1. Policy updates

Throughout May, EUBP remained actively engaged across its key regulatory workstreams, with a particular focus on the implementation of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), the evaluation of the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD), the upcoming Biotech Act II, and the Critical Chemicals Alliance (CCA). 

Work on the evaluation of the SUPD reached an important milestone with the finalisation of EUBP’s contribution to the Commission’s targeted stakeholder consultation. Following dedicated TF SUPD meetings on 27 April and 6 May, EUBP submitted its response on 8 May, continuing to advocate for a more science-based and proportionate approach to certified biodegradable plastics within the SUPD framework. 

Preparations for the upcoming Biotech Act II also intensified. Following the DG GROW stakeholder workshop of 29 April, EUBP convened two dedicated TF Biotech Act II meetings on 21 and 22 May to finalise the association’s contribution to the Fraunhofer questionnaire on market-pull measures and biobased content requirements. At the same time, work started on developing EUBP’s position for the Commission’s Call for Evidence. On 12 May, EUBP joined Futerro and Bioeconomy For Change (B4C) for an exchange with the Cabinet of Executive Vice-President Stéphane Séjourné to discuss priorities and expectations for the upcoming initiative. 

On the PPWR, EUBP continued the implementation of its advocacy strategy and participated in the Expert Group on Waste meeting on 20 May. Discussions focused on the implementation of Article 5 on PFAS restrictions, clarifications related to recyclability requirements and design-for-recycling obligations, as well as the forthcoming guidelines on Annex V. The meeting provided additional clarity on the timing and application of recyclability requirements, which are especially relevant for packaging made of biodegradable polymers. 

EUBP also continued its cooperation with the Compostable by Design Platform (CbDP). Together with CbDP, EUBP was invited on 2 June to present to the full team of DG ENV’s Bioeconomy and Sustainable Materials Unit (B1), covering the Compostable by Design Guidelines, developments in Europe’s bio-waste recycling infrastructure, key principles for EPR schemes for compostable packaging, and policy recommendations for compostable products. The 90-minute exchange provided a valuable opportunity to discuss the role of compostable packaging in supporting high-quality bio-waste collection and recycling systems. 

EUBP also remained actively involved in the work of the Critical Chemicals Alliance, contributing to discussions in both WG1 and WG4. Work progressed on the methodology to identify critical molecules and critical sites, while discussions in WG4 focused on the development of lead-market measures and policy options for sustainable-carbon and low-carbon-based products. 

Beyond the regulatory files, some highlights were (1) our participation in the High-Level Conference on Biosolutions on 12 May, which brought together policymakers, industry representatives and other stakeholders to discuss the role of biosolutions in strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, sustainability and industrial resilience, and (2) Cefic’s stakeholder dialogue on sustainability criteria and the cascading use principle on 2 June. 

At alliance level, EUBP continued to contribute to ongoing reflections on strengthening the governance and impact of the European Bioeconomy Alliance (EUBA), with the objective of enhancing the bioeconomy sector’s ability to engage effectively in upcoming policy discussions and implementation processes. 

2. Sustainability and Environment

May was an important month for EUBP’s contribution to the Design for Recycling documents (TF MatRec): on the 6th of May, the final Technical Specifications were submitted to CEN WG 10 secretary, for the voting process to start. The documents were also submitted the next day to the JRC, and the WG SEA convenor (Lorette) and SG9 leader (Irina Yarulina -EUBP board member - Sulzer) met with the JRC to discuss the documents and why/where we have deviated from their comments.  The JRC will consider our Technical Specifications when making their proposal to the Commission (on the PPWR Delegated Act relating to Design for Recycling documents). However, in parallel we need to obtain a positive vote on these Specifications, from the National Standardisation Bodies via CEN. After intense follow-up, we’ve learnt thatnothing is quick and simple in a CEN “voting process”. They seem to have a large backlog of work and it is now expected that the vote will only be opened mid-August.  
 
