Dear members,

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

Regulatory Affairs (WG REGA)

The European Bioplastics’ Working Group Regulatory Affairs (WG REGA) last met 26 May.

Following a virtual meeting between all EUBP Working Group and Product Group chairs, it had been proposed that the chairs should attend REGA meetings on a quarterly basis to help coordinate work between the groups.

Amongst other topics, the group discussed preparation for the Eunomia workshops on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD). A representative from EUBP would attend each workshop together with several of the members. A coordination call was arranged to discuss further.

On the same topic a letter was drafted to five Directors in the European Commission (GROW, ENV, AGRI, ECON, and RTD) highlighting EUBP’s concerns on the exclusion of organic recycling and the restriction of uses of compostable and bio-based plastics. All relevant Commissioners were also copied into the letter.

A further PR/Statement on the JRC LCA study was drafted in anticipation of the publication of the study with the intention of having this signed off, if possible, by EUBA or, if not, by individual associations with EUBA membership.

An additional letter had been drafted and signed off by BON Europe Presidents addressed to EU Ministers, highlighting concerns around the Turtle Logo which neither distinguishes between conventional and biodegradable/compostable plastics nor indicates how the latter should be disposed of at end of life. The SUPD Guidance to the Member States was published by the Commission on 31 May.

Due to clashes with the Eunomia workshops, the next REGA WG would now take place on 30 June.

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 its monthly web meeting on 27 May 2021. Updates were given on current national developments, such as the UK government’s verbal confirmation to mandate the use of compostable biowaste bags or Spanish ASOBIOCOM’s lobbying activity for compostable materials to be exempted from the upcoming plastic tax. As during past meetings, different ways in the national implementation of the SUPD were discussed and if a public debate should be started on this inconsistent implementation and the implications for bioplastics. Also in May, several BON members have co-signed a letter to Director General Fink-Hooijer concerning the SUPD labelling regulations which was sent out at the end of the month.

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

Product Groups

Product Group Bio-based

On 17 May, the 3rd stakeholder meeting of the project “Bio-based plastics: Sustainable Sourcing and content” was held online with a small group of participants. This project is one of the studies contributing to the upcoming policy framework for bio-based and biodegradable and compostable plastics. The aim of the workshop was to discuss the baseline scenario assumptions and the initial scoping of measures and options. Suggested measures included, for example, mandatory certification methodology and scheme, mandatory labelling, regulatory framework preferring or requiring bio-based plastics, or limits/bans for virgin fossil-based plastics. Participants were asked to vote on the viability of measures. The final study is expected for summer 2021. Slides of the workshop will be shared with the PG via email.

The next meeting of the PG will take place on 29 June (Tuesday) from 10 am to 12 am.

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

A position paper on microplastics is under preparation and has been discussed with the Chairs of the WG. The position paper will distinguish between microplastics in compost, microplastics in agricultural soil, and intentionally added microplastics. The draft will be shared with the PG with the next version.

In preparation of the next meeting, EUBP is currently gathering all relevant available information on biodegradable plastics in anaerobic digestion (AD). In case you have anything to share, kindly send it to us.

Furthermore, we are collecting studies showing best cases for the processing of compostable plastics in industrial plants, as, for example, happened in Milan or Berlin. Any information, and especially studies proving the point, are welcome.

The next meeting will take place on 30 June (Wednesday) from 2 pm to 4 pm.

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

Working Group Standardisation

The WG met on 25 May to finalize the comments on EN13432. The resulting table has been submitted to CEN/TC 261 SC 4 WG 2 as comments by the EUBP members, The first discussion in the CEN working group is scheduled for 10 June. Currently, no further regular meeting of the WG standardisation is planned.

There will be an extraordinary meeting on anaerobic digestion with an external presentation by Alberto Confalonieri on 21 June, 10 am. All members of the WG are invited to join.

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 May 2021 (online).

Throughout the month, EUBP Comms continued to work on the draft of the Annual Report 2020. In this regard, Comms prepared a draft for the preface of the report. To add on EUBP’s existing photo stock, Comms, together with PG Biodegradables/PG Bio-based, selected and purchased several new images. Some of them could already be used for the Annual Report.

EUBP Comms started to reach out to media outlets and organizations to renew last year’s media partnerships related to the European Bioplastics Conference. A first agreement was signed with nova-Institute on 19 May.

With the aim to improve EUBP’s monitoring with regards to political processes, on 12 May, EUBP Comms and additional EUBP staffer joined a web meeting with PANALIS. The company, a provider for policy monitoring software, introduced its program. In a next step, EUBP will start a 1-week test trial version to further assess the benefits of this program.

Additionally, EUBP Comms coordinated the responses to several requests by journalists, organizations, and companies regarding detailed information on different aspects of bioplastics or speaking offers for EUBP staff.

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

Seedling Logo

Nothing to report. The next web meeting will take place on 4 June 2021.

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

Events

During May, EUBP Event Management was already able to sell the first conference tickets offered at an early bird rate. It also received several positive responses to EUBP’s call for papers. The period of the early bird sale and the call for papers is scheduled to end on 31 July.

