Dear members,

Please find below an overview of activities carried out by European Bioplastics throughout October 2022.  

Board meeting

The EUBP Board and Management met online on 14 October in order to advance further on the issues of finding a new Head of EU Public Affairs in Brussels and the expansion of the staff to be engaged in Brussels. Progress was also made on a draft Materials Management Concept, with the aim of presenting it to the Members Meeting on 13 December in Brussels (exact location still tbc.). 

For more information regarding Board meetings, please contact Hasso von Pogrell (pogrell@european-bioplastics.org).

Regulatory Affairs (WG REGA)

The WG REGA met on 12 October in Brussels (in person with option to join online) to discuss the latest EU policy developments impacting business operations. 

Members mainly discussed the planned actions of the Circular Economy Package II for 2022, including the Communication on an EU policy framework for bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics, the proposal for a revised Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD), the proposal for a regulation on substantiating environmental claims, as well as the proposal on measures to reduce the release of microplastics, which are all expected to be published on 30 November 2022. The ordinary legislative procedure for all these files would then start in December 2022 / Q1 2023. 

Regarding the forthcoming policy framework, EUBP has shared information on the updated draft text (a draft version dated 16 June 2022 was leaked, confidential), which shows a slightly changed and more positive framing and more positive wording, including on the issues around the land-use discussion, and the discussions around LCA and biogenic carbon uptake. The text still suggests a limited list of applications for compostable plastics but now also leaves room for criteria to define further applications in the future to extend the list. 

The Commission’s draft proposal for a Regulation on Packaging and Packaging Waste was leaked in the media in mid-October. The proposal includes a de-facto ban of all compostable plastic packaging, with the exemption of a very limited list of (4) packaging applications that are proposed to be mandatory compostable. Furthermore, the proposal completely lacks any recognition and support for the bioeconomy and its products, including bio-based plastics. REGA held an ad-hoc meeting on 24 October to discuss the leaked draft, define main concerns and key messages, and to agree on an advocacy strategy and immediate next steps. A position paper was drafted, including concrete proposed amendments to the text, that was shared with all relevant Commission services (DG ENV, DG GROW, DG AGRI, DG RTD, DG SANTE) on 26 October. Meetings with all DGs were requested. The Commission’s proposal is currently in inter-service consultations (until 4 November) and expected to be published on 30 November. EUBP will prepare a statement for when the proposal comes out.  

Regarding the current proposal for a Microplastics Act, EUBP met with the co-chairs of the REACH Committee on 14 October in order to discuss the concerns regarding the stricter biodegradation criteria for intentionally added microplastics. EUBP was accompanied by several experts from the member companies to provide more in-depth technical input to our arguments. The discussion was well received, and EUBP was asked to provide further input in writing, which was shared with the entire REACH Committee ahead of the next expert group meeting on 26/27 October, where this issue was discussed once again. EUBP also reached out to CEFIC in order to align messages and outreach efforts to Member States that are represented in the Committee and are expected to vote on the proposal in December. 

EUBP has further finalised and submitted input to the Commission’s public consultation on a planned new EU Soil Health Law. For this purpose, EUBP had developed a new position paper on ‘Compostable plastics and their contribution to soil health’, focussing on increasing the amount of collected biowaste for the production of compost, the role of compost for healthier soils, on reducing microplastics in soil, and on creating carbon sinks.  

REGA also discussed the Commission’s response (received on 29 September, shared with REGA group via email) to EUBP’s open letter that was sent to the Cabinet of Exec. VP Timmermans in June 2022. It referred to Timmermans’ and his Cabinet’s policy ambitions regarding bioplastics, raising particular concerns on the lack of incentives to transition away from fossil-based and towards renewable resources in the currently ongoing policy developments. It was agreed that, as unsatisfying the response might be, it was an appropriate and right advocacy instrument to be used at the time, and no follow-up action is needed. A more committing (differing from the current official position of the Commission on the matter) response could not have been expected either way. Yet, considering the recent changes in tone and framing on bioplastics in the context of the policy framework Communication, our advocacy efforts are showing positive impacts. 

