Around 350 attendees gathered in Berlin and online to attend the 19th edition of the European Bioplastics Conference, EBC24. In their welcome address, Mariagiovanna Vetere and Franz Kraus, Co-Chairs of EUBP, highlighted the positive changes in the European industry: "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."
"Bioplastics are here to stay, and they are here to grow. So, we look forward to having you here for two days, to give you the newest trends, and an overview of the newest policies," said Franz Kraus concluding the welcome address.
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. She 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 overall global plastics production continues to rise steadily. There is still room for growth and innovation, but the new data give a strong signal to the industry that scaling up is possible.
"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", states Hasso von Pogrell, Managing Director of European Bioplastics (EUBP).
"Thank you again, thank you to the staff and to the attendees, this year we had a very strong interest in our conference, with around 350 attendees from over 20 countries. It is a clear sign that our sector is relevant and here to stay", declared Mariagiovanna Vetere in her closing remarks.
"We heard many positive comments, had fruitful conversations, and made new connections across the global bioplastics community. We hope to see you all back here in Berlin for our 20th annual conference next year", concluded Franz Kraus.
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 the conference exhibition.
The next celebratory edition of EBC will take place on 2-3 December 2025 in Berlin.