If you have any questions, please contact conference@european-bioplastics.org.

Projects

BIOnTop (Project month: 24 of 48)

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

On 18 May 2021, AIMPLAS represented BIOnTop in an online webinar hosted by VIPRISCAR, a BBI-JU partner project dealing with the industrial production of a secondary building block focusing on the high application potential as novel bio-based chemical without significant fossil-based counterpart.

During May’s work package meetings, the communication and dissemination partners proposed to participate in this year’s BBI-JU photo competition. The partners will individually submit photos before 11 June and can be nominated in five different categories, such as bio-based production process or micro and macro photography.

The project's website is amongst the nominees of the .eu Web Award 2021. The 18 best scoring finalists will be announced on 16 August 2021 and receive an invitation to the award gala in September 2021. A jury will select a winner for every category.

Until 5 August, you can vote for BIOnTop’s homepage, here.

As BIOnTop is approaching its half-time, dissemination activities will be increased, starting with a joint workshop organized by the ECOFUNCO project. The event deals with the development of new bio-based coatings for plastic and cellulosic substrates derived from cutin, sunflower-protein, and chitosan/chitin.

On 16 June, three project partners (EUBP, Centexbel, and ASU) will give an overview on BionTop activities and share exclusive project insights. The online workshop will be free of charge. For registration click here.

BIOMAC (Project month: 5 of 48)

https://www.biomac-oitb.eu/ (Horizon 2020)

In May, EUBP and the University of Thessaloniki organized several meetings with an external partner from Germany, who will take over the project’s Single Entry Point (SEP) tasks. According to the official amendment, the new partner is expected to join the consortium on 1 August. In the meantime, further preparations for the SEP contracts will be split up within the existing consortium structure, and the new partner will already be included in the planning. The next WP1 meeting is expected to take place at the end of June.

EUBP and all BIOMAC partners also provided input to IDENER, who designs the project’s Data Management Plan. It will be updated along the project runtime after its first draft submission by the end of June. The aim is to exploit the later project results.

PRESERVE (Project month: 5 of 48)

https://www.preserve-h2020.eu/ (Horizon 2020)

In close collaboration, all work packages have been shaping and defining PRESERVE’s demonstrator applications, leading to preliminary specifications submitted on 30 April. As several details weren’t available yet, and as some changes in the partner structure occurred, there will be an internal revision, leading to a resubmission of the specification deliverables during summer.

On 13 May 2021, in order to explore cooperation options and cluster activities, PRESERVE representatives met with two other Horizon 2020 projects, UPLIFT and upPE-T, which receive funding from the same call (CE-BIOTEC-09-2020: Upcycling bio-plastics of food and drinks packaging).

The three sibling projects aim to share knowledge and efforts to achieve the common objective of reducing plastics waste created by food packaging. One of the first milestones is organising a joint workshop, foreseen in October 2021, about circular economy, recycling, and biodegradable packaging. All projects will also share information about results achieved and set up a joint roadmap for dissemination and social humanities activities, and elaboration of a joint policy paper. Members of each consortium will meet monthly to discuss and coordinate the foreseen activities.

BIOSUPPACK (Project month: 0 of 42)

As all administrative tasks had been completed, BIOSUPPACK was able to enter the active project phase. Therefore, the project partners have adopted and signed the grant agreement and consortium agreement. To prepare the BIOSUPPACK’s kick-off meeting, the major WP7 (communication and dissemination) partners, ENCO and EUBP, provided templates for all projects partners in advance of the meeting. The aim was to already develop a basic strategy for the project website and social media involvement. The kick-off meeting will take place on 15-16 June online.

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

With the opening of several new calls in the upcoming HORIZON EUROPE framework, EUBP will continue monitoring opportunities and reports on further developments.

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

Planned activities

WG Regulatory Affairs:

• REGA WG Meeting on 30 June
• Eunomia workshops on PPWD
• Preparation for publication of JRC LCA study
• Development of an engagement plan on ERs and PPWD
• Further coordination with BON on SUPD implementation.

Communications:

• Finalization of EUBP’s Annual Report 2020 in mid-June
• EUBP Conference 2021: further renewal of media partnerships
• Development of an editorial plan for social media
• Development questionnaire EUBP website

BON Europe:

• BON Europe Meeting on 24 June 2021
• Distribution updated questionnaire on “European Composting Landscape”

PG Bio-based:

• Next PG meeting on 29 June

PG Biodegradables:

• Next PG meeting on 30 June
• Preparation of position paper on microplastics
• Info collection on biodegradable/compostable plastics in AD, best cases composting
  

WG Standardisation:

• Extraordinary meeting on AD on 21 June

Seedling Logo:

• ACS Meeting on 4 June 2021

Projects and Networks:

• BIOnTop / 24M consortium meeting on 8 – 9 June
• PRESERVE / 6M consortium meeting on 10 June
• BIOSUPPACK / internal pre-kick-off meeting on 15 – 16 June and official kick-off; meeting with participation of BBI-JU & H2020 representatives on 21 – 22 June
• BIOMAC / 2nd scientific and technical meeting on 30 June

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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