Dear members,

Please find below an overview of activities carried out by European Bioplastics throughout January 2021.  

Regulatory Affairs (WG REGA)

The European Bioplastics’ Working Group Regulatory Affairs (WG REGA) last met on 27 January.

The WG members discussed the draft policy paper on the framework for bioplastics together with responses to questions posed by DG ENV Unit B1 and the study base. The Group would aim to finalise the paper as soon as possible so that it could be presented to the Commission at a forthcoming meeting. REGA also discussed the SUP with further work ongoing to map implementation with BON Europe.

EUBP had been contacted by Eunomia and participated in an hour-long discussion about suitable applications for biodegradable/compostable plastics. The agency was proposing a list of recommended applications, possible applications and bans on some alternative (conventional) materials. It had not given any indication on the call over whether mechanical recycling would be prioritised over organic recycling. Nevertheless, it was unacceptable that EUBP is not currently being involved in more detailed discussions on the definition of recycling (to include organic). It was also surprising that questions were asked by Eunomia about the specifics of biodegradation in different environments and that only biodegradable rather than all materials were focused on in this respect.

While the JRC LCA study on alternative feedstocks had not yet been published, it was becoming clear that LCA would be increasingly used in the context of other topics like Taxonomy and green claims.

The group noted that the first draft delegated act had not been adopted by the Commission as planned at the end of 2020. There were numerous reasons for this, including the large amount of feedback and objections received and dissatisfaction by the member states on the definition of green transition energy (particularly with regards to natural gas). It was thought that the act might now be adopted in March/April 2021.

EUBP had received helpful feedback and analysis on the SAPEA study from a number of members. The Biodegradable Product Group was in the process of preparing a statement.

A new motion for resolution was being drafted by the EP on the need to ban conventional plastic tea bags in favour of reusable metal tea strainers and biodegradable/compostable teabags. The motion was being led by Croatian Independent MEP Ivan Vilibor Sinčić. EUBP would speak with Sinčić about his objectives on this and offer support and further information on 29 January.

A call had been arranged together with EUBP and ECHA on 27 January. A range of questions were addressed. Further information on this can be found in an email circulated by JDI on 1 February

The feedback from EUBP to the Commission’s roadmap on FCMs had been submitted. EUBP had liaised with ACE (the Alliance for Beverage Cartons) to ensure that similar wording was reflected by both associations.

For detailed information on the work of the WG Regulatory Affairs, please contact Joanna Dupont-Inglis (inglis@european-bioplastics.org).

BON Europe

BON Europe (Bioplastics Organisations Network) is an alliance of European Bioplastics and European national bioplastics organisations. The group held a web meeting on 28 January 2021. Main topics were policy updates from the individual BON members and the current status of the SUPD implementation.

For more information regarding BON Europe, please contact Katharina Hinse (hinse@european-bioplastics.org).

Product Groups

Product Group Bio-based

PG Biobased met for an ad hoc meeting on 12 January to discuss the status quo of the JRC study on LCA of alternative feedstock for plastics production. The publication was announced for autumn 2020 but has not been completed yet. It was reported that the JRC had started a working group on LCA for bioplastics, including two EUBP members from Italy. The first meeting of this WG was set for the same week so that a follow up meeting of PG Biobased was scheduled for 18 January. The PG learned that the JRC group works independently from the general study, which is now led by DG ENVI and might be published soon. Further steps by EUBP are now to be decided by WG REGA.

PG Biobased also held a regular meeting on 14 January. Next to the updates from the task forces, the new study on “Bio-based plastics: Sustainable sourcing and content” was discussed as well as the required tasks. The PG plans to develop a fact sheet on bio-based content starting with a review on existing mass balance approaches. The position paper on sustainability assessment will be updated as the last version dates from 2015.

EUBP staff and members participated in the 2nd stakeholder workshop for “Bio-based plastics: sustainable sourcing and content” on 28 January in connection with a study carried out by Wood, WUR and Trinomics on behalf of DG ENVI. The initial results of the study were presented, and there was an option for additional input. PG Biobased met for a short ad hoc meeting on 29 January to discuss the outcome.  

For more details kindly check the minutes of the meetings distributed within the PG.

For more information regarding bio-based plastics including sustainability issues and the work of the PG and TFs, please contact Constance Ißbrücker (issbruecker@european-bioplastics.org).

Product Group Biodegradables

PG Biodegradables met on 13 January to discuss the recently published SAPEA report on biodegradable plastics in the open environment, the role of biodegradable microplastics, compostable plastics in AD, and latest policy developments. It was decided to draft a position on the SAPEA document in cooperation with WG REGA, to develop a position paper on biodegradable microplastics and to collect all available information on the performance of compostable plastics in anaerobic digestion.

For more information regarding PG Biodegradables and the TF Marine, please contact Constance Ißbrücker (issbruecker@european-bioplastics.org).

Working Group Standardisation

The WG held a web meeting on 5 January 2021 to discuss open points of the draft EN 13432. The three main topics on which no agreement has been found yet are AD, disintegration time, and the percentage of constituents for which biodegradability should be tested. Suggestions on these aspects will be prepared until the end of the month and then be open for written comments until the next meeting on 17 March.

CEN/TC 261 SC 4 WG 2 met twice to further discuss comments on prEN 17427 (home compostable carrier bags).

