Activity Report - September/October 2023

Please find below an overview of activities carried out by European Bioplastics throughout September and October 2023.

Board

The Board met on 20 September in Brussels. Topics ranged from discussions on a first draft for a set of “Rules of Procedure”, that, among other, aim to structure and align the process of decision-making within the different bodies of the association, to staffing issues with regards to finding a replacement for the vacant position of “Head of Environmental Affairs”, to hiring an external consultant to assess the overall performance of the association.

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

Regulatory Affairs (WG REGA)

The WG REGA met on 19 September and 19 October 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 14 September, 28 September and 12 October to further discuss the legislative evolutions in detail.

Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation

September and October were crucial for the PPWR negotiations, in both the European Parliament and the Council: the ENVI Committee voted on the file, and the Council held 5 Working Parties. EUBP went to the Plenary in Strasbourg at the beginning of October and participated in multiple events trying to influence the Council Environmental Attachés. We are expecting a vote in the Plenary on 22 November; however, it needs to be seen if a general approach will be reached at the Environmental Council on 18 December.

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). Our trip to Strasbourg made it possible to influence certain MEPs and confirmed the clear divide along national lines within EPP and S&D. Negotiations are heavily politicised, and the ‘normal’ procedures are too often left at the door for this file. EUBP’s fight to include industrial composting in Article 8.1 paid off and was taken up by the ENVI Committee. Rapporteur Ries stuck to her guns on biobased, and we are happy that biobased content will be considered for reaching the recycled content targets in the future. All compromise amendments tabled by Ries passed the vote in ENVI, but the battle isn’t over yet. It is to be expected that some initial demands from ITRE and the larger industry will find their way back into the discussions before the plenary.

The Spanish Presidency doesn’t prioritise the PPWR file but is nevertheless pushing it forward. The Council waited for the work in the ENVI Committee to go forward before carrying on with the real difficult and divisive subjects. EUBP reached out to Environmental Attachés following the Spanish agenda, mainly on Articles 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, Article 7.11a and the relevant definitions. We participated in a Workshop organised by the SK, AU and CZ Permanent Representations on 21 September on the PPWR negotiations, providing the opportunity to speak with the Environmental Attachés and the Commission present. We were also very involved in the organisation of an informal breakfast meeting on 20 October at the Italian Permanent Representation which illustrated the Italian experience in the separate collection and treatment of compostable packaging.

EUBP was able to have a fruitful conversation with the German Ministry of Environment on the PPWR file. Finally, we continued our cooperation with other trade Associations, such as EUROPEN and CEPI on the file, providing us with some more layers of information in this very fast-moving file.

Other policy developments

September is traditionally the State of the Union month, forecasting what is to be expected from the European Commission for the next year. As we are awaiting elections and President von der Leyen is seeking re-election, the 2023 State of the Union can also be seen as von der Leyen’s personal manifesto for what’s still to come. We noted with attention the organisation of so-called Clean Transition Dialogues and have indicated to Sefcovic’s Cabinet that we would like a biobased Clean Transition Dialogue. We also noted the announcement of an EU biotech and biomanufacturing Initiative, a Communication, which should come out in the first quarter of 2024.

EUBP is working on a Policy manifesto, including our key messages and policy asks, which we will be presented at an event at the European Parliament titled “Biobased Polymers as enabler for Green Deal” hosted by MEP Beatrice Covassi on 14 November.

We participated at the second DG GROW Workshop around biobased materials on the topic “Standards and NACE codes for biobased materials and products: what next?” which was organised on 29 September by the unit of Hans Ingels. We also provided written feedback after the Workshop and will continue to follow this initiative by DG GROW (the next Workshop is planned for 11 December).

Last July, the European Commission published a proposal for 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, it became clear that at least for now the ENVI MEPs don’t grant too much importance to the file.

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. We are waiting for a final draft based on which we will decide if EUBP sees an added value in co-singing the statement.

As the third session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in Nairobi is approaching (13-19 November), we participated in an EU stakeholder meeting on 6 October organised by the Commission and the Spanish Presidency. In EUBP’s intervention, we emphasized the potential for non-fossil alternatives and urged the negotiators to take this potential adequately up in the future instrument.

Finally, EUBP hosted the launch of the Compostable by Design Platform in the Brussels office on 5 October in the presence of 27 sponsor companies. This cross-value chain initiative aims to ensure compostable materials are accepted for organic recycling at scale.

The next meeting of the TF PPWR will be held on 2 November and the next REGA meetings on 16 November and 7 December.

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 22 September and 13 October 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 is organising a brainstorming to discuss the new Stakeholder request mechanism which has been launched by DG FISMA. The draft of the EUBA manifesto has been circulated and shared with the REGA group for comments. Comments from EUBP and its members have been considered and taken up in the consolidated version of the policy manifesto. The date for the launch and presentation of the manifesto has been decided. The event will be hosted in Euractiv’s office on 30 November from 12:30 until 1:45pm.