The next meeting of the REGA WG will be held online on 23 November. A December meeting will be organised ad-hoc depending on the outcome of the nCEAP publications on 30 November.   

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 meeting on 27 October was cancelled. The group will meet on 7 December during the 17th European Bioplastics Conference in Berlin. In the meantime, all BON Europe members are invited to participate in EUBP’s WG REGA meetings on a regular basis from now on in order to allow for a more in-depth and timely exchange of views and information on relevant policy developments on EU and MS level.

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

Product Groups

Product Group Bio-based

The discussion on the position on mass balance approach for plastics using bio-based feedstock is still ongoing. A new draft should be developed based on the latest discussion also with the EUBP Board. 

The next meeting of PG Biobased is scheduled for 16 November 2022, 10:00a.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

The TF REACH Polymer Registration held a meeting on 13 October. Constance Ißbrücker (CI), facilitator of PG Biodegradables, informed the group that she had been accepted as a member of the CEFIC Sub Group, that is compiling a non-PRR (polymers requiring registration) list. CI shared the list with the group members and asked for feedback and additional monomers to be included by 27 October. The next CEFIC Sub Group meeting will take place on 3 November. After that, another TF meeting will be set up. 

The work of the TF Intentionally Added Microplastics has been taken up by WG REGA, and actions were taken accordingly (see above section on WG REGA). 

The TF AGRI members have been working on the Q&A document, which is due to be finalised by the end of October and which will be discussed in a meeting on 11 November. The document is the basis for a discussion with researchers and academic stakeholders at a round table event on 8 December, which was initially planned as an in-person event, but has been changed to an online format, due to financial constraints. 

The next meeting of PG Biodegradables will take place on 9 November 2022, 10:00a.m. CET, online.

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

Working Group Standardisation

CEN/TC 411/WG 4 met on 26 and 27 October to start the work on the new standardisation project “Bio-based Products – Life Cycle Assessment - Additional requirements and guidelines for comparing the life cycles of bio-based products with their fossil-based equivalents”. The new work item is based on the position and activities EUBP carried out last year concerning the JRC LCA study. WG 4 will meet again in December in Wageningen. The group is still looking for LCA experts that could contribute to the development of the standard. 

CEN/TC 261 SC 4 WG 2 met on 28 October to discuss further the revision of EN 13432. 

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 October 2022 (online). 

In the course of October, Comms further advanced the project of setting up a new power point master. The master is expected to be finalized at the beginning of November.  

During 3 through 13 October, EUBP supported the EUBA social media campaign to promote the scientific paper on the bioeconomy’s contribution to achieve the European Green Deal. Every day, the campaign focused on a different aspect of the bioeconomy, e.g., food security (4 Oct.), climate neutrality (5 Oct.), circular economy (6 Oct.). The campaign was also successfully supported by EUBP members.  

On 17 October, EUBP Comms published a press release promoting the final programme of the European Bioplastics Conference. Besides a dissemination using the EUBP distribution system, Comms also commissioned the OTS service News Aktuell with a mailing, covering media outlets (online and print) in Western Europe.  

Throughout the month of October, EUBP Comms responded to several media inquiries, including the approval of copyrights and background information on bioplastics. This also included the inquiry of a production company commissioned by German broadcasting channel SWR planning a programme on PLA production.  

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

Seedling Logo

EUBP has been approached regarding the need of a composting standard and certification scheme in South Korea. To discuss if and how the Seedling scheme could be an option, EUBP is organising a meeting with the involved parties in November. 

The next meeting of the Advisory Board of the Seedling Scheme (ACS) will take place on 2 December 2022, 2:00p.m., online. 

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

Events

European Bioplastics Conference

The programme of the upcoming European Bioplastics Conference has been finalised and published. The ticket and booth sale are ongoing and on track, and 15 sponsors have been attracted to support the conference. In October, meetings with technical supplier and the event location took place where all the details were confirmed. The event platform has been set-up, and the content management is ongoing. Side events like the workshop on “Compostable Materials in a Circular Economy” on 5 December and a breakfast event (on 6 or 7 December, tbc) to present EUBP’s EU-funded projects, are being organized and advertised. 

