5 May 20154 May 2015 MEPs clamp down on wasteful use of plastic carrier bags EU to halve plastic bag use by 2019
27 April 201527 April 2015 Incorrect classification of crude tall oil a serious threat to the European pine chemical industry European Parliament will conduct its final vote on the ILUC Directive
20 April 201517 April 2015 Bio-based chemical industry victim of EU biofuel reform EU legislation in question significantly alienated from what the Commission originally proposed to ensure sustainable policy in Europe
17 April 201516 April 2015 Environment committee backs compromise on cleaner biofuels EU Parliament committee approves 7% cap on first generation biofuels
10 April 20159 April 2015 EU reaches tentative deal to cap food-based biofuels Bioethanol lobby ePURE gave a cautious welcome to Wednesday's deal, saying it did not provide enough incentive for the new generation biofuels
8 April 20156 April 2015 EU restricts the use of plastic bags to protect the environment MEPs and the Council have agreed a deal ahead of the plenary vote in April
31 March 201530 March 2015 MEPs retaliate against EU countries on biofuels draft law The European Parliament has resisted pressure from member states to water down the draft law on biofuels after five-hour long negotiations on 25 March
10 March 20159 March 2015 The war for biomass Heiner Grussenmeyer, Michael Carus speaking at Cluster CLIB2021 International Conference
9 March 20158 March 2015 Environment Committee backs switchover to advanced biofuels Environment Committee approved draft law to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that result from the growing use of agricultural land to produce biofuel crops
5 March 20154 March 2015 The bioeconomy speaks Dutch: today starts in Amsterdam the World Bio Markets Today starts in Amsterdam the 10th annual World Bio Markets, an event which will focus on three bioeconomy core topics: biofuels, bio-based chemicals and feedstock supply, security and selection
3 March 20156 May 2015 European Parliament committee agrees to cap first generation biofuels at 6% Mixed feedback from industry and policy makers
EU-Parlament will Biosprit aus Raps und Soja ausbremsen Umweltausschuss stimmte für relativ strikte EU-Förderregeln
2 March 20152 March 2015 MEPs vote to cap biofuels NNFCC's CEO said, he “welcomed” any new legislation “that helps us better define good from bad biofuels.”
17 February 201516 February 2015 Not all innovative businesses begin in a garage They often start as biotech SMEs, and EuropaBio will reward the most innovative among them
11 February 201511 February 2015 BTG advises the European Commission on optimised cascading use of wood Cascade Impact Analysis (CIA) method enables detailed analysis of European wood flows
10 February 20159 February 2015 New Bioeconomy Alliance calls for EU action on bioeconomy strategy Developing the bioeconomy only feasible if the EU provides “a holistic, coherent and harmonised framework in a range of policy fields"
5 February 20159 July 2015 Newly-formed Bioeconomy Alliance calls for EU action Creating a world-leading bioeconomy in the European Union requires bold political moves
17 December 201416 December 2014 Erfolgreiche Verhandlungen zum Anbauverbot von Gentechnikpflanzen Bundesminister Schmidt: "Das dürfte der Durchbruch gewesen sein auf dem Weg zu nationalen Anbauverboten"
10 December 20149 December 2014 Deal reached on new rules allowing flexibility for EU countries to ban GMO crops Agreement says, member states have to ensure that GMO crops do not contaminate other products, particular attention to preventing cross-border contamination
European advanced biofuels industry calls for action on ILUC Nils Torvalds, rapporteur of the ILUC dossier at the European Parliament, commented on the need to holistic and long-term approach
2 December 20141 December 2014 Ex-Tory MP entangled in EU plastic bag lobbying row Symphony Environmental Technologies accused to orchestrate an EU blocking minority against her bag ban in the EU Council
27 November 201426 November 2014 EU approves law reducing plastic bag use by 50% in 2019 PlasticsEurope states it “would be in favor of regulating oxo-degradable plastics”
25 November 201424 November 2014 Reducing use of plastic bags: MEPs strike deal with Council Presidency Good news for the environment and all Europeans who expected the EU to take ambitious action on plastic bags
20 November 201419 November 2014 Oxo-biodegradable plastics: war of words continues as French researchers slam ‘misinformation’ Oxo-biodegradables to experience a normal development in Turkey, in the Middle East, in Africa, in China, in South America and North America
19 November 201418 November 2014 Great opportunities for the forest sector Cooperation is the key to success - The ThinkForest event brought together policy makers, scientists and stakeholders
