Berlin, 11 December 2024 – European Bioplastics concludes two days of insightful presentations, panel discussions and market data analysis at EBC24.
Around 350 attendees gathered in Berlin and online to attend the 19th edition of the European Bioplastics Conference, EBC24.
In their welcome address, Mariagiovanna Vetere and Franz Kraus, Co-Chairs of EUBP, highlighted the positive changes in the European industry: “We come to the end of a busy year with regulation falling into place, which mandate compostable packaging applications, provide a growth path for biobased plastics and boost biodegradable agricultural applications.”
“We have a lot of hope in this European Parliament and European Commission, hope in the new industrial strategy, the Clean Industrial Deal, and in the relaunch of an EU bioeconomy strategy as one of its pillars. Biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics are an integral part of the bioeconomy, and we are willing to play our part in addressing the problem of plastic pollution in soil and sea.”
“Bioplastics are here to stay, and they are here to grow. So, we look forward to having you here for two days, to give you the newest trends, and an overview of the newest policies,” said Franz Kraus concluding the welcome address.
The sessions highlighted advancements in bioplastics, assessed their environmental impacts and sustainability milestones, and provided a comprehensive overview of the global industry landscape. On top of the European market, key insights and trends were presented from major markets such as the USA, the Middle East and China.
In her keynote, Kristin Schreiber, Director, DG GROW.F, European Commission, reminded participants that the transition towards a more sustainable biobased circular economy is one of the central pillars of the European Union’s long-term vision and that biobased materials will play a crucial role in achieving a competitive and sustainable EU economy. Kristin also explained the importance of strategically managing biomass resources and invited participants to share insights and contributions on how to make the bioplastic market thrive, concluding her keynote.
The market data session revealed that overall global plastics production continues to rise steadily. There is still room for growth and innovation, but the new data give a strong