The K-Fair took place, and the whole team worked at the booth of EUBP. A lot of visitors came by, and EUBP used the chance to meet the members in Düsseldorf (for more information also see Comms part above).  

The organisation of the General Assembly on 13 December 2022 has started, and the location scouting in Brussels is ongoing.  

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

On 5/6 October, EUBP Comms attended the Scanpack fair in Gothenburg. At the fair, the Scandinavian bioplastics association Nordisk Bioplastförening organized two events and invited EUBP to give an overview on the most relevant policy processes related to bioplastics  

On 17 October, EUBP Chair, Stefan Barot, represented European Bioplastics at the PLASTICS SUMMIT – GLOBAL EVENT 2022 in Lisbon. 

The EUBP Staff was present at the K-Fair in Düsseldorf during 19-26 October and provided visitors (B2C, B2C) with relevant information on bioplastics and established new contacts. 

On 20 October, EUBP Chair, Stefan Barot, held a presentation on the current policy situation in Europe at the Bioplastics Business Breakfast K'2022. 

On 22 October, EUBP Vice Chair, Lars Börger, held a presentation on how biopolymers can contribute to a carbon positive chemistry at the Bioplastics Business Breakfast K'2022. 

Projects

Chiara Bearzotti and Estela López-Hermoso joined the EUBP team at the beginning of September 2022 and have taken over the responsibilities regarding EUBP’s EU project involvements. 

During October a project management system was implemented to manage and keep track of EUBP’s responsibilities. 

Several meetings took place, where the new colleagues were introduced and updated on the status of the projects, which are well on track.  

Policy briefs on the new regulatory developments for recycled plastics and for food contact materials and a public consultation on food contact material were prepared and shared with the BioSupPack, BionTop and PRESERVE project partners. 

For the BiOnTOP Project, a new item of its newsletter was sent to project partners and will soon be uploaded to the webiste and shared extensively on social media. 

Estela and Chiara participated in the K fair, informed interested stakeholders about the four projects and established new contacts. 

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 outreach to Commission on forthcoming policy framework and PPWD 
• Continue outreach to Commission and Member States on Microplastics Act 
• Next REGA meeting on 23 November (online) 

Communications

• Update EUBP publications 
• Finalization of new PPT master (November) 
• Next meeting WG Communications on 29 November, 3:00p.m. (online) 
• Preparation for EUBP Conference, including press release on new Market Data 

BON Europe

• Follow-up on outreach regarding joint position on PPWD 
• Draft country fact sheets, engage BON members for input  
• Next meeting on 7 December (in Berlin, EUBP Conference) 

PG Biobased

• Position paper on mass balance approaches  
• Collect information on bio-based additives (TF3) 
• Next meeting PG Biobased 16 November 2022, 10:00a.m. (online) 
• TF meetings to be scheduled 

PG Biodegradables

• PP Anaerobic Digestion 
• Draft Q&A document on soil-biodegradable mulch films (TF Agri) 
• Update European Composting Landscape 
• Next meeting PG on 9 November 2022, 10:00a.m. (online) 

WG Standardisation

• Monitor revision process EN 13432 and activities in relevant WGs of CEN/TCs 249 and 411 
• CEN/TC 411 WG 4 project on comparative LCAs 

Seedling Logo

• Finalisation of the new version of the CS 
• Meeting on Compostability Scheme for South Korea in November 
• Next meeting on 2 December 2022 

Project involvements 

• BioSupPack at Circular Economy for Textiles and Plastics, 17/18 November 2022. 
• PRESERVE project at Plastic Waste Free World Conference 2022, 9/10 December 2022. 
• BionTop Project Meeting 42M, 13/14 December 2022, Pisa. 

Events 

• 5 December 2022 – EUBP event: Workshop - Compostable Materials in a Circular Economy  
• 6/7 December 2022 – EUBP event: 17th European Bioplastics Conference  

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.