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

Sustainability and Environmental Affairs

EUBP is currently restructuring the work of the Environmental Affairs team and the respective Product Groups and Task Forces. After presenting the new structure at the Board meeting in September, the members were invited to join the new WG and TFs in a combined PG meeting on 26 September.

In the meeting the Product Groups were officially dissolved, and the new Working Group was founded. The new TF structure was presented, as well as running projects and open tasks from the former PGs.

The members had a chance to vote on the new name of the WG, and the name WG SEA (Sustainability and Environmental Affairs) was chosen.

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 with the deadline to comment by 31 October. The work on the draft will be continued in November.

EUBP and the former PG Biodegradables Chairs had been working on the Position Paper on AD. It was decided that before setting up a TF on this topic, EUBP, together with the Chairs, needed to conduct more research and outreach to relevant stakeholders to gain a better understanding on the status quo and the future of AD technologies and landscape. Two meetings with experts were scheduled for early September: A meeting with the Witzenhausen Institut, and a meeting with the European Biogas Association. Both meetings were insightful and led to the further development of the PP.

Members were invited to join the new TF, and EUBP will share the draft with the TF at the beginning of November.

TF AGRI met on 5 September, 11 October, and 23 October. The group discussed the Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR) and gained some insights on the AIMPLAS report from a new TF member from AIMPLAS. The group also picked up the work again on the Q&A on soil-biodegradable mulch films, which is planned to be published in November. Additionally, the group worked on a submission for the FAO Voluntary Code of Conduct on the sustainable use of plastics in agriculture. In this context, EUBP also joined a Stakeholder Consultation on 27 October. The deadline for submission is 7 November.

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

Working Group Standardisation

In the combined PG meeting, it was suggested to integrate WG Standardisation into the new WG SEA, and to have Task Forces on standardisation topics once they come up. The WG was invited to join the next WG SEA meeting on 8 November to discuss and take a decision on that.

For more information on standards for biobased, biodegradable, and compostable plastics, current standardisation processes, and certification of bioplastics, please contact 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 has been distributed at the beginning of October.

All the press invitations for EBC23 have been sent early October, alongside the official programme. Some journalists which we are in close contact with have already confirmed their attendance.

The Comms team secured media partnerships with Packaging Insights and Packaging Europe for EBC23. As part of these partnerships, EUBP will promote their events online including Circular Packaging Economy and Sustainable Packaging Summit. Additionally, our Managing Director, Hasso von Pogrell, will be a panellist at the Sustainable Packaging Summit (13-14 November, Amsterdam).

The Comms team is taking the lead on drafting answers for a Q&A of most common asked questions in the EU Bubble. The Secretariat has finished drafting the answers, the Q&A has been shared with the members of the TF Q&A. It will now be shared with the whole WG Comms for approval.

Early September our LinkedIn account reached a 10,000 followers' milestone. The Comms team also secured an interview with the US American PLASTICS association as part of the 2023 Bioplastics Week, a social media campaign. The interview has been shared on our social media pages on 5 October. Throughout the week of 2 October, EUBP shared posts as part of the campaign across LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. The campaign was a success on social media, our followers increased by 122.4%, and our page views increased by 130.1% on LinkedIn, our posts gained 1.9K impressions on Twitter, and our Instagram account reach increased by 1,836% whereas the engagement increased by 1000%.

As part of a campaign to fight misconceptions about bioplastics, the Comms team has prepared a dedicated web page which will be published in November. An op-ed will also be published on Euractiv’s website on the same topic. Social media posts are being drafted to wrap-up the campaign.

The Comms team has drafted two press statements following the publication of a study from the University of Gothenburg on paper cups, as well as the publication of a Spanish study from Wang et al. on compostable plastic bags. EUBP published both statements on social media and our website.

The Comms team is drafting the working programme for 2024. It will be shared soon with the WG Comms for approval.

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

Seedling Logo

The Advisory Board of the Seedling Scheme met on 6 October. Due to staff shortages at EUBP the certifiers volunteered to organise the ACS meetings for the time being. This meeting was hosted by DIN CERTCO. The group discussed grade variabilities of PBAT, testing of thin voluminous films, the disintegration test according to EN ISO 20200:2023 Variant 2, testing on Fluorine in talcum, and the preparation of compost for ecotoxicity testing for wet wipes.

The next meeting of the Advisory Board of the Seedling Scheme (ACS) is scheduled for 16 January 2023 and will be hosted by TÜV Austria Belgium.

For more information on the Seedling Logo or the Certification Scheme, please contact Marike Fronk (fronk@european-bioplastics.org) or Hasso von Pogrell (pogrell@european-bioplastics.org).

Event Management

In September and October, the organisation of the EBC 23 progressed. The programme of the conference has been finalised and published.

Additional sponsors have been acquired. An overview of the available sponsoring opportunities can be found here.

The work on the event platform has started, and meetings with the location and technical supplier have taken place. Also, the Exhibitor and Speaker guides have been developed and sent to the respective groups.

The 30 years EUBP anniversary took place at the Representation of North Rhine-Westfalia on 20 September. The event was a success, although the no-show rate was quite high, and the reasons need to be analysed.

