The event featured 22 exhibitors and approximately 300 delegates from
26 countries. Event organizer European Bioplastics, an association
representing manufacturers, processors, and users of bioplastics and
biodegradable polymers, reported that they expect significant growth in
both the demand for bioplastics and investments in production
facilities.
In a statement following the event, European Bioplastics
said that the international production of bioplastics is expected to
rise from 2006 levels of 150,000 tons to 2 million tons in 2011. The
first of two keynote speakers at the event, Dr. Michael Stumpp, group
vice president of BASF, said, “The bioplastics market has already
become a considerable market, both on the retail and on the resin
level. I am convinced that the market will grow quickly within the next
few years.” Armand Klein, Europe business director for Applied
Bio-Sciences at DuPont, said in his keynote address, “We [industry]
have to reduce our environmental footprint drastically. Renewably
sourced materials, which are already available today, can provide for a
step in the right direction.”
Participants in a panel discussion on the question, “Is there enough
land for bioplastics production?” said they believe that there is
indeed enough land for all biomass applications. Bioplastics, panelists
said, do not compete with the production of food products.
Andreas
Pilzecker of the European Commission, Directorate General Agriculture,
made it clear that biopolymers cannot be held responsible for the
higher prices of agricultural raw materials. “Already in 2006, the
European Commission assessed the anticipated impact of a 10-percent
biofuel target on land use and grain prices and ascertained that the
production of biofuels would only have a moderate impact,” he said.
“Bioplastics require a significantly smaller share of the agricultural
production and are therefore even less responsible for a price
increase.” Michael Carus, director of the Nova Institute, agreed saying
that currently, only 0.05% of European agricultural land is used to
produce bioplastics.
More than 25 companies presented their latest materials and
applications in the bioplastics sector. Speakers covered a wide range
of subjects that included new packaging solutions featuring plastic
film combinations for improved barrier properties and longer shelf
life, improvements in compounds and additives, and technical products.
Biodegradable films were described as an extremely promising area of
growth. The date for the 2009 conference is still to be determined.
In
December, the association released a position paper on life-cycle
assessments for bioplastics. The paper outlines the opportunities and
need for this life-cycle analysis as an analytical tool. The paper can
be downloaded at www.european-bioplastics.org/index.php?id=191. More
information on the association can be found at
www.european-bioplastics.org
