Activity Report - November 2023

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

Board

The Board met virtually on 6 November 2023 and was overshadowed by the information that the incumbent Chairperson had decided to step down from his position as Chairperson and member of the Board. Mariagiovanna Vetere and Lars Börger took over as Acting Co-Chairs. 

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

Regulatory Affairs (WG REGA)

The WG REGA met on 16 November 2023 to discuss the latest EU policy developments, with a focus and priority on the Commission’s proposal for a revised Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). The Task Force PPWR (TF PPWR) met on 2 and 30 November to further discuss the legislative evolutions in detail. 

Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation 

November was another crucial month for the PPWR negotiations, in both the European Parliament and the Council: the Plenary voted on the file, and the Council held multiple Working parties trying to finalise the general approach in the hopes of presenting the text to the Environment Ministers on 18 December 2023. 

EUBP sent out voting recommendations, followed attentively the Plenary vote and participated in multiple events trying to influence the Council Environmental Attachés. Following the persistent difficulties in the Council to come to an agreement, it needs to be seen if a general approach will be reached at the Environmental Council on 18 December. Depending on this outcome, Trialogues may or may not start in January 2024. 

EUBP continued its outreach to the European Parliament, Council and Commission on the PPWR file, with a clear focus on Articles 6 (recyclable packaging), 7 (recycled content and biobased content) and 8 (compostable packaging). We were happy to note that the Plenary confirmed the ENVI Committee’s opinion on compostable packaging, including industrial composting in Article 8.1. It was also very encouraging to see how the industry has come together and obtained some good results in the Plenary (many ITRE amendments passed the vote). On biobased content, the Plenary vote is ambiguous, with both amendments 138 (ENVI Committee) and 461 (Greens) being adopted. Indeed, as both amendments deal with biobased content differently but are adopted, it's not yet clear how this will be interpreted. EUBP contacted Rapporteur Ries, the Commission and other stakeholders in the matter to get clarity on this point as fast as possible. We will of course encourage Rapporteur Ries to defend her amendment (more positive on biobased content) in the upcoming trialogues.  

The Spanish Presidency doesn’t prioritise the PPWR file but is nevertheless pushing it forward, feeling the pressure from Germany, France and the Commission. Albeit we were told that the Council waited for the Parliament’s position to finalise its own position, the former took several points of the PPWR in a new direction. The Council’s position on biobased content was already watered down, but Article 8 also went in a for us less favourable direction. Indeed, the Council seems to only want to defend the status quo on compostable packaging. EUBP provided alternative language to the Environmental Attachés (mainly on Article 8) and tried to influence the opaque Working Party through events organised in the presence of the Environmental Attaché(e)s.  

Finally, we continued our cooperation with other trade Associations, such as EUROPEN, CEPI and EUBA on the file, providing us with some more layers of information in this very fast-moving file. 

Other policy developments 

Last July, the European Commission published a proposal for the revision of certain aspects of the Waste Framework Directive (food waste and textiles). Following the identification of certain ‘dangerous’ amendments – potentially opening the definition of recycling – in the draft report of ENVI Rapporteur Zalewka (PL, ECR), EUBP reached out to the ENVI Shadows of the file to try and limit the damage. During the first debate in the ENVI Committee on 24 October 2023, it became clear that at least for now the ENVI MEPs don’t grant too much importance to the file.  

Following the discrepancy between the DA on climate mitigation and the DA on circular economy in the Sustainable Finance taxonomy, DG FISMA informed EUBP of the organisation of a Stakeholder Request Mechanism in which stakeholders can submit among other things suggestions and amendments on existing activities already covered by the Taxonomy. EUBP organised a brainstorm with EUBA on this issue and discussed it with the REGA members. Although we will not be able to submit anything before the first cut-off date on 15 December 2023, we will bring this issue into the new year and prepare a submission for the second date.  

EUBP was approached by CEPI to co-sign, together with a large group of stakeholders, a joint statement on the Green Claims Directive. Our initial comments focused on the PEF method and the need to include the advantages of Biogenic Carbon in Life Cycle Assessments. Having received the final draft, EUBP decided to co-sign the joint statement.  

