Programme
EBC 23 will take place on 12/13 December 2023, at the Titanic Hotel in Berlin, Germany and online!
Download the conference agenda here!
The 2023 edition of the leading business and networking event for the bioplastics industry in Europe will showcase how biopolymers are driving innovation forward for more sustainability, resource efficiency, and functionality. We will dive into a wide range of important areas in this year’s sessions:
- Bioplastics Policy Landscape: Latest Developments in the EU and Beyond
- Bioplastics Market Data Navigating the Bioplastics Frontier: Market Development Insights
- Bioplastics in the Circular Economy: Enhancing Environmental Responsibility
- Sustainable Pathways: Exploring Bioplastics’ Environmental Impact
- Packaging Tomorrow: Unwrapping the Potential of Bioplastics
- Greening the Future: Soil Biodegradable Mulchfilms Shaping Agriculture’s Future
- The Eco-Revolution: Pioneering the Next Wave of Bioplastic Applications
- Cultivating Innovation: Exploring Novel Feedstock for Biobased Plastics
This year’s policy session will be opened by Silvia Maltagliati, Policy Officer in the Circular Economy & Biobased Systems Unit at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation. She will present perspectives on the R&I programming under EGD/CE, which may impact the sectors of biobased plastics. Rhodes Yepsen, Executive Director at BPI, will focus on a wider scope and highlight the new trends in policy and market updates in the US and Canada.
The hybrid format of this year’s event will allow you to either join in person at the Titanic Hotel Chausseestraße Berlin, offering fantastic networking opportunities, or comfortably log in from your home base. Secure your delegate pass today and be part of the leading conference of the international bioplastics community!
Another highlight of the EBC 23 is the exhibition, which is dedicated exclusively to bioplastics. It is the ideal platform for your company to demonstrate your products and services, increase brand awareness, build new business relationships, and gain instant market feedback. In our additional virtual exhibition, you will be able to showcase your company through digital content and connect with our online attendees. If you, too, would like to present your organisation at the exhibition, secure your booth here.
If you want to learn more about the location or book a hotel room, please find all the information here.
We look forward to welcoming you in Berlin or online!
09:00 | Welcome address |
09:10 | BIOPLASTICS POLICY LANDSCAPE: LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN THE EU AND BEYOND |
Horizon Europe programming R&I on biobased and biodegradable plastics Silvia Maltagliati, Policy Officer | EC Directorate General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD) |
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How does the EU really feel about bioplastics? Nicolas Hark, Senior Specialist | nova-Institute |
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U.S. and Canada compostable product market developments Rhodes Yepsen, Executive Director | Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) |
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Sustainability assessment of different types of coffee capsules Marieke Brouwer, Researcher Sustainable Packaging & Recycling | Wageningen University & Research (WUR) |
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The chemical industry as a carbon steward Burkhard Ohs, Manager Long-Term Development | Neste Sophie Herrmann, Partner and Managing Director | Systemiq Germany |
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10:45 | COFFEE BREAK |
11:15 | PANEL DISCUSSION: QUO VADIS? THE FUTURE ROLE OF BIOPLASTICS IN EUROPE |
Panellists: Roberto Ferrigno | EUBP Nicolas Hark | nova-Institute Silvia Maltagliati | DG RTD Karin Molenveld | WUR Rhodes Yepsen | BPI |
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12:00 | BIOPLASTICS MARKET DATA NAVIGATING THE BIOPLASTICS FRONTIER: MARKET DEVELOPMENT INSIGHTS |
Bioplastics market data Pia Skoczinski, Senior Expert | nova-Institute Hasso v. Pogrell, Managing Director | European Bioplastics |
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Monetised aggregate cost for material selection – The €/kg case of biobased polymers versus the alternatives Jan Noordegraaf, Managing Director | Innograaf |
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Outlook for the PLA market: expansion of capacity and new properties to broaden the applications portfolio Erik Ripple, President & CEO | NatureWorks |
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13:15 | LUNCH BREAK |
14:15 | BIOPLASTICS IN THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY: ENHANCING ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY |
Bioplastics and end-of-life – What makes sense and when? Patrick Zimmermann, Managing Director | FKuR Kunststoff |
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Strategic selection tool for thermoplastic materials in a renewable circular economy Wouter Post, Senior Researcher Sustainable Plastic Technology | Wageningen University & Research (WUR) |
