6 July 202629 June 2026 IFF’s 2025 Do More Good Report Highlights Progress in Nature-Based Innovation Driving growth for high-performance, sustainable solutions, while enabling customers to avoid 27.2 million metric tons of CO₂e emissions
CircuTech wins BISC-E NL 2026 CircuTech tackles one of the textile industry’s toughest problems: how to make waterproof, breathable fabric without PFAS
3 July 202629 June 2026 UB study produces a biodegradable bioplastic with a low environmental impact using a modified bacterium Genetic modification of the bacterium Bacillus subtilis opens up a route of great industrial interest for producing a sustainable and cost-effective plastic — PHB — from potato starch in a single step
2 July 202630 June 2026 Elkem Silicones becomes Bluestar Silicones, unveiling its identity for the next chapter The company returns to a well-established brand name, while introducing a new visual identity and reaffirming continuity for customers, partners and stakeholders
AIMPLAS: What is the difference between ‘biodegradable’ and ‘compostable’? A biodegradable product is one that can naturally break down through the action of microorganisms present in the environment, a compostable product is one that can biologically degrade under composting conditions
Japan researchers turn discarded udon noodles into biodegradable paper A university in Kagawa is turning one of the western Japan prefecture's most famous foods into an unlikely new material, using discarded udon noodles to create biodegradable "paper"
24 June 202623 June 2026 Sustainable Chemistry Changemakers: The Path to a More Sustainable Future Natupla: From ISC3 Start-up of the Month to a Pioneer in Starch-Based, Biodegradable Plastics
16 June 202610 June 2026 24 new projects to strengthen the scaleup of Europe’s bioeconomy Together, these projects will play a critical role in advancing the goals of the CBE JU Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda and shaping a competitive, resilient and sustainable bioeconomy in Europe
European Bioplastics: New Board to drive its next Phase European Bioplastics elects new Board to drive its next Phase: Recognition, Commitment, Trust and Scale
29 May 202627 May 2026 GAIA BioMaterials obtains European patent for PLA-free film extrusion materials GAIA BioMaterials has received final confirmation on the approval of its European patent for PLA-free film extrusion materials
28 May 202622 May 2026 CJ Biomaterials and Yuhan-Kimberly Launch World’s First Reusable Nonwoven Paper Towel Made with Amorphous PHA PHACT™ A1000P is derived from sustainably grown, plant-based raw materials including sugarcane
27 May 20262 June 2026 The Updated Poster on Biodegradable Polymers in Various Environments has been Released As part of the PerPlacsBio project, nova-Institute has updated its popular poster on the biodegradability of polymers in different environments. The updated version reflects current standards, certifications and the latest scientific findings. The poster can be used to assess biodegradable alternatives for use in agriculture and forestry, and it is now available in German for the first time
Opening of the first commercial ‘traceless’ natural polymer plant in Germany Traceless polymers are highly biodegradable, even in home compost, in soil or in the sea
21 May 202614 May 2026 AIMPLAS obtains recognition for its biodegradation and compostability tests in Australia and Japan through ABA and JBPA AIMPLAS helps companies in the plastics sector to comply with new regulations oriented towards circularity
12 May 20267 May 2026 Researchers develop scalable method for safer, compostable packaging New Virginia Tech research brings safer, compostable packaging closer to everyday use
11 May 20265 May 2026 EU Single Use Plastics Directive & Natural Polymers Opportunities to redefine natural polymers for a competitive European Bioeconomy
7 May 20264 May 2026 Research project investigates continued biodegradation of compostable plastics in soil The German Austrian joint project seeks to gain scientifically sound insights into how fast fragments from compostable plastic films biodegrade in the environmen
PHAs are natural and fit within the Commission’s vision of a Circular Economy PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoates) are a class of Natural Polymers that have not been chemically modified
6 May 202630 April 2026 Bio-based foam replaces petroleum-based materials – without changing production processes Together with several Fraunhofer institutes the Fraunhofer Cluster CCPE has successfully developed a “PBS Extrusion Foam (xPBS)”
4 May 202627 April 2026 Innovation as the answer: Techtextil and Texprocess honour solutions to global challenges with the 2026 Innovation Awards The textile industry and many of its application sectors face unprecedented challenges – the winners of the Techtextil and Texprocess Innovation Awards 2026 provide solutions
30 April 202624 April 2026 New Sustainable Polymer Class Discovered Researchers at the University of Bayreuth haver discovered a new polymer class which are characterised by biodegradable and recyclable properties and can also be processed in a more sustainable way
21 April 202615 April 2026 Algenesis Cuts Carbon Footprint by Up to 65% with Soleic® Bio-Based Materials With carbon reductions of up to 65%, these results show that Soleic® plant-based polyurethanes can significantly outperform petroleum-based materials in many areas
17 April 202613 April 2026 Biodegradable barrier coating developed for paper packaging In a research project, scientists investigated how speciality paper could be equipped with a water vapour barrier without compromising its already excellent oxygen barrier properties
16 April 202610 April 2026 Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Deploys Over 700,000 BAM-1 Alpha Production Hybrids, Achieving Key Milestone in its Aggressive Scale-Up Plan The Company seeks to increase output to metric ton levels and is continuing the execution of its previously announced plan for rapid production expansion of recombinant spider silk