The third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Nairobi was organised from 13 till 19 November 2023. EUBP finished a position for Nairobi and passed our messages through some members of the EUBP INC delegation present.  

In the November II session of the Plenary, the European Parliament has adopted its position on the Net-Zero Industry Act, including in its scope “biomaterials production technologies, including biobased chemical production technologies”. 

The Working programme for 2024 related to policy and regulatory affairs was circulated and discussed with the WG REGA and was sent to the Members meeting for approval. This programme is of course susceptible to change but provides an indication of what we want to prioritize in the upcoming year. 

Finally, EUBP was invited to speak at an event in the European Parliament – organised by MEP Covassi – on “biobased polymers as enabler for Green Deal”. EUBP intervened on some pieces of current legislation but focused its exposé on the need to develop an EU Biopolymers Action Plan. 

The next meeting of the TF PPWR will be held on 11 January 2024 and the next REGA meeting on 7 December 2023. 

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 European Bioeconomy Alliance (EUBA) Operational group met on to discuss key policy issues and to coordinate and agree on activities.  

All members of EUBA are preparing for the next European cycle and hope to see concrete results coming out of the announced EU biotech and biomanufacturing initiative. In the next few months, EUBA will work on organising meetings with all Commissions involved in the bioeconomy (DG RTD, DG ENV, DG GROW) to counter the silo effect and to advocate for a concrete action plan. 

As EUBP is in the ‘lead’ on the PPWR file, we informed the members of the evolutions of the file and the need to continue to monitor and advocate for biobased content.  

The discrepancy with the EU Taxonomy on Sustainable Finance has also been brought up at EUBA level (climate mitigation DA v. circular economy DA). EUBA members share our concern in seeing the trend of only biowaste being promoted, rather than biowaste and primary biomass. EUBP organised a brainstorming to discuss the new Stakeholder request mechanism which has been launched by DG FISMA.  

The EUBA manifesto is now finalised and has been launched during the event entitled “Towards a sustainable future – what is the potential of the EU’s Bioeconomy” sponsored by EUBA and organised at the Euractiv studio on 30 November 2023.  

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

Sustainability and Environmental Affairs

WG SEA met on 8 November 2023. As suggested in the previous meeting and in coordination with the WG Standardisation and its Chairs, the WG Standardisation was also integrated into WG SEA. The group elected Rudi Eswein (Plastrans) and Bruno de Wilde (Normec OWS)  as Chairs of the WG. The group decided to meet four times a year, three times virtually and once in person in combination with the Members Meeting in Summer. The main discussion point at the meeting was the priorities for the Working Programme 2024/2025. EUBP presented all the topics that were brought up by members, and the group had the chance to comment and discuss the topics. Both the discussion and a poll that was sent to the group after the meeting, were taken into consideration for the Working Programme that was drafted together with the WG Chairs, and which will be presented at the members meeting in December 2023. 

EUBP has been working on an update of the Position Paper (PP) on End-of-Life options for biobased plastics within the PG Biobased TF2 (End-of-life). The members of the new WG SEA were invited to join this TF to finalise the PP. The draft was shared with the TF on 17 October 2023 with the deadline to comment by 31 October 2023. The work on the draft was continued in November. 

EUBP and the former PG Biodegradables Chairs had drafted a Position Paper on AD. The WG SEA members were invited to join the new TF, and EUBP shared the draft with the TF at the beginning of November 2023. The first meeting of the TF will take place on 5 December 2023. 

TF AGRI finalised and submitted EUBP’s contribution for the FAO Voluntary Code of Conduct on the sustainable use of plastics in agriculture.  

The TF met on 21 November 2023. The group discussed the recent report of the WUR / Plastics Soup Foundation, that in the meantime had been retracted again, thanks to EUBP’s intervention via a letter to the University. The TF also discussed the Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR) and aligned on EUBP’s interventions at the Expert Group Meeting which EUBP was invited to attend as an observer. The meeting took place on 28/29 November 2023. EUBP representatives joined in person as well as online. The Expert Group was informed that the draft delegated Regulation, was not finalised before the meeting, which meant that there were no discussions on the topic, but only information on the next steps. It was confirmed that the draft delegated Regulation will be based on the findings of the AIMPLAS report, which was recently published. They aim was for the draft to be ready in January 2024 and to launch a public feedback consultation for a period of four weeks with an ad hoc meeting at the end of it. The draft should then be finalised by mid-March and adopted in July 2024. The TF will meet at the beginning of December to discuss the next steps. 

