Dear members,

Please find below an overview of activities carried out by European Bioplastics throughout January 2022.

Regulatory Affairs (WG REGA)

The European Bioplastics’ Working Group Regulatory Affairs (WG REGA) met on 12 January.

Topics discussed included the French presidency and legislative timelines. A Commission meeting on the Policy Framework Communication on Bio-based and Biodegradable/Compostable plastics (PFC) was planned for 11 May with a further meeting on the PPWD planned for 13 July. EUBP would continue with its outreach to MS officials including Perm Reps and to EP officials. A meeting with MEP Ries (former Rapporteur for the SUPD and potential Rapporteur for the revision of the PPWD) is scheduled for 3 February to discuss key positions and concerns on the PPWD proposal.

The group also discussed the input on the currently ongoing public consultation on the PFC. EUBP is preparing a draft response which shall be discussed in the next WG REGA meeting on 16 February in more detail. Deadline for submission is 15 March. EUBP’s final response will be shared with members of the BON Europe network, EUBA, and other relevant organisation to gather as much support on this initiative as possible. The final Communication is due for publication in May 2022.

The EUBA position on the JRC methodology had been sent to the relevant Commissioners, Director Generals, Directors, Heads of Unit, and Policy Officers at DGs GROW, JRC, ENVI, AGRI, ECON, and RTD in December last year. A standard response had been received from Alan Belward, Director General of the JRC thanking EUBP for the documents and promising to consider the content. On 14 January, EUBP met with Commissioner Stephano Soro (DG GROW) to discuss the main concerns, yet no indications were made that the JRC report might be revisited and revised. In the meantime, further work on the methodology will be undertaken in ISO groups.

EUBP had prepared a draft response to the consultation on recycled plastic in Food Contact Materials (FCMs) and shared it with members of the group before it was submitted at the end of January.

Joanna Dupont-Inglis has left EUBP at the end of January. EUBP is currently selecting candidates to replace the position of Head of EU Affairs as soon as possible. In the meantime, for further detailed information on the work of the WG Regulatory Affairs, please see the slides and minutes of the REGA meetings or contact Hasso von Pogrell (pogrell@european-bioplastics.org) or Maja Lisac (lisac@european-bioplastics.org)

BON Europe

BON Europe (Bioplastics Organisations Network) is an alliance of European Bioplastics and European national bioplastics organisations. Maja Lisac has taken over the coordination of BON Europe during Katharina Hinse's maternity leave and will lead the upcoming web meeting on 3 February 2022.

For more information regarding BON Europe, please contact  Maja Lisac (lisac@european-bioplastics.org).

Product Groups

Product Group Bio-based

PG Biobased had a meeting on 25 January. An update on the activities around the JRC study on LCA for alternative feedstock for plastics was given. EUBP also shared new information on the study on sustainable sourcing and content for bio-based content. It was discussed which sustainability criteria and/or the according schemes would make sense to support. The group also considered how to deal with the mass balance approach, as this topic is relevant for the bio-based industry but not in the scope of the association. For more information on these topics kindly check the minutes of meeting. The next meeting of the PG Bio-based will take place on 26 April 2022. TF meetings still need to be scheduled.

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

The PG Biodegradables met on 11 January. After a policy update on the framework for bio-based, compostable and biodegradable plastics and the national developments in France and Italy, the group discussed a project some members initiated following discussions in the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The idea is to convince EMF to put compostable plastics on their agenda again. A presentation including the benefits of compostable plastics and their added value for food waste collection had been prepared and was shared with the PG during the meeting.

A further agenda item was EUBP’s continuous compilation of data regarding the impact of compostable plastics in mechanical recycling streams. The corresponding ad hoc Task Force met on 19 January and decided to create a general presentation with relevant information that can be shared with external stakeholders whenever necessary. The next meeting is scheduled for February.

The group also discussed the recent FAO report on agricultural plastics. It was decided to start an ad hoc Task Force to discuss all studies regarding this topic and decide on follow-up activities.

The first draft of a position on compostable plastics in anaerobic digestion had been prepared and received several comments. The document still needs to be completed, and an updated version will be circulated within the PG in February.