15 April 20269 April 2026 Swiss industrial engineering and manufacturing company Sulzer joins Spinnova’s ecosystem This new agreement formalises Sulzer’s role in future technology development and strengthens the ecosystem with additional engineering expertise
13 April 20268 April 2026 BALK™ earns BPI’s Commercial and Home Certification in Adhesive Category Conventional adhesives in tapes, labels, and stickers persist as environmental contaminants - BALK™ addresses this critical gap with an adhesive engineered to decompose completely
ZymoChem’s BAYSE™ Becomes First Bio-Based Superabsorbent to Match and Outperform Petroleum-Based Materials New research paper reveals breakthrough performance data for a biodegradable alternative to the plastics at the heart of billions of diapers, period products, and incontinence pads produced each year
10 April 20262 April 2026 From Brewery Waste to Biobased, Circular Packaging: BioSupPack brings on innovation for PPWR Compliance BioSupPack’s innovations directly address the packaging industry’s transformation driven by the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)
9 April 20261 April 2026 Bio-based films and coatings made from chitin-containing waste materials Biorefinery for chitin processing and high-quality chitosan production
8 April 202631 March 2026 RES acquires PLA production facility PLA is derived from a range of natural feedstocks and is used in a wide variety of applications, from injection moulding to extrusion, from blow moulding to thermoforming, through to 3D printing
1 April 202626 March 2026 Lenzing Group positions bio‑based materials as a strategic asset for Europe’s economic security Roundtable in Brussels to discuss how bio‑based materials can strengthen Europe’s economic security and support the shift toward a fossil‑free future
26 March 202623 March 2026 Indorama Ventures, Nigerian Breweries and Genesis Energy Partner to Develop One of Africa’s Largest rPET Production Facilities By converting post‑consumer PET bottles into high‑quality recycled material for packaging applications, the initiative aims to meet fast‑rising demand for recycled content
VTT spinout Elea & Lili raises EUR 2.5 million to commercialise microplastic-free superabsorbent material for hygiene and agriculture Backed by over a decade of biomaterials research at VTT, Elea & Lili is commercialising a cellulose-based alternative designed to replace common materials at an industrial scale
23 March 202617 March 2026 ViridiCO2 and Zschimmer & Schwarz collaborate on CO2-based surfactants Joint Development Agreement accelerates scale-up of innovative CO2 utilisation technology for sustainable surfactants
17 March 202611 March 2026 This plastic is made from milk and it vanishes in 13 weeks Milk protein and clay team up to create a plastic-like film that vanishes in soil in just 13 weeks
Environmental performance of bioplastics: degradation pathways, chemical leaching, and life-cycle implications We outline priorities, improving end-of-life infrastructure, recyclable design, and harmonized, global assessments, to transition bioplastics from aspirational substitutes to demonstrably sustainable material
16 March 202610 March 2026 European Bioplastics pushes for NIR tech in biodegradable plastic recycling The organization outlines how recycling can serve as an important end-of-life pathway for bioplastics when supported by near-infrared (NIR) sorting technology
11 March 202624 April 2026 UIC engineers develop plant-based plastic alternative for use in shopping bags It’s biodegradable, and it’s designed to match the strength and performance of conventional plastic bags while reducing environmental impact
5 March 20262 March 2026 Researchers use fungus to create plastic-free food packaging New, water- and oil-proof food packaging material made of mycelium from mushrooms and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) from wood that easily decomposes
2 March 202628 February 2026 Plastic Recyclates and Biopolymers as Raw Materials for Fibers and Films Sustainable Design of Geosynthetics and Roof Underlayments Made from Recyclates
27 February 202623 February 2026 A biological material that becomes stronger when wet could replace plastics Catalonian researchers developed the first biomaterial that is not only waterproof but actually becomes stronger in contact with water
The Environmental Trade-offs of Biodegradable Plastics Researchers from the Yale School of the Environment found that biodegradable plastics could reduce ecotoxicity up to 34% by 2050, but without proper disposal and infrastructure they also could dramatically increase greenhouse gas emissions
26 February 202624 February 2026 Defossilisation through innovation: Deadline for Submitting Abstracts for the Renewable Materials Conference is 15 March 2026 Renewable Materials Conference from 22–24 September 2026 in Siegburg/Cologne (Germany): 80 presentations, 20 panel discussions, 16 workshops and an exhibition offer comprehensive networking with 400-500 participants
24 February 202625 February 2026 EU-funded Research Project UNICO₂RN Converts Biogenic CO₂ into Proteins and Bioplastics Utilising biogenic CO₂ emissions through circular solutions
New DIN SPEC assesses environmental impact of textile fragments in soil Hohenstein introduces first realistic method to measure biodegradability and ecotoxicity of textile fibres in soil
Uzbek scientists create biodegradable film from plant-based polysaccharides Uzbekistan’s Academy of Sciences-researchers created the material by extracting water-soluble polysaccharides from locally available plants
23 February 202617 February 2026 Plantsea Raises £350k In Crowdfunding Round To Scale Seaweed-Based Polymer Film The Welsh startup surpasses its crowdfunding target and moves from lab-scale testing to industrial-scale trials, aiming to replace PVOH with sustainable alternatives
17 February 202612 February 2026 Mizuno’s Artificial Turf Made with KANEKA Biodegradable Polymer Green Planet™ Adopted for the First Time at Vantelin Dome Nagoya This product offers a texture similar to that of conventional artificial turf while maintaining high durability. More than 90% of the resin used in the turf blades is derived from biomass, enabling a reduction in CO₂ emissions compared with petroleum-based artificial turf