TF Agri also finalised the work on the Q&A on certified soil-biodegradable mulch films, which was published in November 2023.  

For more information, please contact Marike Fronk (fronk@european-bioplastics.org) or Hasso von Pogrell (pogrell@european-bioplastics.org).

Communications

EUBP published several news articles to promote EUBP’s publications and events. Those have been compiled in a newsletter, which will be distributed in December 2023.  

We have invited multiple journalists to EBC23, and 15 journalists confirmed they will be present, both online and in Berlin. This is 3 times more press attendees than last year.  

The Comms team secured media partnerships with PIE – Plastics Information Europe. As part of this partnership, EUBP will promote their event online.  

The Comms team issued several press releases in November to support the policy statements ahead of the vote on the PPWR in the European Parliament. Our quotes have been published in numerous press outlets. The team has also worked on advertising the EBC23 programme and distributed it to press.  

As part of a campaign to fight misconceptions about bioplastics, the Comms team has prepared a dedicated web page which will be published in December. Additionally, an op-ed was published on Euractiv’s website on the same topic on November 10. The article performed really well and exceeded Euractiv’s benchmark. Social media posts were also drafted to increase visibility of the campaign.  

Finally, the Comms team has been involved in drafting content for EBC23, on top of press and partnerships activities.   

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

Event Management

In November, the organisation of the EBC 23 progressed. The programme of the conference was finalised and published, and the detailed planning of the conference was almost finalized.  

Additional sponsors have been acquired, and the exhibition is complete with 40 exhibitors. The work on the event platform was finalized as well, and the platform was opened one week before the conference.   

Events also worked on the planning of EBC 24, found two different locations and will announce soon where the next edition will take place. 

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

European Bioplastics is currently a consortium partner in three EU funded projects: two projects funded by the Horizon 2020 Programme and one project funded by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU). Moreover, EUBP participates in an Austrian-funded project NETmicroplastic. EUBP is also involved as an Advisory Board Member in several EU-funded research projects. The website of EUBP has been updated with the latest information about the outcomes of these projects: https://www.european-bioplastics.org/research-projects/. Additionally, EUBP has started to feature some of the key technical results of these projects in its newsletter. 

Some of the most important achievements and preliminary results of the BIOnTop, BioSupPack and PRESERVE projects have been presented at the Sustainable Packaging Summit in Amsterdam on the 14 November 2023 in a short workshop dedicated to the topic “Innovative Biobased Packaging: From research to market?” with Normec OWS and Centexbel. 

European sustainable biobased nanomaterials Community (BIOMAC) 

BIOMAC has established a collaborative ecosystem where technologies and solutions utilising nano-enabled and/or biobased materials (NBMs) across several test beds are 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 were added to the consortium during Summer 2023. 

EUBP has initiated liaison activities with standardisation bodies (CEN) and applied to become a “Project Liaison” to the CEN TC 352 on nanomaterials, in the framework of its tasks as partner responsible for standardisation together with ISQ in Portugal. An internal training was provided to BIOMAC partners on pathways for liaising with standardisation bodies for advising the partners on ways to improve their liaison activities with national and European and International standardisation bodies. The material of the training is relevant also for the members of EUBP and it can be accessed in open access on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVc3rHgkVDA&t=205s and on Zenodo: https://zenodo.org/records/10043409 

BIOMAC is also organising the “Polymers 2024—Polymers for a Safe and Sustainable Future” conference in collaboration with the MDPI open access journal Polymers, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Exelisis Co. The conference will be held in Athens, Greece, on 28-31 May 2024. Polymers 2024 is an international conference that will explore the latest advances in polymer science to produce safe and sustainable materials, with unique properties for human health and environmental sustainability. The conference will also discuss clean, green, and efficient production processes, life cycle assessments, exposure, risk assessment, decontamination and environmental remediation, and novel techniques for polymer recycling and reuse. Polymers 2024 is a unique opportunity for polymer scientists from around the world to present their work and innovations in polymer chemistry and technology under the view of sustainable development. The deadline for the abstract submission is on 29 January 2024. https://www.mdpi.com/journal/biomass/events/16713 

Click here to find out more about the BIOMAC achievements and activities. 