For more information on standards for bioplastics, current standardisation processes, and certification of bioplastics, please contact Constance Ißbrücker (issbruecker@european-bioplastics.org).

Communications

Please find under the following link a selection of relevant media clippings from January 2021 (online).

Throughout the month, Comms further elaborated on a discussion around EUBP’s web presence, including its website as well as its social media activities on Twitter and LinkedIn. In order to prepare the kick-off meeting (3 February 2021) of the recently established task force “EUBP Web Presence”, Comms prepared a briefing paper with guiding questions. In this context, EUBP also started to develop an editorial plan social media to better strategize, structure, and plan its activities.

On 27 January, EUBP Comms attended the general meeting of WG REGA. The intention of the joint meetings was to further deepen the understanding of the relevant political processes on the EU level and to align the EUBP communication activities with those of the regulatory affairs.

Additionally, EUBP Comms coordinated the responses to several requests by journalists and companies regarding detailed information on different aspects of bioplastics. This included the communication with a German film production company that plans a documentary on bioplastics and an EUBP member which will be featured.

For more information or questions concerning the communications activities of EUBP, please contact Oliver Buchholz (buchholz@european-bioplastics.org).

Seedling Logo

The Advisory Committee of the Seedling (ACS) met online with Belgian recycler Looplife on 26 January to discuss issues around the mechanical recycling of (post-industrial) PLA waste and consequences resulting for certification.  The next meeting will take place on 5 March 2021.

For more information on the Seedling Logo or the Certification Scheme, please contact Constance Ißbrücker (issbruecker@european-bioplastics.org).

Events

EUBP continued with the follow up of the 15th European Bioplastics (EUBP) Conference which mainly included invoicing and further evaluation of the event.

If you have any questions, please contact Benita Zabel (zabel@european-bioplastics.org).

Projects

BIOnTop (Project month: 18 of 48)

https://biontop.eu/ (BBI-JU)

In January, the BIOnTop consortium finalized its month 18 reporting and submitted it to the European Commission. At the same time, preparations are being made for the first project starting on 23 February.

BIOMAC (Kick-Off: 14 - 15 January)

Grant agreement 952941 (Horizon 2020)

The grant preparation phase had been successfully completed, and BIOMAC officially started in January 2021. The project is designed to form a sustainable open innovation test bed network of pilot plants located across eleven European countries. Further information can be found at BIOMAC’s website at https://www.biomac-oitb.eu/ once the website is online.

PRESERVE (Kick-Off: 27 - 28 January)

Grant agreement 952983 (Horizon 2020)

EUBP’s second new project PRESERVE was also kicked off in January. Its main objective is to develop high performance sustainable bio-based packaging with tailored end-of-life and upcycled secondary use. PRESERVE’s website is currently being rolled out and will be available at https://preserve-h2020.eu/.

Status of project partnering, other HORIZON 2020 projects, and proposal/grant agreements:

BIOSUPPACK, a proposal led by AIMPLAS, was chosen for granting on 18 January. Currently, the project is in the grant preparation phase. BIOSUPPACK, once active, will receive 8.8 million Euro to deal with PHA-based rigid packaging upscaling and enzymatic recycling as well as plasma integration in the value chain.

Planned activities

WG Regulatory Affairs:

• Follow up on submission of EUBP’s position on ERs for the PPWD
• Further work on developing the position for the Policy Framework Communication on Bioplastics
• Drafting of EUBP position on plastics tax regulation
• Follow up on Taxonomy
• Further outreach in the form of meeting requests to Commission and EP on core topics for EUBP

Communications:

• Preparation of kick-off meeting of TF EUBP Web Presence (3 February 2021)
• Development of an editorial plan for social media
• Preparation of 4-pager on EUBP market data 2020
• Preparation of EUBP’s annual report 2020  
• Update of EUBP publications with new market data 2020

BON Europe:

• Next web meeting of BON Europe on 25 February 2021
• Further complete overview on Member States’ implementation of SUP Directive

PG Bio-based:

• Fact Sheet on bio-based content/mass balance
• TF 1: monitor and update JRC LCA study and new study on sustainability and bio-based content (DG ENVI), update position paper on sustainability assessment
• TF 2: finalization fact sheet on chemical recycling, revision fact sheet on energy recovery
• TF 3: finalization paper on sugar as feedstock for bio-based plastics
• Next meeting still to be scheduled
• PG Biodegradables:
• Position paper on microplastics
• Info collection on biodegradable/compostable plastics in AD
• Next meeting on to be scheduled

WG Standardisation:

• Further work on draft EN13432
• Next meeting on 17 March 2021

Seedling Logo:

• Next meeting of the ACS on 5 March 2021

Projects and Networks:

• BIOMAC 1st Scientific & Technical Meeting on 16 February 2021
• BIOnTop Review Meeting on 23 February 2021
• Network meeting “Gebäude O.K.” (German: Buildings without plastics) on 24 February 2021

If you have any suggestions regarding the content and/or format of our monthly report, please do not hesitate to share them with us.  

This email is sent to all the contacts of our member companies that we have registered in our database. If you would like to share it with further colleagues, kindly send us an email to members@european-bioplastics.org. 

Kind regards,
Hasso v. Pogrell