Bioplastic Packaging Design: Safe, Sustainable and Recyclable - Presentations & Pitches (Workshop 1 December 2025)

2 Agenda 1. Bioplastic Packaging Talks •Packaging Design for bioplastic materials: A designer perspective –Jörn Behage (ARAPAHA) •What is changing in the legislative field: how to cope with the changes? –Julie Pieters (European Bioplastics) •Safe and Sustainable by Design: Biobased, biodegradable and compostable packaging –Gaelle Cavalie (Normec OWS) •State-of-the-art recycling technologies for bioplastics –Pablo Ferrero Aguar (AIMPLAS) ReBioCycle •Advancements on recycling biodegradable packaging –Miriam Lorenzo Navarro (ITENE) MoeBIOS 3 2. Project pitches: Sustainable Packaging, 18:00-18:20 •Be-UP –Cecilia Giardi (Novamont), on behalf of ITENE •E-OIL –María José Suárez (Gaiker) •BioPackMan –Tatjana Kosanovic (National Technical University of Athens) •UPCYCLE –Cristiano Varrone (Aalborg University) •GRECO –Samira EL Bir (IPC), on behalf of ITENE 3. Matchmaking on sustainable packaging and on recycling bioplastics, 18:2019:00 4 About European Bioplastics 5 12 Members Foundation of IBAW Biodegradable polymers Germany 50 Members Name change to European Bioplastics Bioplastics incl. biobased & biodegradable Europe ~ 85 Members Advocacy and knowledge hub for all bioplastics 1993 2005 2025 About European Bioplastics European Bioplastics: 30⁺years of bioplastics experience •European Bioplastics represents the interest of the bioplastics industry along the entire value chain in Europe. •Our top priority is to build and strengthen a supportive EU policy framework that enables bioplastics to thrive, by fostering a strong network and engaging in dialogue with all relevant stakeholders. 6 Our vision: Bioplastics drive the evolution of plastics Our Vision Bioplastics drive the evolution of plastics and contribute significantly to a sustainable society. They save fossil resources by using sustainable biomass, provide the unique potential of carbon neutrality, and/or offer additional options for organic recycling at the end of a product’s life. Our Mission We work to create the right regulatory conditions in Europe for the bioplastics market to thrive. Together with stakeholders, we promote sustainable innovation along the value chain and speed up the large-scale adoption of bioplastics. About European Bioplastics 7 July 2025 Our members 8 Activities and services European Bioplastics serves as both a knowledge hub and a business network for companies, experts, and all key stakeholders in the bioplastics industry. Our activities and services at a glance •Gathering and sharing insights and knowledge about the sector •Formulating and communicating our sector’s key positions, both internally and externally •Representing our members’ policy interests in Europe •Connecting our members with potential business partners •Fostering open and collaborative stakeholder conversations •Raising awareness of bioplastics to a wider audience About European Bioplastics 9 SAVE THE DATE 02 –03 DEC 2025 Taking place at this same Titanic Hotel Berlin and online For more information and tickets: www.ebc.european-bioplastics.org Key design requirements •Fundamental knowledge about molecular structure of Materials (such as PLA) •Knowledge about additives and dye technologies •Knowledge about suitable production technologies •Application of digital twins in packaging •Limits of aesthetics using biomaterials •End-of-life concept fully integrated in the design process Practical tips for designers What problem do you solve when you apply bioplastics in packaging Develop a digital twin for different types of packaging Adapt your packaging concept to the waste treatment possibilities in your region Case studies DYEING OF PLA with supercritical CO2 Arapaha patent Molecular recycling of multiple form factors Main challenges •Material performance –with and without additives •Production technologies (embedded energy of a packaging) •Packaging end of life concept -recycling or composting •Costs compared to current materials •Consumer behaviour •European and national policies on fossil-based materials versus biopolymers Thank you for your attention https://www.linkedin.com/company/arapaha [email protected] www.arapaha.com What is changing in the legislative field: how to cope with the changes? Berlin, 1 December 2025 Julie Pieters Bioplastic Packaging Design: Safe, Sustainable and Recyclable 2 From EU Green Deal to the Clean Industrial Deal — A New Policy Framework EU Green Deal (2019–2024) – Climate First Goal: Climate neutrality by 2050 Key Policies: • European Climate Law • Fit for 55 package • Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) Focus: Regulatory framework, carbon pricing, energy transition Sectors: Energy, transport, buildings, agriculture Clean Industrial Deal (2024–2029) – Competitiveness + Resilience Goal: Strengthening Europe’s industrial competitiveness and accelerating the clean transition Key Priorities: • Scale EU manufacturing of strategic clean technologies (NZIA, CRMA) • Faster permitting