Dear members,

Please find below an overview of the activities of European Bioplastics throughout October 2017. 

Regulatory Affairs (WG REGA)

With regard to the trilogues around the waste legislative proposals, EUBP continued its liaison programme with Permanent Representations (Perm Reps) of the EU Member States in October. Furthermore, EUBP, in cooperation with several other bioeconomy associations, invited a selection of Environment attachés of Permanent Representations to an aperitif event on 6 October. The purpose of this invitation was to brief the participants on our joint policy asks to support the use of bio-based materials for the manufacture of packaging when discussing the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) in the trilogues planned for 26 October and 27 November. In the trilogue meeting on 26 October, the parties debated the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) and relevant amendments on mandatory bio-waste collection (TEEP clause still included in Council position on Article 22 WFD) and the definition of bio-waste (‘other materials with similar biodegradability properties’ included in Council position). The status quo looks acceptable for us with regard to the WFD. On the PPWD, our topics have not yet been discussed and will be tackled end of November. The European Commission and the European Parliament have shown ‘decisive political will’ to finalise this dossier by end of the year, but as the technical debate seems not to be sufficiently advanced for this to happen at the moment. We will keep you updated in the coming weeks.

On the Plastics Strategy, EUBP participated in a workshop on bioplastics organised by the European Commission (EC) on 18 October. The intense discussion provided a rather positive perception of plastics that are bio-based, biodegradable, or both. However, a simultaneously leaked draft of the Plastics Strategy showed that the circular benefits of bioplastics are gravely neglected in the internal editing process of the EC. European Bioplastics is currently mobilising support via the European Bioeconomy Alliance to send a critical letter to Commissioner level beginning of November. The drafting process is said to continue until mid-November. The publication of the Plastics Strategy is envisaged for the first week of December.

On the Fertilisers Regulation, EUBP is happy to share good news with you: The European Parliament (EP) approved the amendments including biodegradable mulch films in the Fertilisers Regulation. The file’s rapporteur Mihai Turcanu (EPP group) will now prepare the negotiations with the EC and the Council. We will keep you posted on the timeline as soon as it has been published. In the meantime we continue our engagement programme with Council members informing them about our arguments and the technology of biodegradable mulch films.

The Bioeconomy Strategy revision evaluation of DG Research is on-going. A stakeholder conference is planned for 14-16 November. EUBP has been invited to participate in a panel discussion on 16 November.

For detailed information on the work of the WG Regulatory Affairs, contact Kristy-Barbara Lange (lange@european-bioplastics.org). 

Product Groups

PG Biodegradables: The PG Biodegradables is still working on a background paper focussing on the biodegradation process of bioplastics.

WG EN 13432/Standardisation discussed in two web meetings (12 and 16 October) the collated comments on the draft standard on home compostable carrier bags. The group agreed on a large number of points, but some main issues remained unsolved, such as the additional testing for constituents present at a concentration of 1-10% and additional ecotoxicity evaluation, such as earthworm tests. These points have been further discussed in the CEN/TC 261/SC4/WG2 meeting on 26 October in which EUBP and several of the member companies participated. EUBP furthermore participated in the meeting of the according DIN mirror committee discussing similar topics.

On 18 October, the Advisory Committee of the Seedling Logo held its annual meeting at the premises of DIN CERTCO. Several aspects of the Certification Scheme for the Seedling owned by European Bioplastics had been discussed. A new version of the scheme can be expected in early 2019, after a revision in 2018.

PG Bio-based:

Task Force (TF) 1 (Sustainability evaluation) has discussed in a web meeting a method to estimate the land use for bioplastics. After a final evaluation in the first personal meeting on 3 November, the developed template can be used with the new market data provided by the nova institute. In the November meeting, the recent LCA meta study draft will also be discussed as well as questions on sustainability assessment.

TF 2 (End of life) had its first conference call in October to identify the necessary first steps of the TF and distribute work packages. The group will define a position on mechanical recycling and also incineration of bioplastics. A good starting point is the existing Fact Sheet on mechanical recycling.

TF 3 (Chemicals and intermediates) will have a first web meeting in November. The first project will be to prepare a mapping on existing building blocks for bioplastics and biopolymers and also identifying further use of such molecules.

