Dear members,

Please find below an overview of activities carried out by European Bioplastics throughout July / August 2022.  

Board election

Following the board election at the Members Meeting on 23 June and the Board Meeting on 1 July we’re happy to welcome our new board. The new EUBP leadership team is headed by our new Chairperson, Stefan Barot (BIOTEC) and supported by the new Vice Chairpersons, Lars Börger (Neste) and Mariagiovanna Vetere (NatureWorks). Afsaneh Nabifar (BASF SE), Peter von den Kerkhoff (Covation Biomaterials), Patrick Zimmermann (FKuR), Franz Kraus (Novamont), Paolo La Scola (TotalEnergies Corbion), and Erwin Lepoudre (Kaneka) had also been elected to the new Board, with the latter serving as Treasurer. 

Regulatory Affairs (WG REGA)

The WG REGA met virtually on 26 July to discuss EU policy developments impacting business operations. There was no meeting in August due to the summer break. 

Members mainly discussed the leaked draft of the forthcoming Policy Framework for bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics and the planned activities for EUBP to respond to the draft and to lobby on some of the main concerns. Many members expressed concerns with regards to the very specific and limiting applications for compostable plastics recommended in the draft. The leaked version from 30 May will still be revised notably after the inter-service consultation between DG ENV, DG GROW, DG, RTD, DG AGRI, and DG SANTE later this summer. The proposal is expected to be published on 30 November 2022. EUBP is therefore organising a series of meetings with the DGs involved and will share the developed response with them. On 24 August, EUBP met with DG GROW which is currently formulating positions on the draft policy framework, mainly focussing on regulating the use and waste management of biodegradable and compostable plastics. EUBP will follow-up with DG GROW with a more detailed background paper to provide further targeted facts and arguments, as well as another follow-up call in early October. Another meeting is scheduled with DG CLIMA on 2 September.  

EUBP submitted input to the public consultation on the Waste Framework Directive Revision. The Commission adoption of the revised Directive is planned for Q2 2023.  

EUBP further submitted input to the Commission’s Call for Feedback on the upcoming Early Warning Report on Waste and shared the response with BON Europe members to serve as basis for their national inputs to the CfF.  

The revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) will be delayed to Q4 2022 (last information from DG ENV confirms that the proposals will be published on 30 November 2022). The timeline largely depends on the Regulatory Scrutiny Board decision following the second submission of the impact assessment (DG ENV will submit the revised impact assessment in September). EUBP shared its position paper on the revision of the PPWD with key stakeholders in the EC and EP, as well as with Eunomia. After the nominations for rapporteur and shadow rapporteur in the EP, EUBP will plan a strategic advocacy approach targeting the Parliament. Many challenges remain with regards to this revision, notably on the issues around “all packaging must be reusable or recyclable by 2030” and the so called “negative list”. 

Furthermore, WG members agreed that the international agreement on plastics pollution will be a priority to be monitored carefully by EUBP. Notably, the issues around biodegradability will be at the centre of the discussions at international level, with the EU wanting to export the SUPD at global level.  

EUBP also informed members about the recent meetings with DG RTD on the LCA method. Following a request from DG RTD, EUBP will provide additional information to the Commission at the end of the summer break and scientific advice with regards to the proposed JRC LCA method. Another follow-up meeting will be set up in the next months together with EUBP, DG RTD, and other relevant DGs. In particular, Ramani Narayan (Michigan State University) will draft a statement for EUBP, outlining two main arguments against the proposed JRC LCA methodology. The statement will focus on the duration of the carbon uptake and the apparent “accounting problem” – double counting of biogenic carbon at the beginning and at the end of life. 

The next meeting of the REGA WG will take place on 13 September online (via Zoom). The next physical meeting is planned to take place in October in Brussels.  