for industrial and energy projects • Mobilise public & private investment (STEP and national schemes) • Lower energy costs and expand renewables & grids • Reduce dependency on external supply chains (Economic Security Strategy + Circular Economy) • Simplify regulation and cut reporting burden 3 Overview of relevant EU legislation for bioplastics Single Use Plastics Directive EU Bioeconomy Strategy EU Green Deal Revision of rules on FCM 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 Policy frameworks Legislation Legislative Initiatives EU Plastics Strategy Regulation on recycled plastics for FCM New Circular Economy Action Plan Farm to Fork Biodiversity Strategy EU Taxonomy RED III Vision for Agriculture and Food EU Fertilising Products Regulation EU Climate Law LULUCF Sustainable Carbon Cycles (2021) Carbon Removal Certification PPWR Policy framework for biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics Microplastics Initiative Green Claims Waste Framework Directive revision 2024 2025-2026 Bioeconomy Strategy Review EU biotech and biomanufacturing initiative Circular Economy Act Biotech Act I and II Evaluation SUPD ESPR Clean Industrial Deal 10 Compostable packaging – Article 9 •Compostability becomes a product requirement + market access condition for certain packaging formats •By 12 February 2028 => EU mandatorily compostable packaging •a permeable tea, coffee or other beverage bag, or soft after-use system single-serve unit that contains tea, coffee or another beverage, and which is intended to be used and disposed of together with the product; •Sticky labels attached to fruit and vegetables •In line with the standard for composting in industrially controlled conditions (EN13432) •Be home compostable, where required by the MS, (harmonised EU home compostable standard tbd) 11 Compostable packaging – Article 9 •Possibility for MS to require that certain formats are only allowed on their national market if compostable •“Regulation acts as a Directive” •Conditions: •Implementation of separate collection of bio-waste and acceptance in bio-waste; •Available waste treatment infrastructure •Which packaging formats? VLPCB (otherwise banned) and LPCB (can also exist as non-compostable but will count in reduction targets) a non-permeable tea, coffee or other beverage system single-serve unit intended for use in a machine and which is used and disposed of together with the product => composed of material other than metal •Additional packaging formats for which MS required that they be compostable before 12 August 2026 • Development of a positive list (which other applications) 12 Compostable packaging – Article 9 •Other packaging made of biodegradable plastic polymers and other biodegradable materials •Shall be designed for material recycling in accordance with Article 6 (performance grades + at scale) •Without affecting the recyclability of other waste streams •PPWR foresees update/revision of EN13432 (CEN yet to receive the mandate) •Laying down the detailed technical specifications of the requirements on compostable packaging •Already a part of the mandate is in the Regulation •By mid-February 2026, COM to request CEN to prepare harmonised standards laying down the detailed technical specifications of the requirements on home compostability •National standards already exist, home compostability for plastic carrier bags already exists as well (EN17427) 1 SSbD & SATISPHACTION for Sustainable Packaging BIOBASED, BIODEGRADABLE AND COMPOSTABLE PACKAGING Gaëlle Cavalie, Pieter Deckers Why Sustainable Packaging Matters What is needed/expected? •Growing Environmental Awareness •Regulatory Pressures •Frameworks for Sustainability 2 Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) •Framework Overview (°2022, revision in 2025): •SSbD guides safe, sustainable product innovation balancing human health, environment, and socio-economic aspects. •Scoping / definition system boundary / identification stakeholders •Core Components •(Re-)Design & (Re-)Assessment ensure continuous product evaluation and improvement. •Key Principles •Life Cycle Thinking, Multidisciplinary Approach, Iterative Process, and Transparency & traceability. •Packaging Applications -SATISPHACTION •SSbD offers a roadmap to create packaging materials that minimize risks and enhance sustainability. Safe & Sustainable by Design Voluntary framework, guiding tool 3 (Re-)Design Component Focuses on chemical/material/product/service creation and modification, considering materials, production, and intended use. (Re-)Assessment Component Evaluates product safety and sustainability throughout its lifecycle using set criteria. 