Activity Report - May 2023

Please find below an overview of activities carried out by European Bioplastics throughout May 2023.

Members Meeting & Open House Day

The upcoming Members Meeting will take place on Tuesday, 06 June 2023, at the Thon Hotel EU, Rue de la Loi 75, 1000 Brussels. Click here for more information.

In addition, we would like to invite you to our Brussels Office Open House. This will take place on Monday, 5 June 2023, from 2 – 6 p.m. at Avenue Palmerston 3, 1000 Brussels. We will start with a few welcoming words at 2 p.m., however, as with an open house, please feel free to visit us at any time during that time frame – as fits your schedule. You will have the opportunity to meet the team, and we will gladly show you around.

Please RSVP to conference@european-bioplastics.org.

For further detailed information on the Members Meeting, please contact Hasso von Pogrell (pogrell@european-bioplastics.org).

Board meeting

The Board met online on 3 May 2023. Focus of the discussions were on the formulation of a new Vision and Mission of EUBP and a first outlining of an according strategical approach, including the organizational structure.

For further detailed information, please contact Hasso von Pogrell (pogrell@european-bioplastics.org).

EUBP Staff

At the beginning of May our two new colleagues joined the EUBP team in Brussels. Julie Pieters (pieters@europen-bioplastics.org) started as EU Policy Affairs Officer and Marion Thérage (therage@european-bioplastics.org) started as Communications Manager.

At the end of May, our dear colleague Katharina Hinse left the association. We thank her for her great work over the past 9 years and wish her good luck for her next career steps.

For further detailed information, please contact Hasso von Pogrell (pogrell@european-bioplastics.org).

EUBP's Material Management Concept

EUBP finalised the Materials Management Concept (MMC). It will be presented at the members meeting and published in June. The aim of the MMC is to outline how economic sectors, and in particular our bioplastics sector, can contribute to achieving Europe’s commitment to become climate neutral by 2050 as set out in the EU Green Deal. The MMC outlines 6 priorities and the specific contributions of bioplastics, including (1) safeguarding biodiversity & fostering the bioeconomy, (2) circular design & sound environmental claims, (3) de-fossilisation & GHG reduction, (4) innovation & sustainable material solutions, (5) closed loop & EU waste hierarchy, (6) level playing field & material neutrality.

Regulatory Affairs (WG REGA)

The WG REGA met on 11 May to discuss the latest EU policy developments, with a focus on the Commission’s proposal for a revised Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), which has been defined the top priority for the group this year.

The Commission’s proposal for a revised Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) is being discussed both in the Parliament and in the Council (co-decision process / ordinary legislative procedure). There seems to be agreement among all political groups in the European Parliament to finalise the interinstitutional negotiations by 2023 (under Spanish Presidency) or, at the latest, by Q1/2024 (under Belgian Presidency). The PPWR file has thus been going in full force ahead this last month.

MEP Ries (Rapporteur) presented her draft report to the ENVI Committee on 4 May which was followed by a passionate debate in the European Parliament. The ENVI members proposed more than 2500 amendments to the draft report before the deadline on 10 May. From mid-May onwards, the shadow-rapporteurs started working on compromise amendments. EUBP analysed the amendments (notably Articles 3-8) and got into contact with Ries and the shadow-rapporteurs on our main policy asks.

In the Council, the Working Party on the Environment met on 4 May to provide feedback to the steering note from the Swedish Presidency on the PPWR proposing amendments on Articles 1-8 with potentially far-reaching negative impacts on compostable plastic packaging. The Working Party continued to discuss the Swedish Presidency proposed compromise position in the hopes to reach a Council opinion on 20 June. A general debate on the PPWR (focus on food safety and food waste aspects) was finally scheduled in the Council Agriculture and Fisheries on 30 May 2023. EUBP continued to reach out to Permanent Representations to advocate for our position.

REGA also discussed the latest updates and next steps on other relevant policy files, including the Commission proposal for intentionally added microplastics (modifying resp. Annex XVII of REACH), the Commission proposal for a Green Claims Directive (public consultation open until 29 June), the Taxonomy Delegated Act (EUBP has submitted feedback to the public consultation on 2 May) and the Commission’s public consultation on the proposal for an Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (input to the Call for Evidence was submitted on 12 May).

