The EU bioeconomy makes up an important part of the total economy in the EU. In 2014, it employed around 18.6 million people and generated approximately EUR 2.2 trillion. This means that the bioeconomy represents around 9% of all sectors of the economy with regards to employment as well as to turnover. These are [...]
The new Board of European Bioplastics (from left to right): Erwin Lepoudre (Kaneka), Henri Colens (Braskem), Stefano Facco (Novamont), Mariagiovanna Vetere (NatureWorks), Michael von Ketteler (BASF SE), Peter Brunk (BIOTEC), and François de Bie (Total Corbion PLA). © European Bioplastics Berlin, 22 June 2017 – European Bioplastics (EUBP), the association representing the [...]
Earlier this month, Germany’s Bundesrat, the upper house of parliament, approved a new packaging law (Verpackungsgesetz) aimed at boosting recycling of packaging waste. It also stipulates that the systems collecting the waste fees are obliged to create incentives that encourage the use of recycled material or material from renewable sources for the production of [...]
Novamont, a leader in the development of bioplastics based in Italy, commissioned IGlux Witzenhausen GmbH and Witzenhausen-Institut GmbH to conduct a scientific study into the behaviour of biodegradable carrier bags made from MATER-BI – the bioplastic made by Novamont – in German anaerobic digestion plants. The use of biodegradable bags made from MATER-BI was tested [...]
In each issue of the Bioplastics Bulletin, we present 5 facts about a member of European Bioplastics. In this issue Peter A. von den Kerkhoff, Account Executive EMEA representing DuPont Tate & Lyle Bio Products at DuPont de Nemours Deutschland GmbH, shares some information on the largest global producer of bio-based 1,3-propanediol, headquartered in [...]
Bio-based plastics can be mechanically recycled just like conventional plastics and biodegradable plastics are not a solution to the plastic soup in the oceans. These are two key findings in the report ‘Biobased and biodegradable plastics – Facts and Figures’, released by Wageningen Food & Biobased Research. The report takes stock of scientific knowledge on [...]
Synvina receives interim approval for bio-based PEF recyclability: Amsterdam-based Synvina CV has received interim approval from the European PET bottle platform (EPBP) for the recyclability of its bio-based polyethylenefuranoate (PEF) materials in the European bottle recycling market. The BASF-Avantium joint venture, which was set up in October last year, will produce bio-based furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) [...]
This year’s interpack, the world’s largest trade show for packaging, stretching over a whole week from 4 to 10 May 2017, attracted over 170,000 visitors from 168 countries to the Messe Duesseldorf, Germany. Besides the latest developments in world-class machinery and technology for the production and of packaging materials, three major themes dominated this [...]
As set out in the amemdment of the EU Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste from 2015, the European Commission was tasked to assess the impacts of so-called “oxo-degradable” plastics on the environment and propose “a set of measures to limit their consumption or to reduce any harmful impacts“. To inform the Commission’s decision [...]
The ongoing revision of the European Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste (94/62/EC) represents a concrete opportunity for the bioeconomy sector in Europe and the transition to a circular economy. Earlier in March this year, the European Parliament voted, for the first time ever, for an amendment of this directive that requires Member States [...]