PG contact: Constance Ißbrücker (issbruecker@european-bioplastics.org)

Communications

Please find a selection of media clippings from October 2017 here.

In case you missed the October issue of our ‘Bioplastics Bulletin’, you can read it here.

On 24 October, EUBP published a press release welcoming the vote of the European Parliament’s plenary in favour of supporting biodegradable mulch films in the revision of the EU Fertilisers Regulation. You can read our press release here. In the run-up to the vote, we’ve issued a press statement at the beginning of the month (5 October), describing why biodegradable mulch films are needed to reduce the accumulation of plastics in soil and calling on the MEPs to vote in favour of supporting these materials in the Fertilisers Regulation. You can read the press statement here.

With a view on the upcoming EU Plastics Strategy and the on-going revision of the EU waste legislation, we were able to place an opinion piece by Hasso von Pogrell at the Parliament Magazine (online), outlining how bioplastics will help the EU to ‘close the loops’ and support the transition to a low-carbon circular economy. On 17 October, we’ve published a press release on two new studies analysing the contamination of plastic recycling streams and organic recycling streams in Italy, showing that biodegradable plastics can contribute to more efficient recycling. The statement came as a response to claims made by the association of Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE) in a press release on the alleged negative impacts of biodegradable plastics on the quality and process of mechanical recycling. You can read our press release here.

If you have any questions concerning the communications activities of EUBP, please contact Katrin Schwede (schwede@european-bioplastics.org).

Events

12th EUBP Conference 

The 12th European Bioplastics Conference takes place on 28/29 November 2017. The final programme was published at the beginning of October. A mailing announcing the speaker-line-up was distributed. This year’s programme focuses on new building blocks, alternative feedstock and process routes, as well as end-of-life outside industrial composting. We are immensely pleased to announce a record number of brand owners will be among the delegation, and several will share their insights into the use of bioplastics on stage.

Over 100 companies have registered to date, and the exhibition is as good as sold out with already over 30 companies, so don’t miss the opportunity to book one of the few remaining spaces to showcase your company during the conference.

Book your sponsorship package! We are immensely pleased to announce BASF as platinum sponsor this year, next to our partners Biotec, NatureWorks, Sulzer, and Total Corbion, who also support the event as sponsors. To find out more about how best to promote your brand at the leading industry event in Europe, simply download the sponsorship options here or get in touch with us directly.

If you would like more information about the upcoming 12th European Bioplastics Conference please get in touch with Joanna Wilde (wilde@european-bioplastics.org).

bvse conference on Germany’s new Packaging Law

EUBP attended a conference organised by bvse, the German association of the recycling and waste management industry, in Bonn on 11 October, which focused on the new German Packaging Law and its effects on the quality and control of recycling. You can read a short review of the conference (in German and English) here.

Research Projects

For the H2020 project Polybioskin, a flyer has been prepared and is ready to be printed. The project website has also been launched. Furthermore, information has been collected for a first report as deliverable to be prepared by EUBP dealing with material specifications of the applications dealt with in the project.

If you would like to find out more about these projects, please get in touch with Götz Ahrens (ahrens@european-bioplastics.org) or Constance Ißbrücker.

Planned activities October 2017

• Members Meeting (General Assembly) on 27 November 2017 in Berlin (hotel maritim proArte);
• 12^th European Bioplastics Conference on 28-29 November 2017 in Berlin;
• Evaluation and preparation of the market data update 2017;
• EU Waste legislation trilogues: contact programme with Council, monitoring of trilogue on 27 November, twitter action to urge Council to support our points;
• EU Fertilisers Regulation: monitor publication of timing for trilogue negotiations; engagement programme with council;
• EU Plastics Strategy: finalisation and sending of critical letter to EC on behalf of European Bioeconomy Alliance, conveying of criticism via CEO mobilisation of bioplastic companies in Brussels-media;
• Oxo-legislation: monitoring of publication of Ellen McArthur Foundation statement and potential publication of proposal of EC;
• Organisation of next Bioplastics Organisations Network meeting – 27 November Berlin;
• Publication of new land use estimation for bioplastics (PG Biobased TF1);
• New update on LCA meta study (TF1);
• First Online Meeting of PG Biobased TF 3;
• Preparation of the next draft on the Background Paper on compostable plastics (PG Biodegradables)

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