Based on a discussion during the PG meeting in which it was suggested to team up with other associations that have a positive attitude towards biodegradable plastics, EUBP had a meeting with the European Coffee Association. However, the coffee association stated that it needs to stay material neutral but announced that they will contribute to the public consultation on the policy framework.

The next meeting of the PG Biodegradables is scheduled for 5 April 2022.

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

Working Group Standardisation

EUBP had an informal meeting with ECN on 26 January to discuss the current revision of EN13432. The following topics were discussed: different composting times and practices in different member states, and the possibilities to standardise anaerobic digestion for compostable plastics.

The final draft of prEN 17427 (“Packaging - Requirements and test scheme for carrier bags suitable for treatment in well-managed home composting installations”) is currently in the national voting. WG Standardisation will have an ad hoc meeting on 14 February to discuss the possible (negative) impacts for the bioplastics industry.

The meeting of CEN/TC 261 SC4 WG 2 has been postponed to March.

On the initiative of EUBP member Natureworks, CEN/TC 411 WG 4 met in January to discuss a proposal for the development of a standard for the comparison of bio-based products with fossil-based alternatives from an environmental (LCA) point of view. This project is a follow-up on EUBPs activities regarding the JRC LCA methodology for alternative feedstocks for plastics production. It is now up to the CEN WG to decide if this project should result in a proper standard, a Technical Report (TR), a Technical Specification (TS), or a CEN Workshop Agreement (CWA). The next meeting of WG 4 is scheduled for 24 February.

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 2022 (online).

Throughout January, EUBP Comms supported EUBP Event Management with developing a concept for the first edition of “EUBP Talk”, a series of webinars. The first webinar takes place on 9 March in cooperation with Packaging Europe. Subsequently it will be organized at irregular intervals. Its focus lies on issues that are important for the bioplastics industry, economic as well as political. Comms’ support included, amongst others, the development of content for the event, the exchange with Packaging Europe as well as identification and outreach to potential speakers.

In response to several cases of infringement related to EUBP’s Seedling copyrights, Comms set up a meeting with a service provider called Pixray. The company identifies online copyright violations by using website crawlers. Despite a convincing presentation by Pixray, weighing costs and required staff capacities, it was decided to start using the features provided by the Google image search which are cost free.

Additionally, EUBP Comms coordinated the responses to several requests by journalists, organizations, and companies regarding detailed information on different aspects of bioplastics. E.g. it included a request for comments on different issues related to the bioplastics industry by Packaging Europe.

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

Seedling Logo

The certification scheme for the Seedling Logo is currently being revised. Additionally, a more comprehensive communication strategy concerning the Seedling label is currently under discussion. The next meeting of the ACS will be on 4 March, at 2:00 pm.

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

Events

In January, EUBP Event Management checked the invoice of the event venue of the 16th Conference in 2021 and agreed on the final amount. The contract with Maritim Pro Arte Hotel has been signed for the EUBP Conference 2022.

Furthermore, the planning of the EUBP Talk Webinar started as well as the planning of the Members Meeting and the Networking Event in Brussels in June. Therefore, different locations like representatives of German countries have been contacted, resulting in one offer so far.

For more information or questions concerning the annual conference and further EUBP events, please contact Denise Valdix (valdix@european-bioplastics.org or conference@european-bioplastics.org).

Projects

BIOnTop (Project month: 31 of 48)
https://biontop.eu/ (BBI-JU)

During January, all partners reported their SME Impact & Gender Status, and the technical partners managed by Albstadt-Sigmaringen University of Applied Sciences (ASU) finalised their work on a deliverable report on the processing and testing of the barrier and repellence coatings for BIOnTOP films & trays (whey protein coating and fatty acid grafting), which is due in February 2022.

In the next six months, the project will tackle the processing and production of mono- and multilayer films that will eventually result in the envisioned packaging solutions for fruits and vegetables as well as for dairy and personal care products. The processing of nets as well as the development of textile fibres and fabrics for packaging will also be addressed in the next six months. EUBP is responsible for dissemination and communication tasks as well as mapping and monitoring relevant regulatory and standardisation issues.