EUBP’s position paper on the second session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution has been finalised by the ad hoc Working Group and communicated to the European Commission on 3 May. As such, EUBP will take part in the negotiations around the Basel Convention and the Plastics Treaty (INC-2). Several meetings were held to organise EUBP’s participation in INC-2 (Paris, 29 May-2 June) to assure its presence and outreach.

On 10 May, EUBP attended a DG GROW Workshop on the Biobased Industries and Biomaterials. The Commission invited all participants to send contributions in writing as a follow-up of the Workshop before the end of May.  EUBP drafted feedback to DG GROW in the form of an EU biomanufacturing Action plan to which EUBP members contributed. The feedback was sent to DG Grow on 31 May. The next meeting will be held on 1 June in hybrid format (in person in the EUBP Brussels office and online via TEAMS) and will also discuss the new REGA meeting structure.

For further detailed information on the work of the WG Regulatory Affairs, please refer to the slides and minutes of the last meeting or contact Roberto Ferrigno (ferrigno@european-bioplastics.org) or Julie Pieters (pieters@european-bioplastics.org).

EUBA - European Bioeconomy Alliance

The EUBA operational group has met on May 24 to discuss key policy issues and to coordinate and agree on activities. EUBP is leading a dedicated working group within the European Bioeconomy Alliance (EUBA) to define a common position on the PPWR. The position has been finalised and published on EUBA’s website, as well as Twitter and LinkedIn. The EUBA position reflects a number of EUBP’s key positions on the PPWR. Potential follow-up actions that are also being considered are the outreach to key decision makers in the Council and EP, including a parliamentary event. The broader publication of the paper with an adequate communication plan will be discussed during the EUBA communications meeting scheduled for Monday, June 5. For the next operational group meeting, each EUBA member is expected to share their position regarding the debate on the certification of carbon removals.

For further information on EUBP’s engagement within the European Bioeconomy Alliance, please contact Julie Pieters (pieters@european-bioplastics.org)

BON Europe

BON Europe members are invited to participate in EUBP’s WG REGA meetings in order to increase and deepen the collaboration and coordination of lobbying activities and outreach regarding the revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. The next dedicated BON Europe meeting will be held on 1 June (online) to provide updates and discuss next steps.  

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

Product Groups

Product Group Biobased

The PG met on 10 May virtually. Two invited guests from Systemiq presented their study “Planet Positive Chemicals”.

The group discussed the need for an update of the EUBP Position on sustainability assessment.

In this context, the group discussed the EU Deforestation law, which will come into force in 2023 and will already be reviewed in 2025. The current version doesn’t have any implication on the bioplastics industry, but it could become more relevant when it will be reviewed. The group agreed that there are no actions to be done by EUBP for the moment, but that the developments should be monitored.

Additionally, the group discussed the topic of biodiversity, as the Policy Framework iterates that the use of biobased feedstock should not negatively impact biodiversity. The group sees this topic as more relevant and would like to see this addressed in a position after a careful literature research. As the topic is also being discussed in CEN/TC 411, it was agreed that it should be adequately addressed there, so EUBP can use the new standard as a reference in the Position Paper. In this context it was also discussed that the Position Paper on biobased feedstocks needs an update regarding the wording of generations of feedstock.

The original paper concerning sustainability assessment will not be revised.

The position paper on mass balance has been published on the EUBP website.

The next meeting of PG Biobased is not schedules yet but will most probably take place in July.

For further information regarding biobased 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 17 May online. A project proposal was presented to analyse the fate of certified compostable materials and their fragments in biowaste treatment plants and in soil under real life conditions. PG members were asked to support if interested.

Another topic that has been repeatedly discussed, was EUBP’s position on anaerobic digestion. General messages were presented and mainly agreed upon to facilitate the development of a new draft position.

It was as well agreed to set up a Task Force or Working Group on additives in bioplastics for all interested EUBP members to join.

Previously, on 2 May, members of the PG Biodegradables were invited to a web meeting where EUBP member AIMPLAS presented its draft final report “Study to assess biodegradability criteria for polymers used in EU fertilising products as coating agents or to increase the water retention capacity or wettability and of mulch films”. This report will feed into the EU Commissions assessment of incorporating soil-biodegradable mulch films in the Fertilising Product Regulation.

