New EU bioeconomy strategy a ‘good start’ says Sweetman

17 February 2012


The European Bioplastics association has welcomed the EU Bioeconomy Strategy presented in Brussels by research commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn on Monday (13 Feb).

Entitled ‘Innovating for Sustainable Growth: A Bioeconomy for Europe’, the new EU strategy “outlines a coherent, cross-sectoral and inter-disciplinary approach to the issue”, according to the European Commission.

Focusing on measures to boost research and innovation to develop new biobased technologies, the goal of the strategy is: “A more innovative and low-emissions economy, reconciling demands for sustainable agriculture and fisheries, food security, and the sustainable use of renewable biological resources for industrial purposes, while ensuring biodiversity and environmental protection.”

“The strategy is a good start, but more specific actions to support biobased industries in Europe are needed,” says European Bioplastics chairman Andy Sweetman.

“We support the EU in setting up a fundamental strategy to support the growth of the biobased industries in Europe.

“But we had hoped for more specific measures for bioplastics to be integrated into the strategy, like those developed by the EU Lead Market Advisory Group for biobased products.

“The bioplastics industry is technologically well developed and can demonstrate a wide range of mature applications already today. What we need are strong measures to support the market development of bioplastics products.”

The priority recommendations of the Lead Market Initiative for biobased products were developed by an advisory group composed of representatives from national governments, industry and academia.

They contain measures on market access, feedstock supply, public procurement and consumer communications.

European Bioplastics is the European association representing the interests of the industry along the complete bioplastics value chain. Its members produce, refine and distribute bioplastics, i.e. plastics that are either bio-based, compostable, or both.


Andy Sweetman, European Bioplastics chairman



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