European association for the bioplastics industry offers its regulatory and technological expertise in order to contribute to the standardization and policy work packages of international R&D&I projects

Short summary A European association focusing on bioplastics (80+ assoc. members from research to industry) offers its regulatory and technological know-how to contribute to standardization and policy work packages of R&D&I projects. Its aim is to advance the European bioeconomy by improving the transfer of research results into policy making and to industrial stakeholders. Partners sought are companies of any size and RTOs interested in initiating joint R&D&I projects related to bioplastics and bioeconomy

Full description The profile owner is a non-profit industry association, based in Germany and Belgium, representing the bioplastics industry in Europe across the entire bioplastics value chain. Established over 20 years ago, it gathers more than 80 member organisations from Europe and beyond. Its members primarily research, produce, refine, and distribute bioplastics, i.e., plastics that are bio-based, biodegradable or both. Other members include biomass feedstock producers, bioplastics converters and compounders, as well as several renowned public private research institutions and academia. The association’s key objectives are to serve as a contact and network platform, as a primary resource for information about the bioplastics industry, and as a catalyst for advancing the objectives of the growing bioplastics industry. The profile owner offers its regulatory and technological know-how in order to contribute to R&D&I projects through both direct and indirect project involvement. Direct project involvement: - Bringing the projects’ results and outputs to policy makers at European level (e.g. EC, EP, …). - Contribution to the definition of specifications for novel biobased products. - Supporting consortia shape the specifications for novel materials/products and processes according to EU legislative and regulatory aspects. - Supporting project communication and dissemination strategies by reaching out to the scientific and industrial stakeholders, EU policy makers, as well as civil society - Connecting innovative European bioeconomy SMEs and RTOs with industrial stakeholders The profile owner is offering its regulatory and technological expertise under Research and development cooperation agreement (RCA). By taking part in the standardization and policy work packages of international R&D&I projects, the profile owner wants to improve the transfer of bioeconomy project results into standards and industry practice, thereby greatly enhancing the sustainability of projects results and the respective project’s impact on the European bioeconomy. Partners sought are companies of any size and RTOs interested in initiating joint R&D&I projects related to bioplastics and the bioeconomy. For 2023, the profile owner is particularly interested in taking part in project consortia for the following funding calls: HORIZON-JU-CBE-2023-IAFlag-03 Bio-based packaging materials with improved properties: barrier, food contact, forming, printability, safety, recyclability /circularity-by- design HORIZON-JU-CBE-2023-IA-02 Production of safe, sustainable, and efficient bio-based fertilisers to improve soil health and quality HORIZON-JU-CBE-2023-IA-04 Recycling bio-based plastics increasing sorting and recycled content (upcycling) HORIZON-JU-CBE-2023-R-05 Pre-normative research to develop standards for biodegradability of bio-based products in controlled and in open environments

Advantages and innovations The profile owner is an experienced participant in publicly funded R&D&I projects, including the Horizon program, its Joint Undertakings (Circular Bio-based Europe – CBE JU - and Bio-based Industries – BBI JU), as well as national funding schemes. The profile owner has successfully transferred project results into various working groups and standardization committees on European level (CEN) and international level (ISO), including: CEN: - CEN/TC 249 WG 9 - Biobased and biodegradable plastics - CEN/TC 249 WG 24 - Environmental Aspects - CEN/TC 261 SC 4 WG 2 - Degradability and organic recovery of packaging and packaging materials - CEN/TC 261 SC 4 WG 3, CEN/TC 411 Bio-based products WGs 1,3,4,5 ISO: - ISO/TC 61 SC 14 WG 2 “Bio-based plastics”, and “WG 3 Biodegradable Plastics" DIN: - DIN Committees “Biodegradable Plastics”, and “Environment and Packaging” mirroring the activities on CEN and ISO level. Moreover, the profile owner is accredited by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), granting them access to discussions in the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA). Due to the profile owner’s connections to startups, SMEs, industry and RTOs covering the entire bioplastics value chain, its participation in R&D&I projects constitutes a unique advantage for bioeconomy-related project proposals

Contact / source: NEXT EEN Widgets (europa.eu)