TF AGRI finalised and published its position paper on why soil-biodegradable mulch films should be included in the Fertilising Product Regulation (FPR). An expert webinar was organised on 11 May, focusing on soil-biodegradability of polymers. The webinar was well attended by experts from the EU Commission, Member State representatives, as well as associations and NGOs. A follow-up mailing was sent around some days after the webinar.

Together with TF AGRI, EUBP in its role as observer to the EU COM Expert Group on Fertilising Products, officially sent comments to the AIMPLAS draft final report to the Expert Group and to AIMPLAS directly.

The next meeting of the PG Biodegradables will be on 6 September (virtual).

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

Working Group Standardisation

No activities this month.

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

Communications

On 1 May, Communications Manager Marion Thérage took over the responsibilities of EUBP’s communication activities.

On 10 May, the Comms team participated in the workshop on Biobased Industries and Biomaterials organized by DG GROW.

EUBP published several news articles to promote EUBP’s publications and events. Those will be compiled in a newsletter, which will be distributed at the beginning of June.

The Comms team continued and finalised the editorial process for the EUBP Annual Report 2022, which will be presented during the next Members Meeting in June 2023.

EUBP Comms also continued the successive design update of EUBP materials. The new logo and design templates for documents and publications were launched.

Additionally, the Comms team supported the organisation and promotion of the upcoming Open House Day in Brussels.

Throughout the month, EUBP Comms responded to several media inquiries, including interviews, the approval of copyrights, and background information on bioplastics.

On 15 May, an interview with EUBP MD, Hasso von Pogrell, was published in Comunicaffe on compostable biopolymers following the publication of EUBP’s position paper.

On 19 May, an interview was conducted with EUBP MD, Hasso von Pogrell, about developments and prospective of the biopolymers industry for media outlet Chemical World. The article is expected to be published in the following weeks.

The Comms team reconnected with the editor of ‘Packaging Europe’ and is currently negotiating mutual speaking opportunities as well as promotions for the Sustainable Packaging Summit and the EBC.

On 26 May, two interviews were conducted with respectively, EUBP Head of EU Affairs, Roberto Ferrigno, on the latest developments of bioplastics and the forthcoming innovations in the industry, and Constance Ißbrücker, EUBP Deputy Managing Director and Head of Environmental Affairs, on the topic of biodegradability of biopolymers in a marine environment, following the publication of a study containing multiple inaccuracies.  Both articles are expected to be published in the coming weeks.

For more information or questions concerning the communications activities of EUBP, please contact our new EUBP Communications Manager Marion Thérage (therage@european-bioplastics.org).

Seedling Logo

The updated Certification Scheme is being finalised and planned to be published in July together with a new version of the logo (including “industrially compostable”) and corresponding usage guidelines.

The next meeting of the Advisory Board of the Seedling Scheme (ACS) is scheduled for 7 July 2023, 2:00 p.m., online.

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

Event Management

In May, the organisation of the EBC 23 progressed. Additional sponsors have been acquired. An overview of the available sponsoring opportunities can be found here.

Furthermore, first abstracts have been received. The call for paper is still open until 30 June 2023.

The organisation of the General Assembly on 6 June and the Open House Day at the EUBP office in Brussels on 5 June have been finalised. More information about the Open House Day can be found here.

The networking event in September will take place at the Representation of North Rhine-Westfalia on 20 September.

The EUBP booth at the Interpack had a lot of traffic, and during the seven days of the fair the whole EUBP team was able to connect with interested companies and stakeholders and inform about the current developments. Our members FkUR, TotalEnergies Corbion, IKT, Futamura, DIN Certco, and Sirmax Biocomp provided some giveaways for the booth. Thank you very much for your support.

Two side events for the EU-funded project BIOnTop have been organised by EUBP alongside Interpack: One workshop for showcasing to industrial players the innovative biobased packaging solutions for food contact developed by the consortium, and a large conference on the advancement of applied science in the development of sustainable materials for wide use applications.

From 23-25 May, EUBP had a booth at the Renewable Materials Conference in Siegburg. During the three days, the team was able to attract sponsors and speakers for the EBC as well as possible members and cooperation partners.