Maria Negut has left European Bioplastics in August. For further detailed information on the work of the WG Regulatory Affairs, please refer to the slides and minutes of the last meeting and contact Hasso von Pogrell (pogrell@european-bioplastics.org) or Katrin Schwede (schwede@european-bioplastics.org).  

BON Europe

The BON Europe group met on 21 July 2022 to update each other on current policy developments on national level.  

The group discussed the planned Joint Position on the revised Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive. A first draft was circulated for feedback, highlighting the urgent need for a harmonised policy approach on packaging and packaging waste due to the increasing number of diverging unilateral national regulations on bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics packaging that risk hampering the Single Market. The group finalised the Position Paper in August and plans to send it to all respective Member States’ Perm Reps after the summer break.   

The next BON Europe meeting will take place on 15 September 2022, online.  

For more information regarding BON Europe, please contact Katrin Schwede (schwede@european-bioplastics.org).

Product Groups

Product Group Bio-based

A draft position on mass balance approaches has been developed and already shared with the PG in May. A second meeting took place with all companies submitting comments on 12 July. One important discussion point was the definition of mass balance.  The group did not come to an agreement yet and the topic will be continued in an upcoming meeting. It was discussed to also bring up real life example and adapt the general structure of the paper. A new meeting has not been scheduled yet but will most probably take place in September. 

Mass balance for plastics using bio-based feedstock was also a topic in the meeting of PG Biobased on 28 July. The group was also updated regarding the JRC LCA study for alternative feedstock for plastics and informed about the ongoing activities concerning the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) method. EUBP has aligned with BioChem Europe and other association and developed a position paper and which the current approach on how to deal with biogenic carbon uptake is questioned. Other topics discussed were the planned expert group on carbon removals and the role of bio-based plastics in a circular economy. 

The next meeting of PG Biobased is scheduled for 16 November 2022, 10 a.m. CET, online. 

For further 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 held a meeting on 13 July. The group discussed a recent publication by the University of Bayreuth claiming the formation of microplastics (<2 mm) after industrial composting of certain compostable plastics. The PG decided to establish a task force in order to write a scientific review of the paper, which then will be proposed to Nature Scientific Reports. The TF already met on 19 July and started with the development of the review. EUBP tried to get in touch with the authors of the study to establish a dialogue, but the request was declined for the time being. Other topics discussed included the draft position on AD, the JRC study on the assessment of the definition of recycling, and the food contact approval of compostable materials. The PG was also shortly informed about the REACH proposal on intentionally added microplastics which starts posing a challenge to biodegradable plastics as tests in more compartments are under discussion. A TF will meet in September to prepare a short position. TF Agri met on 27 July to discuss the Q+A document which still needs additional editing. The finalisation of the paper needs to be completed, at the latest, until a planned roundtable with academic experts which is planned for autumn.

The next meeting of PG Biodegradables will take place on 11 October 2022, 10 a.m. CEST, online.

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

Working Group Standardisation

CEN/TC 411/WG 4 had suggested a New Work Item “Bio-based Products – Life Cycle Assessment - Additional requirements and guidelines for comparing the life cycles of bio-based products with their fossil-based equivalents” which was approved in the national voting. The NWI is based on the position and activities EUBP carried out last year concerning the JRC LCA study. WG 4 will meet again on 21 September. 

CEN/TC 261 SC 4 WG 2 met on 22 July to discuss the new proposal of FprEN 17428 (disintegration test method under home composting conditions) for the second formal vote. The committee also met on 27 July and 30 August 2022 to discuss further comments on the draft revision of EN 13432. The subject of AD has still not been clarified. A task force is having a closer look at it. 

The standards specification EN 17427 on home compostable carrier bags has been published in July. 

No meetings are currently scheduled for WG Standardisation. 

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 July / August 2022 (online). 

On 4 July, EUBP published a press release on the board election, announcing Stefan Barot (BIOTEC) as new Chairperson as well as the other eight new board members (please also see above). The press release had been picked up by 20 different media outlets throughout the month with a potential reach of almost three million potential readers. 