21 October 201420 October 2014 Italy pushes ahead with ‘next generation’ biofuels from waste World's first commercial scale plant making fuel from straw opened in Italy last year
9 October 20148 October 2014 Advanced biofuels industry calls the European Parliament to take firm action on ILUC directive proposal Chances and challenges for advanced biofuels
1 October 201430 September 2014 Agriculture alliance calls on the EU to boost innovation and jobs Eleven EU-level associations presented their joint declaration at the European Parliament
16 September 201415 September 2014 Here is the new team of the European Commission for the bioeconomy Following are nominees for the next European Commission
6 August 20145 August 2014 PE suppliers go after oxo-biodegradable technology in Mexico Parliament had been asked to comment on a proposal by the commission to ban or tax free-issue shopper bags in the EU
15 July 201414 July 2014 Biorefineries present ‘historic opportunity’ to regenerate rural Europe The development of local biorefineries can 'completely reverse' the decline in rural EU communities, writes Rob Vierhout
8 July 20147 July 2014 Campaign highlights biodiversity cost of plastic bags The 3rd July marked the International Bag Free Day, but most of the world continues to use light-weight plastic bags, deemed the most harmful to the environment
7 July 20145 July 2014 Government issues a response to Plastic Bag Inquiry "UK industry to produce a genuinely biodegradable plastic bag that meets defined criteria and which can be reliably identified and separated in waste."
4 July 20143 July 2014 Government issues a response to Plastic Bag Inquiry With an estimated 100 billion plastic bags used in the EU every year, it is believed that plastic waste is one of the worst environmental problems faced by the region, contributing to 70% of marine pollution
1 July 201430 June 2014 Qualms over France’s move to ban plastic bags The French government wants to ban single-use plastic bags by 2016, years ahead of a European directive. But replacing them with biodegradable packaging makes it equally problematic, EurActiv France reports.
20 June 201418 June 2014 Biofuels debate continues, despite EU agreement EU energy ministers agreed to a 7% cap on the fuels for use in transport
10 June 20149 June 2014 Potočnik: ‘Subsidies to energy and water use raise barriers to a circular economy’ EU society still locked in old industrial patterns of production and consumption
3 June 201421 July 2014 Bioplastics evolve to gain wider recognition "Green Innovation" now impacting on the mainstream consumers with a multitude
21 May 201421 May 2014 The upcoming elections are crucial for the future of the bioeconomy in the European Union Next 5 years will be critical to set up a new model of economic and social development
23 April 201422 April 2014 Food – Fuel, Competition or Synergy? Parallel study to analyse opinions, agreements and differences in a long lasting debate
22 April 201422 April 2014 European Parliament vote on plastic bags confirms important contribution of compostable bags to enhanced biowaste collection European Bioplastics supports the outcome of the vote and the corresponding provisions for compostable plastic carrier bags
24 March 201423 March 2014 EU directive to reduce bags New directive aiming at reducing consumption of disposable plastic bags
Environment MEPs clamp down on wasteful plastic carrier bags EU legislation to deliver a significant and swift reduction in single-use plastic bags
13 March 201412 March 2014 European Parliament (ENVI Committee) vote on plastic bags paves the way for biodegradable and compostable plastic bags Member States to reduce landfilling by diverting biowaste from landfill to organic recycling
6 March 20146 March 2014 UN Global Compact: Consultation on the Food and Agriculture Business Principles, Brussels FAB Principles to articulate common understanding on resources, ecosystem services and socio-economic impacts
28 February 201427 February 2014 “Biodegradable plastic bags are a myth” So said Prof Richard Thomson, during a public hearing on plastic carrier bags organized by the by The Greens/European Free Alliance Group in the European Parliament on February 19th
18 February 201417 February 2014 Outrage at Commission’s decision Greens threaten Commission with censure over GM crop
17 February 201417 February 2014 MEPs want binding 2030 goals for CO2 emissions, renewables and energy efficiency Mandatory targets by 2030: a 40% cut in CO2 emissions, a 30% target for renewable energy and a 40% target for energy efficiency
5 February 20144 February 2014 Food security hindered by seed market dominance, MEPs warn The EU seed market is dominated by a few large seed businesses rather than a diverse range of smaller companies, which has implications for the continent’s food security, says a report commissioned by European Parliament Green group