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).

Speaking opportunities

• EUBP Deputy Managing Director and Head of Environmental Affairs, Constance Ißbrücker, took part in a panel discussion about compostable plastics in packaging at the Ti Talks during Interpack on 5 May.

Projects

European Bioplastics is currently a consortium partner in four EU funded projects: two projects funded by the Horizon 2020 Programme and two projects funded by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU). Moreover, EUBP participates in the Austrian-funded project, NETmicroplastic, which will run until October 2025. EUBP is also involved as Advisory Board Member in several EU and national funded research projects.
 
European sustainable biobased nanomaterials Community (BIOMAC)

The goal of BIOMAC Is to establish a collaborative ecosystem where technologies and solutions utilising nano-enabled and/or biobased materials (NBMs) across several test beds can be developed up to TRL 4-5 and later upscaled and prepared for market applications, up to TRL 7. Currently, BIOMAC is focusing on four testbeds: Food Packaging, Construction, Automotive and Printed Electronics. Additional testbeds will be added soon to the consortium through an open call.

The BIOMAC Open Call – of which the main aim is to add five new test cases to the BIOMAC project - is open until the 15th June 2023. Find out more about this call here.

EUBP is finalising a deliverable on liaison activities with standardisation bodies, which is due in July 2023. It will be a confidential document reporting on the activities planned and undertaken by members of the Open Innovation Test Bed towards liaison with standardisation bodies and any possible recommendations of the BIOMAC consortium towards standards and regulations.  
 
Click here to find out more about the BIOMAC goals and activities.
 
High performance sustainable bio-based packaging with tailored end of life and upcycled secondary use (PRESERVE)

EUBP, as partner responsible for Dissemination, is currently preparing publishable summaries of the project deliverables (reports written by the partners) to be shared imminently on the project website.

As partner responsible for Training activities and collaborator in Communication, EUBP is co-organising several events to be held in the coming months. On 14 June 2023, together with other Horizon 2020 cluster projects, PRESERVE is organising the webinar “Upcycling strategies for the production of sustainable (bio) plastics”. Click here to register to the webinar.

Moreover, PRESERVE is organising its first webinar on preliminary results of the project. The webinar will take place on 19 June and be focused on biobased coatings and Food Contact Material regulation, Click here to register.
 
Furthermoe, EUBP, as representative of PRESERVE, leads a Working Group on Policy and participates in a Working Group on Standardisation together with the sister EU-funded projects UpPET and UpLift.
 
Click here to find out more about the PRESERVE goals and activities.
 
Novel packaging films and textiles with tailored end of life and performance based on bio-based copolymers and coatings (BIOnTop)

EUBP organised a workshop at the Interpack Fair (10 May 2023 “BIOnTop novel biobased packaging: from research to market? Meet the experts, explore business opportunities” to showcase the project demonstrators to potential industry stakeholders interested in exploiting them and bringing them to market maturity. The BIOnTop demonstrators find potential applications in tea bags, trays, films, bags- and food wraps, as packaging for fruits and vegetables and dairy products. The goal of the workshop was to offer business opportunities through a matchmaking format. The workshop was a success, with 2 hours full of one-on-one business talks between the seven experts and the 50 participants. More can be read here.
 
EUBP was the main organiser of the final BIOnTop conference, which was held on 11 May 2023 in hybrid mode in Düsseldorf and online. The “Conference on Innovations on Sustainable Materials for Textiles, Coatings, Films and other wide use Applications” focused on biobased packaging solutions, the use of sustainable materials in wide use applications. The event collected the innovative scientific inputs of many research organisations working on the conference topics, with inputs with 12 outstanding EU-funded projects: BIOnTop, Usable Packaging, CelluWiz, MANDALA, PRESERVE, SEALIVE, GLAUKOS, Polybioskin, REPuropose, RECOVER, ECOFUNCO and NENU2Phar. The proceedings of the conference with links to all presentations and videorecordings are now available in open access here.
 
The project is closing its activities by the end of May 2023.
 
Click here to find out more about the BIOnTop goals and activities.
 