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 the Austrian-funded project, NETmicroplastic. EUBP is also involved as an Advisory Board Member in several EU and German-funded research projects.

Some of the most important achievements and preliminary results of these projects will be presented at the Sustainable Packaging Summit in Amsterdam on the 14 November 2023 in a short session dedicated to the topic “Innovative Biobased Packaging: From research to market?” with Normec OWS and Centexbel.

European sustainable biobased nanomaterials Community (BIOMAC)

The goal of BIOMAC is to establish a collaborative ecosystem where technologies and solutions utilising nano-enabled and/or biobased materials (NBMs) across several test beds can be 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, in the framework of its tasks as partner responsible for standardisation, together with ISQ in Portugal has initiated liaison activities with standardisation bodies (CEN) and provided an internal training on pathways for liaising with standardisation bodies on 4 September 2023 with the aim of supporting the consortium partners in improving their liaison activities with national and European and International standardisation bodies. The recording is now available on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVc3rHgkVDA&t=205s and the presentation is available on Zenodo: https://zenodo.org/records/10043409

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)

On 19 September 2023, Albstadt Sigmaringen University, with the support of EUBP, organised an internal online Knowledge Transfer Workshop, to allow for the exchange of knowledge amongst partners.

On 19 October 2023, the project coordinator IRIS, supported by EUBP organised an online Workshop on the app IRIS is developing within PRESERVE: A Decision Support System (DSS) to support stakeholders in choosing the best upcycling route for a specific material. EUBP, as partner responsible for Policy and Standardisation will also organise a project Training on Standardisation in November 2023.

Lastly, PRESERVE organises a workshop on "The future of bio-based 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. Within PRESERVE, European Bioplastics is the partner responsible for Communication, Dissemination, Training, Policy, and Standardisation and has taken the lead in developing the Roadmap 2030.

Limited spots are available for this workshop, and you can still registered under this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-future-of-bio-based-packaging-tickets-733349075827?aff=oddtdtcreator

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 successfully came to an end and the final review by the European Commission was performed in late September 2023.

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. 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 will be gradually published on the European Commission Cordis platform in the next months.

The work of EUBP in this project has been praised by the European Commission’s reviewers: A clear engagement strategy was developed and implemented and EUBP successfully supported the project in providing a direct contribution towards European policy objectives and strategies and in impacting on policy making. 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)

This September, BioSupPack has resumed its activities: The project consortium will meet on 26 September 2023 in Valencia to discuss its restart and plan upcoming activities.

EUBP is organising, together with experts of the Albstadt Sigmaringen University (ASU), a breakfast workshop on 13 December 2023 morning in Berlin, back-to-back with the EUBP Conference, 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?”.

The registration is now open. We have limited spots available, first come first served. 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.

The project is organising a series of webinars in the next months. The first of the series, in German only, is dedicated to challenges and innovation to avoid microplastic and will be held on 8 November 2023. The registration is open: https://www.net-microplastic.eu/microplastic-webinar/

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

Click here to find out more about the NETmicroplastic project.

New project proposals for research and innovation: We would like to be involved!

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, keep us posted and involve us: 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 also very happy to support EUBP members in connecting to emerging consortia, but also in taking an active role in the consortia for supporting their engagement with EUBP members, industrial players and policymakers.

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

Communications

• Update EUBP publications
• Engage with Brussels press and trade associations
• Work on the 2024 working programme
• Continue to secure and announce EBC23 media partners
  

Sustainability & Environmental Affairs

• EUBP Submission for the FAO Voluntary Code of Conduct on sustainable use of plastics in agriculture, deadline 7 November
• WG SEA meeting, 8 November
• Work on the 24/25 Working Programme
• Finalise and publish Q&A on soil-biodegradable mulch films
• Finalise and publish PP on EOL
• Finalise and publish PP on AD
• Set-up of new TFs tbd and scheduled

Seedling Logo

• Next ACS Meeting on 16 January

EU Projects

• PRESERVE, BioSupPack, BIOnTop Workshop on “Innovative Biobased Packaging: From research to market?” with OWS Normec, at Sustainable Packaging Summit, 14 November 2023, Amsterdam.
• PRESERVE Workshop Roadmap to 2030, 11 December 2023, Berlin.
• BioSupPack Breakfast 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?” 13 December 2023, Berlin.
  

EUBP events and speaking opportunities

• Managing Director, Hasso von Pogrell, will be a panellist during the Sustainable Packaging Summit (13-14 November, Amsterdam).
• Head of EU Affairs, Roberto Ferrigno, will be one of the speakers at the “Biobased Polymers as enabler for Green Deal” hosted by MEP Beatrice Covassi at the European Parliament (14 November, Brussels)
• Head of EU Affairs, Roberto Ferrigno, will be on of the speakers at a panel discussion organised by 360° Foodservice (17 November, Brussels)
• 12-13 December: EBC 23 (https://www.european-bioplastics.org/events/ebc/)
• 14 December EUBP Members Meeting
  

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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