Ready for the European Bioplastics Conference' As the end of the year approaches, so does each year the date of the key annual bioplastics event in Europe, the EUBC. This year, the conference will take place for the 12th time on 28-29 November 2017, at the MARITIM proArte Hotel in Berlin, Germany.

The conference is always a highpoint, covering topics ranging from EU policy landscape to the latest technological innovations in new building-blocks; and from advances in end-of-life solutions to the brand perspective on the use of biopolymers.
In keeping with a well-received tradition, European Bioplastics will publish the latest bioplastics market data update during the conference.

Some of the highlights of this year’s programme include Kevin Vyse from Marks and Spencer, speaking about the sustainable use of biopolymer packaging, Marie Hélène Gramatikoff from Lactips, sharing insights about bio-based thermoplastics from milk protein, and Ramani Narayan from Michigan University assessing whether mealworms and caterpillars are the new solution to the plastic waste problem. The Chinese toy maker BanBao will present its new toy blocks BiOBUDDI made from bio-based PE, which will be launched on the European market later this autumn.

A dedicated session on biodegradability will shed more light on the current discussion on biodegradation outside industrial composting. Prof. Dr. Andreas Künkel from BASF – this year’s main sponsor of the conference – will speak about biodegradation in soil and the use of biodegradable mulch film in agricultural practices. Sam Deconick (OWS) will share information on the status of standards and legislation on biodegradation, Francesco Degli Innocenti (Novamont) will present the latest developments in standardisation efforts for marine biodegradation, and Erwin Lepoudre (Kaneka) will introduce marine biodegradable applications based on PHBH.

Another highlight will be a session dedicated to new building blocks featuring Synvina, Covestro, and VTT Chemical.

A panel discussion on the mechanical recycling of bioplastics will explore the options for biopolymers such as bio-based PE and PLA, which no doubt will be of great interest for all delegates against the background of the upcoming EU Plastics Strategy and the revision of the EU waste legislation. Panellists include Karin Molenveld (Wageningen Food & Biobased Research), Steve Dejonghe (Looplife Polymers), Helmut Schmitz (Grüner Punkt), and Jasmin Bauer (Knoten Weimar).

The conference programme will be complemented by a number of networking opportunities, such as social evenings, interactive conference formats, exclusive networking areas and a digital partnering tool, and a comprehensive product exhibition alongside the conference. Following the great success of the past years, we again expect another exciting, informative, and fruitful conference in 2017.

For more information or to register, please go to the conference website,

http://www.european-bioplastics.org