European Bioplastics elects new Board to drive its next Phase: Recognition, Commitment, Trust and Scale
Brussels, 27 May 2026 – European Bioplastics (EUBP), the association representing the interests of biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics in Europe, has elected its new Board during its General Assembly on 27 May 2026.
The new Board will guide the association for the 2026–2029 mandate at a decisive moment for Europe’s bioeconomy, industrial competitiveness and transition away from fossil carbon.
The newly elected Board is composed of Monica Battistella (Taghleef Industries), Judith Hicks (Vioneo), Franz Kraus(Novamont), Myriam Moeyersons (Ingevity), Afsaneh Nabifar(BASF), Celmira Sousa (NatureWorks), Frédéric Van Gansberghe (Futerro), Hugo Vuurens(CJ CheilJedang), and Irina Yarulina (Sulzer).
Franz Kraus and Frédéric Van Gansberghe were elected Co-Chairs of European Bioplastics, together with Afsaneh Nabifar, who will take up the role of Vice-Chair.
Hugo Vuurens will serve as Treasurer.
The composition of the new Board reflects the breadth of the European bioplastics value chain and brings together expertise in biobased, biodegradable and compostable materials, packaging, conversion, recycling technologies, sustainability, public affairs, market development and industrial scale-up. It also reflects a strong balance in terms of gender, geographical presence and sectoral representation.
“The new Board brings together the experience, diversity and industrial expertise EUBP needs for the next phase. Our priority will be to strengthen the recognition of bioplastics as part of Europe’s bioeconomy, while building trust in credible solutions and supporting the conditions for scale,” said Franz Kraus, newly elected Co-Chair of European Bioplastics.
“This mandate is about turning ambition into delivery. EUBP will continue to work for a Europe where bioplastics make the bioeconomy tangible: replacing fossil carbon where they deliver value, enabling circularity and contributing to resilient European industrial value chains,” said Frédéric Van Gansberghe, newly elected Co-Chair of European Bioplastics.
“With this Board, EUBP has the breadth, credibility and strategic focus needed to translate its vision into concrete policy, market and member value,” said Lorenza Romanese, Secretary General of European Bioplastics.
In this time of growing expectations from policymakers, the sector needs to provide concrete, practical, and evidence-based input to support ongoing regulatory developments. In this context, Lorenza Romanese, Secretary General of European Bioplastics, emphasised that “only through continued cooperation and aligned advocacy efforts can the sector deliver the impact needed to support Europe’s transition towards a sustainable and circular bioeconomy.”
Over the coming mandate, EUBP will continue working with EU institutions, Member States, industry partners and stakeholders to support a coherent policy framework for bioplastics in Europe. Key priorities will include regulatory clarity, harmonised implementation of EU legislation, credible sustainability claims, recognition of biogenic carbon, appropriate end-of-life pathways and demand-creation measures for bioplastics applications.
About European Bioplastics
European Bioplastics is the European association representing the interests of the bioplastics industry along the entire value chain. Its members are active in plastics that are biobased, biodegradable, compostable, or that combine these properties. More information is available at www.european-bioplastics.org.
Press contact
European Bioplastics AISBL
Avenue Palmerston 3
1000 Brussels
press@european-bioplastics.org