At the 16th annual European Bioplastics (EUBP) Conference, which took place from 30 November to 1 December in Berlin, industry experts discussed the role of bioplastics within the European Green Deal. The conference discussions confirmed that bioplastics make significant contributions to help achieving the European Union’s ambitious climate goals described in the EU strategy.

The 14th European Bioplastics Conference took place on 3 and 4 of this month. Once again, the event lived up to its reputation as the leading business and networking platform for the global bioplastics industry. The event, with a strong focus on growth and innovation, was sold-out and brought together 400 senior executives from across the bioplastics value chain, including brands, policy makers, academia, producers and NGOs.

The study Environmental deterioration of biodegradable, oxo-biodegradable, compostable, and conventional plastic carrier bags in the sea, soil, and open-air over a 3-year period carried out by Imogen E. Napper and Richard C. Thompson of the University of Plymouth, whose results were announced yesterday, intends to provide insights into the ‘environmental deterioration’ of plastic carrier bags made from different polymer types under littering conditions.

The provisional agreements reached by the European Council and Parliament on the EU waste legislative package published by the Commission in 2015, recognise the benefits of bioplastics. The new legislation acknowledges that bio-based feedstock for plastic packaging as well as compostable plastics for separate bio-waste collection contribute to more efficient waste management and help to reduce the impacts of plastic packaging on the environment.

The bioplastics specialist has developed new Bio-Flex blends for the production of low gauge films which will biodegrade completely in garden compost at low, variable temperatures.

Innovia Films has announced that Ocean’s Halo Seaweed Chips are using its bio-based NatureFlex™ packaging. This flexible packaging material is derived from sustainable wood pulp, offers excellent barriers to oxygen and moisture, and is certified compostable.

Innovia Films will be launching several new developments at LabelExpo Europe 2013 in Brussels this September. These include a recently developed topcoat that provides improved cold foil and fine tone capability for outstanding graphics.

Apart from issues on productivity and efficiency, energy consumption and sustainability have increasingly gained importance - particularly in the last ten years.

Innovia Films’ high barrier compostable material, NatureFlex™ NK, has been selected by a Dutch company, Amigos International, to wrap its new range of dark, Fair Trade, organic chocolate from Ecuador - Ananda.