Demonstrative process for the production and enzymatic recycling of environmentally safe, superior and versatile PHA-based rigid packaging solutions by plasma integration in the value chain (BioSupPack)

The project is currently on hold for the entire consortium. An amendment is in preparation (not related to the work of EUBP), and the project has been put on hold by the agency of the European Commission
 
Click here to find out more about BioSupPack goals and activities.
 
NETmicroplastic

The project is funded by the Lower Austria research ministry to foster collaboration between 11 core network partners from four European countries, mainly from Austria, but also Germany, Spain and the Netherlands. The network is currently composed of policymakers, opinion leaders, the agrochemical industry, technology providers, industry and farmer associations, the educational sector, and of course, scientists. NETmicroplastic aim is to tackle multiple facets of microplastic in soil. The project is coordinated by the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT). EUBP supports the project with mapping activities, stakeholders, strategies, policies, and dissemination. The kick off meeting of the project was held on 26 April 2023 with the participation of EUBP, followed by the first Stakeholder Workshop, which took place on 27 April 2023 in-person in Tulln.

NETmicroplastic specifically focuses on fruit and wine growing and on composting and on finding ways of reducing the use of plastic products in vineyards and orchards without compromising product quality and performance. If interested in joining the NETmicroplastic network, it is possible to sign up for a number of activities here.

Click here to find out more about the NETmicroplastic project.

For more information or requests concerning EUBP’s involvement in EU-funded projects, please contact Chiara Bearzotti and Estela López-Hermoso (euprojects@european-bioplastics.org).

Planned activities

Regulatory Affairs

• Continue strategic outreach to Parliament and Council regarding PPWR proposal
• Develop and submit input to the public consultation on the Commission proposal for Green Claims Directive published (deadline 29 June)
• Follow-up on the Second Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (UNEP INC-2) that was held from 29 May to 2 June in Paris
• Follow-up on the DG Grow Workshop on the topic of “Biobased industries and Biomaterials – Opportunities for acceleration” and EUBP’s contribution.
• Continue EUBA leadership on the PPWR-file
• Next REGA meeting on 1 June and 29 June
• Set up a task force PPWR that will meet for the first time on 15 June
• Set up bilateral meetings between EUBP and national associations (via BON Europe) to align and coordinate outreach regarding the PPWR revision
• Next BON meeting on 1 June

Communications

• Update EUBP publications
• Continue implementing new EUBP design
• Engage with Brussels press and trade associations
• Draft social media strategy aligned with EUBP’s messages
• Prepare a set of key messages for on-the-spot reactions to press
• ontinue onboarding of new Communications Manager

PG Biobased

• Update Position on EOL options for biobased plastics
• TF meetings to be scheduled

PG Biodegradables

• Finalise draft position on Anaerobic Digestion
• Next Meeting PG: 6 September
• Set up Task Force/Working Group on additives
• Develop position on additives

Standardisation

• Monitor revision process EN 13432 and activities in relevant WGs of CEN/TCs 249 and 411
• CEN/TC 261 SC 4 WG 2 Meeting on 31 May/1 June
• CEN/TC 411 WG 4 Meeting on 13/14 June 2023 (in person)

Seedling Logo

• Publish the extended communication instructions of the Seedling Logo together with the updated Certification Scheme
• Next ACS Meeting on 7 July

EU Projects

• BIO4Plastics Cluster - PRESERVE Webinar “Upcycling Strategies for the production on sustainable (bio) plastics” on 14 June 2023.
• PRESERVE webinar on preliminary results “Biobased coatings and Food Contact Materials regulation: research and insights form PRESERVE” on 19 June 2023.
• BIOMAC General Meeting, 29-30 June 2023, Ghent.
• PRESERVE General Meeting, 4-5 July 2023, Florence.

• EUBP Head of EU Affairs, Roberto Ferrigno, will speak on ‘Packaging innovation and recycling’ during a Conference organised by the Italian Permanent Representation to the European Union at the European Parliament called “Packaging Fit for Purpose – Tailored solutions to Protect Products and Prevent Waste in the EU”.

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

Disclaimer

The information transmitted by this email is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed. This email may contain proprietary, business-confidential, and/or privileged material. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, be aware that any use, review, retransmission, distribution, reproduction, or any action taken in reliance upon this message is strictly prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from all computers.