As European Bioplastics prepares for the 20th edition of its annual conference, EBC, the organisation takes this milestone as an opportunity to reflect on its journey. From its early days as a niche gathering for experts, EBC has grown into the flagship event for the global bioplastics community, bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, innovators, and researchers.

In this interview, Hasso von Pogrell and Lorenza Romanese share their perspectives on the evolution of the conference, its role in shaping the sector, the progress achieved over the years and the path that lies ahead.

1.Can you take us back to the very first edition of this conference? What was the vision back then?

Hasso von Pogrell: I joined EUBP in 2009. Therefore, the first conference I attended was already the 4th edition. But from what I took away from speaking with those that had organized and / or attended the first conferences, the idea behind them was essentially the same as it is today: to inform both the industry as well as other interested stakeholders about the newest innovations in the sector. This could be either newly developed polymers or the successful introduction of bioplastics in everyday applications, giving them new properties.

2. How has the conference evolved from its early days to now?

Hasso von Pogrell: Surprisingly, it started out as a large event from the very beginning. According to EUBP’s 2006 Annual Report, the first conference, which by the way took place in Brussels that year, would easily have attracted up to 400 attendees, but had to be capped at 300 because of limited space availability. While EBC remains the Go-to-event for the sector, continuously attracting an average of between 350 to 400 attendees from all over the world, its scope has broadened both in terms of the diversity of participants and the range of topics. An ever-growing range of applications and the increasing relevance of legislation have broadened the conference’s reach, attracting not only industry experts but also policymakers, scientists, brands, and consumers worldwide.

3. What do you think has been the most significant achievement of this conference?

Hasso von Pogrell: Especially in recent years, numerous events have been emerging rapidly. Today, hardly a week goes by without a similar conference taking place not only somewhere in Europe but all over the world. In the face of this significant growth in competition, EBC has succeeded in cementing its reputation as the flagship event for bioplastics and consistently attracts attendees from across the sector. In short, EBC remains THE networking event that you need to attend if you want to stay up to speed with the recent technological developments and meet with the most relevant stakeholders of the sector.

4. How has this conference helped shape the industry?

Hasso von Pogrell: Being primarily a networking event, the conference has been bringing together both the largest and established players as well as newcomers, innovators, start-ups and scientists since the very beginning. Many pioneering ideas will have originated at one of these conferences, where, inspired by an important presentation or an interesting product exhibition, the right people met at the right time and together laid the foundation for a successful new venture.

5. What’s one thing about this conference that has remained the same all these years?

Hasso von Pogrell: From the outset, the conference was designed to be a meeting place where experts, enthusiasts and curious minds could come together in an informal setting to exchange ideas on the entire spectrum of the plastics world. Despite a programme packed with interesting presentations, EUBP, as the organiser, has always placed great emphasis on ensuring that the series of presentations is interspersed with sufficient and longer breaks to facilitate networking. Networking and connection have always been at the heart of EBC.

6. Where do you see the conference heading in the next 5-10 years?

Lorenza Romanese: Over the next decade, I see EBC continuing to evolve as a truly global platform for the bioplastics sector — not only fostering exchange within the industry, but above all creating a venue where policy makers, academia and science can engage directly with the industry. Today, legislation often acts less as an enabler and more as a barrier to competitiveness and innovation. This makes it all the more urgent to establish open spaces for dialogue, where decisions can be guided by evidence and research. Only a well-functioning Single Market, capable of driving growth and innovation, while safeguarding sustainability, can address the sector’s greatest challenges. With sustainability and circular economy principles taking center stage in both industry and policy, the conference will increasingly serve as a meeting point for policy makers, industry leaders, and researchers to discuss innovative materials, smart production methods and digitalisation , as well as cross-sector collaboration. I also expect the hybrid format to expand, enabling participation from stakeholders worldwide and further strengthening international connections.

7. What’s one change or innovation you’re excited to introduce in future editions?

Lorenza Romanese: One innovation we are particularly excited about is giving more visibility to start-ups and innovators. By introducing dedicated pitch formats and innovation spotlights, we aim to showcase how new players are shaping the future of bioplastics while providing them with a platform for networking. At the same time, we are exploring fresh communication formats, from concise keynote presentations to dynamic panel discussions, to keep the programme engaging and to foster cross-sector conversations that inspire new collaborations.

8. What should participants expect from this year’s conference, and what experience do you hope they take away?

Lorenza Romanese: This year marks the 20th anniversary of the European Bioplastics Conference (EBC)! The conference will focus on shaping the sector’s next phase of growth while celebrating two decades as a key platform for business, discussions, and knowledge exchange in the global bioplastics sector. Key themes will include policy discussions on the availability and sustainability of biomass, updates on ongoing or recently concluded EU policy dossiers, and consumer awareness of bioplastics.

The conference will explore market opportunities with presentations on different bioplastic materials, market data, and incentives at national, regional, and local levels aimed at driving bioplastics demand.

Another key highlight will be the European Bioplastics Innovation Award, recognising innovative solutions to scale the sector. Finally, we will also offer a free side event on 01 December from 17:00 until 19:00 CET on Bioplastic Packaging Design: Safe, Sustainable and Recyclable in collaboration with EU-funded projects in research and innovation to share insights into the latest R&I results and explore opportunities for scaling them up.

More details about the event can be found here – https://www.european-bioplastics.org/events/ebc/