Soil is an essential non-renewable resource that plays a central role in our lives by providing healthy foods and sustainable materials for a growing world population. In order to specify the conditions for a healthy soil and soil restoration, the European Commission (EC) is currently developing a new EU law on soil health. European [...]
Australian researchers discover seaweed solution as PFAS alternative for fast-food packaging Flinders University materials researchers in Australia and One-Five, a German biomaterials developer, are using seaweed extracts to develop biopolymer coating materials to replace current foodservice packaging. The biomaterials are designed to replace conventional fossil-based plastic coatings used in grease-resistant quick service restaurant (QRS) packaging. The [...]
The Product Environmental Footprint method could become the EU’s guiding approach for environmental impact assessment; to be fit for purpose, it should appraise the carbon footprint of bio-based products. As the European Commission increasingly plans to rely on the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) method as the guiding approach for environmental impact assessment, an accurate [...]
In January 2022, the European Commission had initiated the revision process of the EU Waste Framework Directive (WFD) with a Call for Evidence for an impact assessment of the EU waste management. In summer, the Commission opened the process for the broader public consultation that just recently closed on 24 August. The revision of [...]
Constance Ißbrücker, Head of Environmental Affairs at European Bioplastics e.V. Bioplastics are nothing new to the medical sector. In fact, it’s one of the sectors where bioplastics have been in use for a very long time because they offer significant benefits in terms of specific properties and functionalities. They also provide opportunities [...]
The recently published "EU Bioeconomy Strategy Progress Report" presents the state of play of the implementation of the 2018 updated Bioeconomy Strategy and Action Plan and the overall progress of the bioeconomy in Europe. In the report the Commission concludes that the actions are well on track and already contributed to the objectives of [...]
On 22 June 2022, for the first time after the Covid-19 outbreak, European Bioplastics (EUBP) invited political stakeholders to a networking event in Brussels. François de Bie, Chairman of EUBP, welcomed the over 70 guests in the premises of the Representation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia to the European Union. De Bie expressed his [...]
Why the EU’s Taxonomy Climate Delegated Act correctly lists bio-based plastics as “green investments” The Climate Delegated Act supplementing the Taxonomy Regulation clearly supports “plastics derived wholly or partially from renewable feedstock” as “substantially contributing to climate change mitigation”. In order to meet the European Union’s climate and energy targets for 2030 and reach [...]
In order to meet the European Union’s climate and energy targets for 2030 and reach the objectives of the European Green Deal, the European Commission aims at directing investments towards sustainable projects and activities. This requires a common language and a clear definition of what “sustainable” means. Therefore, the Commission’s Action Plan on Financing Sustainable Growth called [...]
Sea-farmed supercrop: how seaweed could transform the way we live From high-protein food to plastics and fuel, Swedish scientists are attempting to tap the marine plant’s huge potential. As we shift to a bio-based rather than fossil-fuel-based economy, seaweed could provide a lot of the compounds we need. For example, Ulrica Edlund, Steinhagen’s collaborator [...]