BIOMAC (Project month: 13 of 48)
https://www.biomac-oitb.eu/ (Horizon 2020)

On 12 – 13 January, all BIOMAC partners assembled online for a consortium meeting after the first project year. In particular, the jointly developed guidelines for future cooperation as an Open Innovation Test Bed were presented, as well as the internal discussion platform, which, similar to a ticket system, should enable the processing of corresponding external enquiries in the future. In the upcoming standardisation and regulation tasks EUBP will collaborate with the technical partners to compile input on nano-enabled materials in the following months.

PRESERVE (Project month: 13 of 48)
https://www.preserve-h2020.eu/ (Horizon 2020)

The contributions to the upcoming revision of the first deliverable on the current state of the packaging market and technological developments in the field of surface treatments and PHA-layer coating were finalised into a scientific paper under the leadership of ASU. The final publication is planned for mid-May.

At the end of January, KNEIA and EUBP, responsible for dissemination, communication, and exploitation activities, were planning their work on the project's Innovation Roadmap 2030. It will summarize the further utilisation of results. The roadmap will be finalised in the middle of the year.

BIOSUPPACK (Project month: 7 of 42)
https://biosuppack.eu/ (BBI-JU)

After the consortium meeting in December, all partners provide updates on the Risk Assessment Report. EUBP also prepared for a draft of its deliverable and for next steps to provide a report on Regulatory and Safety compliance. An overview on the regulatory landscape is also planned for the second half of 2022.

These preparations also serve as updates to similar documents for PRESERVE and BIOnTop regarding overviews of the regulatory frameworks and standardisation efforts.

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

With the opening of new calls in the upcoming HORIZON EUROPE framework focussing on the development of bio-based and/or biodegradable products, in December 2021, EUBP entered several potential collaborations and project proposals. EUBP offered its support as potential partner responsible for communication and dissemination activities, networking, or regulatory affairs and standardisation issues to six partner consortia in a call to develop novel biodegradable materials (CIRCBIO-02-03). The proposals will be further defined and submitted on 15 February.

On 27 January, as part of the EU project BIOPLASTICS-EUROPE, EUBP participated and contributed to an event on "Cooperation models to strengthen stakeholder engagement for the circular bio-economy" with a short presentation on EUBP’s network.

For more information or requests concerning EUBP’s project involvements, please contact Christian Schulz (schulz@european-bioplastics.org).

Planned activities

Regulatory Affairs:

• Response to the Commission’s public consultation on a Policy Framework Communication on Bioplastics
• Further political outreach on the EUBA JRC LCA position
• Further political outreach at MS and EU Level on PPWD
• Response to Call for Evidence on WFD revision
• Political outreach on EU Taxonomy

Communications:

• Update EUBP publications with market data 2022
• Initiation of editorial process for Annual Report 2021
• Update EUBP website (market data 2022, policy part)
• Input for several media outlets (e.g. Il Bioeconomista, K-News etc.)
• Development generic posts for social media scheduling tool

BON Europe:

• The next web meeting will take place on 3 February 2022.
• Further individual meetings with BON members

PG Bio-based:

• Next PG meeting on 26 April 2022
• Start TF Projects
• Development of fact sheet on bio-based content and mass balance

PG Biodegradables:

• Next PG meeting on 5 April 2022
• Meeting ad hoc TF Recycling 23 February
• Meeting ad hoc TF Agri 22 February
• Development of position on anaerobic digestion

WG Standardisation:

• Meeting on 14 February to discuss prEN17427
• Monitoring the work of CEN/TC 261 SC 4 WG 2 and the revision of EN 13432
  

Seedling Logo:

• Next ACS Meeting on 4 March 2022
• Update certification scheme

Projects and Networks:

• 15 February: Submission deadline for CIRCBIO-02-03 proposals
• Further assessment and definition of potential project proposals for new Horizon Europe calls
• Update overviews on regulatory frameworks and standardisation efforts for PRESERVE, BioSupPack, and BIOnTop in H1/22

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

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