High performance sustainable bio-based packaging with tailored end of life and upcycled secondary use (PRESERVE) 

PRESERVE participated in a joint webinar with sister projects UpPE-t and Uplift (projects form the same Horizon 2020 call) and with EU funded project GreenLAND on 3 November on Solving the problem of microplastics though evolving recycling technology. PRESERVE was represented by project partner ITENE.  

EUBP coordinates a Working Group on Policy with “sister projects” UpPE-T and Uplift. A joint meeting between the working Group Policy and the Working Group Standardization (coordinated by Uplift – AIMPLAS) took place on 22nd November. The projects discussed the latest developments within the projects discuss as well as the latest state of play of EU policy regarding sustainable packaging and the organisation of a Policy Briefing at the European Parliament in 2024 to present a Brief on Upcycling. EUBP has signed a Sponsorship Agreement with the European Bureau for Conservation and Development, the organization in charge of the European Parliament Intergroup on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Sustainable Development, that will host the event. The “sister projects” also discussed their respective developments regarding the request for revision or introduction of new standards vis a vis CEN.  

EUBP is also co-organising a workshop on The future of biobased packaging. Co-designing a Roadmap to 2030 back-to-back with the EUBP Conference on 11 December 2023. The goal of the workshop is to present the latest results of the PRESERVE project and initiate a co-design process of a Roadmap 2030 on the future of sustainable circular biobased packaging with the participation of stakeholders including representatives of the European Commission, of industry, and research. To see the agenda, follow this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-future-of-bio-based-packaging-tickets-733349075827?aff=oddtdtcreator 

EUBP is also currently working on the update on the PRESERVE Training Plan, the Communication Plan, and the Dissemination and Exploitation Plan, in line with its tasks within the PRESERVE project. The next review of the project will take place at the beginning of 2024 and the next General Assembly will take place on 17-18 January in Ghent, hosted by Normec OWS and Centexbel. 

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) 

The BIOnTop project has been successfully closed. The research teams have been able to develop diverse packaging formats using new copolymers and innovative barrier coatings. Several blends were produced that were optimized to be biodegradable under home composting conditions. The research has led to enhancement of end-of-life (EoL) solutions, including improved biodegradability, especially in home composting conditions. The teams have also managed to introduce a cost-effective, environmentally friendly method for producing PLA copolymers with tailored EoL properties. 

Additional results have also explored the polymer crystallinity to understand the relationship between polymer structure, mechanical properties, and biodegradability; the creation of a dual barrier against humidity and oxygen using whey protein and bio-based fatty acid coatings.  Finally, machine learning methods have been applied to develop predictive models for biodegradation and disintegration. 

The results in open access are being gradually published on the European Commission Cordis platform. In this project there have been several interesting scientific publications on PLA and PBSA: you can check them out on Cordis:  https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/837761/results 

Click here to find out more about the BIOnTop recent publications and results.  

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) 

BioSupPack aims at upscaling novel, economically convenient, and high-performing biobased rigid packaging solutions based on PHA, also suitable for being recycled and recovered. 

On 13 December 2023, alongside the EBC23, EUBP is organising, together with experts of the Albstadt Sigmaringen University (ASU), a world café workshop of one hour on The next challenge in packaging: How to choose between different bio-based polymers? How can Life Cycle Assessments be used to evaluate their ecological sustainability? We have few spots left: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/world-cafe-workshop-the-next-challenge-in-packaging-tickets-727473602127  

Click here to find out more about BioSupPack goals and activities.  

NETmicroplastic 

NETmicroplastic’s aim is to tackle multiple facets of microplastic in soil. NETmicroplastic specifically focuses on fruit and vine 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. EUBP supports the project with mapping activities, stakeholders, strategies, policies, and dissemination. The project is coordinated by the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT).  The project is funded by the Lower Austria research ministry to foster collaboration between 11 core network partners from four European countries. 

