables law ‘subverting’ the circular economy European Commission proposal to revise the Renewable Energy Directive will be voted on by the European Parliament’s environment committee on October 11-12
9 August 20178 August 2017 Malaysia To Send 6 MPs To Europe To Seek Support For Palm Oil Malaysia is sending six lawmakers to Europe in September to meet and seek support from Members of the European Parliament in relation to palm oil
20 July 201718 July 2017 Unleashing the full power of research and innovation of the EU forest-based sector The Forest-based Sector Technology Platform (FTP) seeks to align public funding for research and innovation with proper technological developments to reduce GHG emissions and improve forest management and land use
18 July 201714 July 2017 Biodegradable mulch films supported in revision of EU Fertilisers Regulation IMCO Committee acknowledges the innovative potential of biodegradable mulch films
Biologisch abbaubare Mulchfolien unterstützt in der Revision der EU-Düngemittelverordnung IMCO-Ausschuss bestätigt das innovative Potential biologisch abbaubarer Mulchfolien
17 July 201712 July 2017 EU-Landwirtschaftspolitik: Der Agrar-Wahnsinn EU-Prämienregelung für Landwirte im Kreuzfeuer zwischen Kritikern und Profiteuren
21 June 201719 June 2017 Germany takes important step to support bio-based packaging New packaging law (Verpackungsgesetz) aiming to boost recycling of packaging waste
19 June 201714 June 2017 Is there a future for biofuel in Europe? Environmental NGOs want companies to switch to newer, ‘second-generation’ biofuels, which they say lead to less land use change
5 May 201728 April 2017 Palm oil production, development and the environment Europe’s well-meaning attempts to improve the sustainability of palm oil production may be having the opposite effect, writes Hiroko Shimizu
MEPs vote to ban the use of palm oil in biofuels MEPs say a ban, which needs approval from the European commission, is needed to avoid renewable targets contributing to deforestation
19 April 201711 April 2017 First-Gen Fuels under siege, hit back with hard data In the US: looking at ethanol plant impact on crop acreage
6 April 20175 April 2017 MEPs call for clampdown on imports of unsustainable palm oil and use in biofuel Resolution was approved by 640 votes to 18, with 28 abstentions
MEPs: Industry ‘self-regulation’ failed to prevent deforestation Environmentalist NGOs said the resolution was in the right direction, while the ethanol industry grabbed the chance to reiterate its demand for a “balanced policy solution”
24 March 201717 March 2017 Waste: boost recycling, cut landfilling and curb food waste, Parliament says Statistics for 2014 suggest that 44% of all municipal waste in the EU is recycled or composted
21 March 201718 March 2017 MEPs pave the way for bioplastics in vote on waste legislation The vote of the Members of Parliament recognises the contributions of bioplastics to the EU circular economy
EU-Parlament ebnet Weg für Biokunststoffe in Abstimmung zum EU-Abfallrecht Votum der Abgeordneten würdigte den Beitrag von Biokunststoffen im Wandel hin zu einer Kreislaufwirtschaft in Europa
6 March 20172 March 2017 Boost for Biobased Products and Anaerobic Digestion following European Committee Vote Separate collection decision opens up the opportunity for compostable plastic bags for bio-waste to become widespread
3 March 20171 March 2017 EU climate laws ‘cost paper recyclers 40% of their profits’ Sylvain Lhôte (CEPI) said that EU climate and energy policy had placed a huge burden on his sector
14 February 201710 February 2017 Will bioplastics repeat the biofuels saga? Unfortunately, the green credentials of bioplastics are far from straightforward
6 February 20172 February 2017 EU Policymakers Boost Bio-based Plastic "Strategy on Plastics in a circular economy" addresses the "high dependence on fossil feedstock" as one of its three priority areas
30 January 201726 January 2017 European Parliament’s ENVI Committee backs bioplastics in vote on waste legislation Amendments ensure that the potential of bio-waste as a valuable resource can be tapped through organic recycling
12 December 20168 December 2016 Commission under fire over post-2020 biofuels targets EWABA suggests that Commission's proposal for a new Renewable Energy Directive can still be improved during its legislative passage
28 November 201626 November 2016 The upcoming revision of the EU Fertilisers Regulation and the benefits of biodegradable plastic mulch films Kristy-Barbara Lange, Deputy Managing Director from European Bioplastics answers some questions about the benefits of biodegradable mulch films
5 October 20161 October 2016 EuropaBio: New study shows industrial biotech set to drive jobs and growth creation in the EU 'Where the EU is seeking technologies, industrial biotech is delivering on all levels'
Industrial biotech employment to triple to 1.5 million in the EU by 2030: new report New EuropaBio study was launched in the European Parliament as part of celebrating European Biotech Week
30 June 201629 June 2016 European Parliament calls for improved policies for high GHG saving biofuels post-2020 Sustainable biofuels with high GHG savings, such as European ethanol, are an essential part of the energy mix and a vital tool to decarbonise transport
10 June 20169 June 2016 EU Parliament report on revised waste legislation emphasises the role of bioplastics in the transition to a circular economy Better market conditions for renewable raw materials and promoting the use of bio-based materials in packaging provided
21 April 201619 April 2016 Circular economy: New Regulation to boost the use of organic and waste-based fertilisers FAQs: The Commission presents first deliverable of Circular Economy Package with new rules on organic and waste-based fertilisers in the EU
15 April 201612 April 2016 Edible film: The future of eco-friendly packaging? Scientist at a green chemistry conference in Berlin interviewed by DW
