Every year, the European Bioplastics Conference features a well-rounded conference programme attracting senior executives from across the bioplastics value chain, policy bodies, NGOs, and brand owners. We are happy to announce some first highlights of this year’s conference, taking place on 28-29 November 2017 in Berlin, Germany.

Kristy-Barbara Lange, Deputy Managing Director, European Bioplastics, presents the latest bioplastics market data report at the European Bioplastics Conference in 2016 in Berlin © European Bioplastics

The agenda of the 12th European Bioplastics Conference will cover a wide range of important areas, including the EU policy landscape, the latest technological innovations in new building-blocks, alternative bio-based feedstocks and process routes, advances in end-of-life solutions outside industrial composting, bioplastics food packaging, as well as the brand perspective on the use of biopolymers. And 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).

Have a look at the current list of speakers here.

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.