The project is organising a series of webinars around the microplastic topic. The first of the series, in German only, was dedicated to challenges and innovation to avoid microplastic and held on 8 November 2023.  

Additional webinars are advertised on this page: https://www.net-microplastic.eu/events/ 

If you are interested in joining the NETmicroplastic network, it is possible to sign up for several activities here.  

Click here to find out more about the NETmicroplastic project. 

Are you planning new project proposals for research and innovation? We would like to be partner up with you! 

EUBP has been involved in the preparation of several project proposals for Horizon Europe and the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) with a deadline in September 2023. If you are planning a research and innovation project proposal, we would like to be your partner. We are specifically interested in joining new calls related to the development of new biobased polymers and co-polymers, but also on pre-normative activities on biobased materials and on novel packaging solutions. EUBP is keen on joining as your consortium as a partner for outreach, dissemination, and policy engagement. Please get in touch if you are interested. 

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 (towards the Plenary) and Council (towards a General approach) regarding PPWR proposal 
• Planification of EUBP’s outreach on the Policy manifesto and strategic preparation/identification of priorities for the next European cycle 
• Participation in the DG GROW Workshop on the market uptake of biobased materials and products (11 December, Brussels) 
• Prepare the event at the European Parliament hosted by MEP Covassi on 14 November titled ‘Biobased Polymers as enabler for Green Deal’ 
• Look into what we could do on the Sustainable Taxonomy: new Stakeholder request mechanism 
• Further prepare for the Third and Fourth Session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (UNEP INC-3) that will be held in Nairobi in November 2023 
• Next TF PPWR meeting on 30 November and next REGA meetings on 16 November and 7 December 2023

Communications 

• Update EUBP publications 
• Engage with Brussels press and trade associations 
• Work on the 2024 working programme 
• Continue spreading EBC23 on social media and work on EBC23 presentations 
• Finalise and publish misconception landing page 
• Prepare the market data report 

Sustainability & Environmental Affairs 

• TF Agri Meeting, beginning of December (tbd) 
• Finalise and publish PP on EOL 
• TF AD Meeting, 5 December 2023 
• Finalise and publish PP on AD 
• Set-up of new TFs tbd and scheduled 

Seedling Logo 

• Next ACS Meeting on 16 January 2024 

Research and innovation Projects 

• 14 November 2023 PRESERVE, BioSupPack, BIOnTop Workshop on “Innovative Biobased Packaging: From research to market?” with EUBP, OWS Normec and CENTEXBEL at Sustainable Packaging Summit, Amsterdam. 
• 11 December 2023: PRESERVE The future of bio-based packaging. Co-designing a roadmap to 2023. With EUBP, ASU, TotalEnergies Corbion, the European Commission and many more, Berlin.  
• 13 December 2023: BioSupPack World Café Workshop on “The next challenge in packaging: How to choose between different bio-based polymers? How can Life Cycle Assessments be used to evaluate their ecological sustainability?” with EUBP and ASU, from 8am-9am. Berlin.
• 17-18 January 2024: PRESERVE General Meeting, Ghent.
• 1-2 February 2024: BIOMAC review meeting, Padova. 

EUBP events and speaking opportunities 

• 11 December 2023: PRESERVE event “The future of bio-based packaging. Codesigning the 2030 roadmap.” EU Project Manager, Estela López-Hermoso, will be moderating the PRESERVE mini-workshop session “Co-designing he 2030 Roadmap” 
• 13 December 2023: BioSupPack World Café workshop on “The next challenge in packaging: How to choose between different bio-based polymers? How can Life Cycle Assessments be used to evaluate their ecological sustainability?” EU Project Managers, Chiara Bearzotti and Estela López-Hermoso will be moderating. 
• 12-13 December 2023: EBC 23  
• 14 December 2023: EUBP Members Meeting 
  
• 1-2 February 2024: EU Project Manager, Chiara Bearzotti, one of the speakers at the BIOMAC review meeting, Padova 

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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