Around 350 attendees from over 20 countries attended the 19th edition of the European Bioplastics Conference, which took place in Berlin and online on Dec. 10 and 11.
In their welcome address, Mariagiovanna Vetere and Franz Kraus, Co-Chairs of EUBP, highlighted the positive changes in the European industry, assuring the audience that ‘bioplastics are here to stay, and they are here to grow’.
“We come to the end of a busy year with regulation falling into place, which mandate compostable packaging applications, provide a growth path for biobased plastics and boost biodegradable agricultural applications."
“We have a lot of hope in this European Parliament and European Commission, hope in the new industrial strategy, the Clean Industrial Deal, and in the relaunch of an EU bioeconomy strategy as one of its pillars. Biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics are an integral part of the bioeconomy, and we are willing to play our part in addressing the problem of plastic pollution in soil and sea.”
The sessions highlighted advancements in bioplastics, assessed their environmental impacts and sustainability milestones, and provided a comprehensive overview of the global industry landscape. On top of the European market, key insights and trends were presented from major markets such as the USA, the Middle East, and China.
In her keynote, Kristin Schreiber, Director, DG GROW.F, European Commission, reminded participants that the transition towards a more sustainable biobased circular economy is one of the central pillars of the European Union's long-term vision and that biobased materials will play a crucial role in achieving a competitive and sustainable EU economy. Kristin also explained the importance of strategically managing biomass resources and invited participants to share insights and contributions on how to make the bioplastic market thrive, concluding her keynote.
The market data session revealed that global bioplastics production is increasing, but utilisation rates remain low.
Global bioplastics production hit 1.44 million metric tons in 2024. During last year's conference, the 2023 global production levels were announced to be 1.79 million tonnes but they have since been updated to 1.37 million tonnes. Given those updated figures, global bioplastics production in 2024 saw a small increase in comparison with the previous year.
“The growth in bioplastics production capacity should be seen against the backdrop of increasing consumer awareness of the environmental impact associated with the overall plastic consumption, underscoring not only the resilience but also the significance of our industry to contribute to sustainable solutions,” said Hasso von Pogrell, Managing Director of European Bioplastics (EUBP).
This year, the conference featured close to 50 speakers, including leading experts, researchers, and industry stakeholders. Additionally, 53 companies, researchers and institutions showcased a high diversity of new products, materials, and applications at our conference exhibition.
The next celebratory edition of the European Bioplastics Conference will take place on Dec. 2 and 3, 2025, in Berlin, Germany.