These Design for Recycling documents prepared within CEN will eventually be used by e.g., packaging producers to calculate a percentage score, which results in determining the packaging’s Recyclability Performance Grade (RPG).  (The PPWR requires that packaging reaches certain minimum RPG scores in future, else they will not be allowed to be put on the European market). The JRC is tasked with proposing an RPG calculation method to the European Commission and has agreed that CEN may propose their views on this, for the JRC to consider.  CEN has until end of June to provide input and, as a CEN liaison organisation, EUBP is closely following and participating in a new CEN subgroup that was formed to explore these RPG methods.   

On 12th May, new networking and contacts were made at a “de-risking investment in sustainable chemicals” event organised by Unilever.    

EUBP also had the privilege to deliver a statement on behalf of the private sector (online) during the 35th Regional Conference of FAO, on 13th May.  It was an opportunity to mention biodegradable mulch film as an example of increasing sustainability in agricultural systems. 

EUBP continued to have discussions with different parties about biodegradability in aqueous environments, to build a picture of, e.g., possible test methods that a certification could eventually be based on. 

WG SEA progress and targets for 2026 were also presented at the EUBP General Assembly on 27th May and at the WG SEA meeting on 28th May. 

Other Task force updates: 

• Several further meetings took place with TF MatRec members to progress the “D6 paper” (a paper targeted to brand owners, to ensure that any negative message that the PPWR may give with regard tobiodegradable/compostable plastic packaging, is positively countered).   

• Some meetings also took place with TF Safe task force members to progress the paper on Microplastics.  

• A new task force, TF Feedstock II, was announced at the GA and WG SEA meetings.  As was the case for the original TF Feedstock, this will again be a combined WG SEA & WG REGA task force.  This task force is set up because we need to be ready to provide input to the expected Public Consultation (expected in September 2026) on Art 8 of the PPWR.  The first deliverables of this new task force will include the review of a relevant nova report (Support for bio-based feedstock in plastic packaging analysis under the PPWR (published in April 2026)) and drafting a modified RED Article 29 with sustainability criteria for biobased feedstock for materials (used in plastic packaging).  Members who have interest to join this task force (but who were not part of the original TF Feedstock team, could inform us.  The kick-off meeting will take place on 22 June. 

3. Research and Innovation Projects

BIO4COAT

BIO4COAT meeting at ICAP-SIRA premises in May 2026 

Our new member ICAP-SIRA hosted the annual in-person meeting of the BIO4COAT project, working on advanced biobased coating solutions using renewable building blocks from biorefineries, designed to perform under extreme conditions. ICAP-SIRA commitment to continuous innovation features highly automated production lines, an in-house R&D lab with clear sustainability ambitions, and an ace team that speaks about biobased polyurethanes and coatings with ease and precision. A sincere "grazie" to the ICAP-SIRA team, Anita Barni, Sarah Bustros, Alessandro Petrillo and Giada Papa, for the warm welcome and the generous tour.  

ROADSHOW EVENT

Roadshow event The Future of Bioplastics is bio and recyclable! 

Starting in Berlin on 1 July 2026, and supported by the two projects MoeBIOS and ReBioCycle, we will be talking to SMEs about the advantages of switching to bioplastics, bringing testimonials from EUBP members, but also talking about the recyclability of bioplastics with experts from the projects. First stop in Berlin, for an in-person event! 

BioSupPack

BioSupPack: Innovation map of PHA results emerging from the project 

BioSupPack (led by AIMPLAS) is seeking PHA and PHB producers to help with the scale-up of its novel prototypes. In this document you will find an overview of the changing regulatory framework for biobased packaging. The last part of this document showcases the most promising results in biobased packaging: coatings for rigid and flexible packaging, compostable fibre-based packaging, and a process for producing biopolymers from brewers' spent grains. AIMPLAS is looking for potential business partners for scaling up some of these products. Contact Chiara Bearzotti if you are interested: bearzotti@european-bioplastics.org  

Be-Up

Be-UP meeting 2026 key take home messages 

Led by ITENE, the Be-UP consortium met to discuss progress on the synthesis of novel biodegradable polymers and blends for flexible food packaging films, thermoformed food trays, injected beverage pods and cosmetic jars, achieving a significant reduction in polymerisation times for new aliphatic-aromatic biopolyesters. The project is moving forward with successful scale-up trials in batch reactors for both flexible and rigid applications.