Together with BioChem Europe, EUBP agreed on a joint paid media project to position an online article on the Politico website. The paid article will focus on the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) method and bases on a BioChem position paper which was signed by EUBP and seven other associations, including Plastics Europe, Europabio, and Starch Europe. Throughout August, EUBP Comms drafted the article which was further coordinated with BioChem Europe and which will be published on 5 September.   

In August, Comms advanced the project of setting up a new power point master. The graphic designer submitted a first draft of possible design options which were discussed in an internal EUBP staff meeting. According to the selected design option and the additional input gathered during the meeting, the designer will draw up the final PPT master.  

Throughout July and August, EUBP Comms also supported the preparation of Bioplastics Week 2022 (13-16 September) organized by Plastics Industry Association (US Plastics). This included the arrangement of video interviews for EUBP members which will be shown during the online campaign but also for EUBP staff. The preparations for the Bioplastics Week are ongoing.  

In August, EUBP Comms started to prepare a presentation which will be held at US Plastic’s Bioplastics Division meeting on 8 September. At the meeting, Comms will give an overview on the current regulatory landscape for bioplastics in the European Union. 

As part of its support for the European Bioplastics Conference 2022, Comms continued to approach last year’s media partners as well as potential new partners and promoted the Early Bird tickets as well as the Call for Papers on social media. 

Comms started the process of reactivating the Working Group Communications. At the beginning of July, a newsflash had been sent out to attract new members for the working group. The kick-off meeting will take place on 7 September 2022, online. During the meeting, the working group will also elect new chairpersons. 

Comms also supported the EU Project BIOnTop by compiling and editing articles for the latest BIOnTop newsletter. 

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

Seedling Logo

The next meeting of the Advisory Board of the Seedling Scheme (ACS) will take place on 2 September 2022, 2 p.m., online. 

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

Events

For the upcoming EUBP annual conference, 12 sponsors have already been found, and further negotiations are ongoing. 52 abstracts have been received and are currently under review. A preliminary program will be compiled to be discussed with the advisory committee. The basic structure of the event website had been set up and the team is working on it. 

EUBP is organizing the second EUBP Talk webinar, this time on “soil-biodegradable mulch films”. Three speakers have been found and published.
It has been decided to postpone the EUBP Talk to early 2023. Already registered participants have been informed accordingly. 

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).

Planned activities

Regulatory Affairs: 

• Finalise EUBA position paper on the benefits of the bioeconomy and non-competition with food and feed production 
• Continue outreach to Commission and MEPs on PPWD and forthcoming policy framework on bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics  
• Organise lunch debate/ workshop in the European Parliament  
• Next REGA meeting on 13 September (online) 

Communications: 

• Update EUBP publications 
• Finalization of new PPT master (September) 
• Presentation at US Plastics’ Bioplastics Division meeting on 8 September   
• Participation Bioplastics Week (13-16 September) 
• Kick Off Meeting WG Communications on 7 September (online)

BON Europe: 

• Send out BON Joint Position the PPWD revision 
• Draft country fact sheets, engage BON members for input  
• Next meeting on 15 September (online) 

PG Biobased: 

• Position paper on mass balance approaches  
• Collect information on bio-based additives (TF3) 
• Next meeting PG Biobased 16 November 2022, 10 a.m. (online)
• TF meetings to be scheduled 

PG Biodegradables: 

• PP Anaerobic Digestion 
• Draft Q&A document on soil-biodegradable mulch films (TF Agri) 
• Scientific review paper as response to Bayreuth study 
• Position on intentionally added microplastics 
• Update European Composting Landscape 
• Next meeting PG on 11 October 2022, 10 a.m. (online) 

WG Standardisation: 

• Monitor revision process EN 13432 and activities in relevant WGs of CEN/TCs 249 and 411 

Seedling Logo: 

• Finalisation of the new version of the CS 
• Next meeting on 2 September 2022 (online)

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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