4 main, 1 optional 4 SSbD apply to bio based/compostable EU project SATISPHACTION 5 Upcycling PHAs to innovative materials for fully sustainable food packaging From TRL2 (concept) to TRL4 (validated in lab); 2025 –2029 (48M) WP1: scoping SSbD & WP8: final assessment on biodegradability & LCA(Normec OWS) Avoid hazardous substances in inks, coatings, and additives to prevent contamination and health risks. Reduce carbon footprint (fossil resource) by using renewable feedstocks and optimizing production efficiency / Design packaging for chemical & biotic recycling 6 PHA generally safe Residuals, breakdown products New PHA’s: computational tools Selection of alternative processes. Estimation of migration tests Prospective and reactive LCA, versus fossil-based and virgin PHA; product level Estimate impact LCA & potential routes in the EoL (recycling, composting) Which techniques (production) will be more expensive than others? Safe & Sustainable by Design Application – example of scoring based on 4 assessements Choice softener for food contact packaging 7 1 2 3 4 - LCA 1. Hazard assessment 2. Human health & safety during production 3. Human health & safety during use Recycling technologies Chemical Recycling Sorting necessity Virgin-like polymers PropertiesEnergy-intensive process Low TRL –few industrial plants Challenges Advantages Yield/Efficiency Yang, R., Xu, G., Dong, B., Hou, H., & Wang, Q. (2022). A “polymer to polymer” chemical recycling of PLA plastics by the “DE–RE polymerization” strategy. Macromolecules,55(5), 1726-1735. Pretreatment Recycling technologies Enzymatic Recycling Sorting necessity Virgin-like polymers Properties Enzyme costs Low TRL –no industrial plants Challenges Advantages Lower energy demand PLA enzymatic depolymerization Coupling processes Sorting Mature technology (individually) VFA separation Lack of demonstration at relevant environment Challenges Advantages Properties –virginlike materials Safety (avoid solvents) Recycling technologies Microbial Recycling Bioplastics Organic waste Anaerobic digestion Fermentation Biopolymer Progress in ReBioCycle Sorting optimization Solvent selection for CR Compounding for MR Enzyme production Bioplastic pretreatment for bio-recycling https://www.linkedin.com/company/rebiocycle ReBioCycle has received funding from the Circular Bio-based Joint Undertaking (JU) and its members under the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101156032.The JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme and the Bio-based Industries Consortium Thank you! Pablo Ferrero AIMPLAS [email protected] MoeBIOS project has been funded by the EU and the CBE-JU under grant number 101157652. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CBE JU. Neither the European Union nor the CBE JU can be held responsible for them. Advancements on recycling bioplastic packaging Bioplastic packaging design: safe, sustainable and recyclable 1, December 2025 17:50-18:00 Miriam Lorenzo -ITENE MoeBIOS About MoeBIOS New findings from the MoeBIOS project with respect to packaging recycling What is new in the recycling of biodegradable and composting packaging Practical implications for waste operators and packaging producers What industry should expect in next years Advancements on recycling bioplastic packaging WASTE STREAM VALUECHAIN COLLECTION SORTING TREATMENT UPCYCLING VALIDATION END USER Safe and Sustainable by Design - LCA - LCC Key Data: How the challenge is addressed: PACKAGING WASTE STREAM AGRICULTURE WASTE STREAM TEXTILE WASTE STREAM Decision Support System - Best Practices •Waste generation (mapping and characterization) •Waste stream collection •Mixed streams-Multicomponent •Future/social trends •Local authorities' engagement •BIO stream identification •IR - UV •Other high-performance sorting technologies (hyperspectral/chemometrics) •Best technology selection per polymer/value chain •LCA TCA criteria-Good practises •Targeted polymer/DEMO case •Pretreatment •Upgrading requirements •Closed loop recycling: r-polymer •Target polymer/DEMO case •Formulation/Target •DSS-digital •SSbD principles •Social acceptance •Brand owners' involvement •Authorities' engagement •LCA TEA & Exploitation WASTE MANAGERS MSW Separate collection WASTE MANAGERS Post-use Post-industrial WASTE MANAGERS Post-use Post-industrial SORTING EXPERTISE MACHINERY PARTNER Mechanical recycling Bio-recycling Chemical recycling Thermochemical recycling VALIDATOR OF R-PRODUCT FOR PACKAGING VALIDATOR OF AGRICULTURE R-PRODUCT MANUFACTURER VALIDATOR OF TEXTILE R-PRODUCT MANUFACTURER BRAND OWNER BRAND OWNER BRAND OWNER C&D&E Stakeholders engagement - Policy makers -New regulations Standardization 6 •BIOBASED PLASTICS: NON DROP-INS (bioPET, bioPP etc) •RECYCLING EoL: NO COMPOSTING Key Data: What is in the scope? New findings from the MoeBIOS project with respect to packaging recycling 5 BPs Collection Current situation Future situation BPs Sorting BPs Treatment Waste Management Plant •<1% Packaging container •<1,98% Mixed Waste Stream simulation •Stream definition (polimers and %) •Contamination protocol Conditioning -Decontamination Pretreatment -Impurities elimination -Preparation for treatment Cascade treatment •F/M, Ch, Enzymatic TCh •Good results at labscale Demonstrators requirement already established Hyperspectral/IR techniques developed •Databases creation •Sactisfactory tests at labscale for contaminated samples •>85% correct separation rates in pilot trials. Overall technical development in the packaging value chain MoeBIOS project has been funded by the EU and the CBE-JU under grant number 101157652. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CBE JU. Neither the European Union nor the CBE JU can be held responsible for them. 12 Thank you for your attention! SAMPLE TEXT Consumer validation and market engagement ( 4 BC) Engineering of 2 lines of biodegradable compounds at TRL 7 Biodegradable aliphatic-aromatic polyesters from esterification and polycondensation of diacid and diols from olive by-products rich in oleic acid. Innovative starch based compounds with improved water stability.. AI predictive model Smart sensor Recycling Safe Biodegradation (standards) & Open environment Coordinator: María José Suárez ([email protected]) “Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.” GA n. 101178576 Biodegradable Packaging Materials Advancing Circularity, Sustainability & Eco-innovation biopackman.eu Virtual screening for accelerated discovery & design of biodegradable compounds ▪ML polymer informatics pipeline ▪in silico ecotoxicity & biodegradation ▪Accelerated ageing ▪Lifetime prediction Innovative & sustainable materials solutions Innovative packaging & processing Sustainable EoL solutions & Environmental Biodegradability Holistic sustainability assessment ▪scl-& mcl-PHAs ▪PBS copolyesters ▪Novel PLA grades ▪CNFs, NL, Betalains, tocopherols, tannins, pinosylvin flavonoids ▪Modification, blending, compounding ▪Plastic pouches for confiserie products & laundry detergents\ dishwashing products. ▪Bottles for syrups and powders, shower gel & cleaning products ▪Mechanical & chemical recycling ▪Biodegradability pathways ▪Multi-tier testing & validation ▪Labelling requirements ▪Sustainable & Safe by Design Framework -PARC ▪LCA, LCC, sLCA, TEA ▪Pre-normative assessment ▪Policy recommendations ▪Awareness campaigns, upskilling HORIZON-CL4-2024-RESILIENCE-01-35 Novel tailor-made biodegradable, recyclable, flexible & rigid packaging structures for food, personal & home care products SUstainable PlastiCbiorefinerYfor reCyclable and biodegradabLE packaging Turning non-recyclable mixed plastic waste into next-generation compostable and recyclable packaging Funded by the European Union under grant agreement number 101178389.Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA).Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. UPCYCLE’S PLASTIC BIOREFINERY UPCYCLE’S END USER APPLICATIONS SAFE-AND-SUSTAINABLE-BY-DESIGN Food packaging Cosmetics INNOVATIVE BIO-BASED BIODEGRADABLE RECYCLABLE SAFE AND CIRCULAR FOOD PACKAGING Challenges •Food packaging still relies heavily on fossil-based multi-layer plastics. •Difficult to recycle, often ending in landfills or incineration. •Need for high-performance packaging that also meets EU sustainability targets. Current Bio-based solutions •Low barrier •Limited recyclability & compostability •Limited shelf-life •PLA Brittleness, < 10% EB Our solution GRECO develops greener and safer bioplastic solutions for the food packaging sector based on bio-based, biodegradable and recyclable materials Outcomes & Impacts Reduction of fossil-based Improve functionalities of bio-based&biodegradable packaging Less toxicity Increased shelf life. Less food waste. Less GHG emissions European competitiveness Better recyclability & biodegradability Use cases Semi-rigid trays Plastic film lids for sealing trays Flexible pouches like Doypacks Vacuum bags Who we are? 21 partners from 12 European countries. Coordinated by Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Universities, RTOs, SMEs, industry, associations & standardisation bodies. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Want to discover more? LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/company/greco-project/ Website: www.greco-euproject.eu/ Contact: [email protected] Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HADEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. Develop and demonstrate novel biodegradable and recyclable formulations for sustainable packaging materials to replace conventional ones like PE, PP and PET Match packaging requirements and biodegradability Physical and chemical blending techniques Biodegradation Assessment Sustainable, compostable, and safe materials Synthesis of Novel Biopolyesters Creating packaging prototypes for validation Design Bioplastic Formulations - Compounding Process Optimization Lab tests and real environments Use of novel POSS Catalysts Prototype Production & Validation Fossil-Based Materials Biodegradable Packaging Environmental impact from nonbiodegradable plastics Bioplastic Material Development Boosting the industrial uptake of biodegradable polymers for packaging applications by implementing digital tools and advanced techniques •Gap filling between the behavior of biodegradable materials in laboratory and controlled conditions and different real environments. •Recommendations for improved standards and labelling/certification Coordination: Miriam Gallur Amparo Verdú