Discover more about the project here. 

INSOIL

INSOIL meeting 2026 highlights 

During the 12M General Meeting, the INSOIL consortium – led by ITENE – presented progress on the pilot-scale validation of its agriproducts, with work focused on biodegradability, agronomic performance and environmental safety under controlled conditions. The project will develop three product families based on sustainable PHA combined with additives (MFCs, modified lignins), to enable programmed biodegradation in specific climates and crops. They will be enriched with active bioproducts ((i.e., organic NPK, biostimulants, bio-based PPPs) to enhance their functionality, value and adoption.  

Read more about the project here. 

SuperBark

Upcoming touch base with the project SUPERBARK 23 June 2026 

The SuperBark project exploits natural components in softwood bark, a major industrial byproduct of the forest industry, to develop bio-based high-performance adhesives and coatings for wood panels and packaging paper with the functional, safety, and sustainability standards required by the industry and consumers. 

Register on Eventbrite 

4. Events

In May, EUBP successfully delivered two key visibility and engagement activities for the bioplastics community. On 11 May, EUBP organised its guided walking tour “Packaging Futures” at Interpack 2026. The tour brought together industry professionals to explore innovative bioplastics solutions directly on the exhibition floor, featuring presentations and discussions with participating exhibitors. The initiative provided valuable opportunities for networking and knowledge exchange while increasing EUBP’s visibility at one of the industry's most important trade fairs. 

The EUBP Talks Series 2026 continued on 19 May with the session “Material Solutions: Bioplastics Beyond Packaging – Automotive”. The webinar explored how bioplastics are being integrated into modern vehicle platforms, addressing performance requirements, lightweight design, and sustainability considerations. The session attracted strong interest from participants across the value chain and further strengthened engagement with stakeholders beyond the packaging sector. 

Preparations for the European Bioplastics Conference 2026 continued at full pace throughout May. Sponsorship outreach remained a key focus, with further discussions progressing and additional sponsors being secured. Promotion of the Call for Papers continued across EUBP communication channels, as the number of submitted abstracts steadily increased ahead of the 30 June deadline.  

Industry stakeholders, researchers and innovators are still invited to submit their proposals until 30 June 2026 via this link.

In parallel, EUBP launched and promoted the second edition of the European Bioplastics Innovation Award 2026. The award aims to showcase innovative bioplastics solutions and emerging companies driving the transition towards a circular bioeconomy. Applications are open until 30 August 2026, with finalists gaining visibility through dedicated communication activities leading up to EBC26. 

Overall, May was characterised by strong external visibility through Interpack and the EUBP Talks Series, while preparations for EBC26 and the Innovation Award continued to advance steadily. 

Meet the newly-elected BOARD

European Bioplastics AISBL has elected its new Board for the 2026–2029 mandate at the General Assembly held on 27 May 2026. The newly appointed Board reflects the diversity of the association’s membership across the bioplastics value chain.

From left to right, the newly elected EUBP Board members are: Afsaneh Nabifar (BASF), Frédéric Van Gansberghe (Futerro), Celmira Sousa (NatureWorks), Franz Kraus (Novamont) and Myriam Moeyersons (Ingevity). Four Board members were not present in the photo: Monica Battistella (Taghleef Industries), Judith Hicks (Vioneo), Hugo Vuurens (CJ CheilJedang), and Irina Yarulina (Sulzer).

Franz Kraus and Frédéric Van Gansberghe have been elected Co-Chairs, Afsaneh Nabifar serves as Vice-Chair, and Hugo Vuurens as Treasurer. 

Also pictured is the EUBP Secretary-General, Lorenza Romanese (next to Afsaneh Nabifar) who is not a member of the Board.