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Certification of biobased products, one step beyond Philippe Dewolfs, Business Unit Manager | TÜV Austria Belgium |
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Advanced recycling of polylactic acid: harnessing waste streams as feedstock for bioplastics production Maelenn Ravard, Sustainability Manager | TotalEnergies Corbion |
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Circular Valley – The Silicon Valley of circular economy Andreas Mucke, Managing Director | Circular Valley |
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16:00 | COFFEE BREAK sponsored by Zhongke Guosheng (Hangzhou) Technology |
16:30 | SUSTAINABLE PATHWAYS: EXPLORING BIOPLASTICS’ ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT |
Upcoming standard on how to compare biobased and fossil-based products through LCA Maria Gustafsson, Project Manager | Swedish Standardisation Institute SIS |
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Regenerative farming of dent corn is key for the production of 100% biobased Susterra® 1,3 propanediol (PDO) supporting the circular economy Patrick Van Waes, Global Marketing Director | Primient Covation |
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LCA of Avantium’s Ray TechnologyTM and incumbent production routes Raheel Afzal, Consultant | Sphera Math Lambalk, Business Development Manager | Avantium |
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18:00 | Conference Lottery sponsored by BIOTEC |
18:30 | Drinks Reception sponsored by FKuR |
19:00 | Conference Dinner |
08:30 | Welcome address |
08:40 | PACKAGING TOMORROW: UNWRAPPING THE POTENTIAL OF BIOPLASTICS |
Recyclability, circularity, reusability – Trends on the way to a more environmentally friendly packaging era Kristina Block, Product Manager | DIN CERTCO |
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You’ll never walk alone – Paper + compostable plastics: safe and sustainable binomium for food contact packaging? Andrea Vittadello, Sustainability Project Manager | Merieux NutriScience |
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Serving high engagement product category in replacing ABS materials Heidi Peltola, Head of Research and Development | Sulapac |
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Performance and environmental impact of biodegradable materials in a full-scale composting experiment Sandra Domenek , Professor | AgroParisTech |
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10:10 | GREENING THE FUTURE: SOIL BIODEGRADABLE MULCHFILMS SHAPING AGRICULTURE’S FUTURE |
Study report to assess biodegradability criteria for polymers used in EU mulch film products Elena Domínguez Solera, Agriculture and Aquatic Environment Researcher | AIMPLAS |
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Biodegradable plastics: effects on soil functionality and fertility Sara Guerrini, PhD Student | University of Bologna |
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Global assessment of the benefits of bioplastics use and behaviour in agriculture Davey Jones, Professor of Soil & Environmental Science | Environment Centre Wales, Bangor University |
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11:30 | COFFEE BREAK sponsored by NatureWorks |
12:00 | THE ECO-REVOLUTION: PIONEERING THE NEXT WAVE OF BIOPLASTICS APPLICATIONS |
Sulzer bio-polymer technologies Alex Battù, Sales Manager Polymer Technologies and Licenses | Sulzer |
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The Footwear Industry – Understanding the opportunities David Hart, Product Line Director | Insite Insoles |
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From nature for nature: sustainable moor grass composite posts Jörg Dörrstein, Managing Director | Biofibre |
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Melt-spun high-tenacity marine-degradable filaments and yarns Bas Krins, Technical Director | Senbis |
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13:30 | LUNCH BREAK |
14:30 | CULTIVATING INNOVATION: EXPLORING NOVEL FEEDSTOCK FOR BIOBASED PLASTICS |
Biobased HMF’s new materials and its application progress John Zhang, Co-Founder | Zhongke Guosheng (Hangzhou) Technology |
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Wine and coffee by-products – Sustainable functional fillers for the stabilization of biopolyesters Benedikt T. Hiller, Researcher | Institute for Biopolymers at Hof University of Applied Sciences Mirko Rennert, Research Group Leader | Institute for Biopolymers at Hof University of Applied Sciences |
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Crafting cost-effective polyhydroxyalkanoates Ashvini Shete, Technology lead – Renewable Chemicals | Praj Industries |
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RECOVER: biotic symbiosis for biodegradation of agri-food waste plastics Marco De la Feld, Head of Unit | ENCO |
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16:00 | END OF CONFERENCE |
Closing remarks |