PRESERVE and Glaukos collaborate to align EU projects with EU policies
Collaboration between EU-funded projects is of paramount importance in advancing the European Union's agenda on bioplastics. As the EU strives to lead the global transition towards a more sustainable and circular economy, bioplastics have emerged as a key component in reducing the environmental impact of traditional plastics. However, the multifaceted nature of bioplastics, involving complex scientific, technological, and policy considerations, necessitates a coordinated effort among various research initiatives and stakeholders.
That is why the GLAUKOS project organized a series of events involving different related projects, including PRESERVE, to deliver aligned outcomes for policymakers on what is needed for the future of the research on bioplastics. They structured them in order to collect ideas first and then present them to the European Commission.
Unlock the potential of bio-based and biodegradable plastics: challenges to be addressed
On the 3rd of November 2022, the PRESERVE project participated in the online workshop “Unlock the potential of bio-based and biodegradable plastics: challenges to be addressed” organised by the GLAUKOS project, in collaboration with Bio-Plastics Europe, European Bioplastics Research Network and European Bioeconomy Network. The event addressed the urgent need to encourage a holistic, collaborative debate, shortening the gap between research projects and decision-makers.
The event commenced with an opening and project overview by Zsófia Kádár from the Glaukos project and Jelena Barbir from Bio-Plastics Europe and EBRN. This was followed by a discussion on the workshop's objectives, anticipated outcomes, and future steps led by Susanna Albertini from the Glaukos project and EuBioNet, and Jelena Barbir from Bio-Plastics Europe and EBRN.
The workshop engaged around 70 active participants and 99 unique visitors joining the room throughout the event, representing more than 51 projects, including PRESERVE and other stakeholders in the bio-based plastics domain from 34 different Countries.
The event focused on open discussions among all participating projects. The objective of the workshop was to involve the most relevant projects related to bio-based plastics, to discuss the most urgent challenges to be addressed to unlock the potential of bio-based and biodegradable plastic, in light of providing policy recommendations to be shared with EC Policy Officers in the context of the incoming 7th EBRN Event (23rd November 2022). The full report is available here. delivering a
Projects2Policy: Aligning outcomes from EU projects with the EU policy for bio-based and biodegradable plastics
On November 23rd, from 10:00 to 12:00 CET, a collaborative online workshop was held involving the Glaukos project, Bio-Plastics Europe, the European Bioplastics Research Network (EBRN), and the European Bioeconomy Network (EuBioNet). The workshop, titled "Projects2Policy: Aligning outcomes from EU projects with the EU policy for bio-based and biodegradable plastics," aimed to discuss and synchronise the results of a previous workshop held on November 3rd. This earlier event, titled "Unlock the potential of bio-based and biodegradable plastics: challenges to be addressed," focused on facilitating the adoption of bio-based and biodegradable plastics outcomes in the form of actionable knowledge for EU policies.
The online workshop, "Projects2Policy: Aligning outcomes from EU projects with the EU policy for bio-based and biodegradable plastics" featured a comprehensive agenda with various discussions led by distinguished speakers. Representatives from BIO-PLASTICS EUROPE and GLAUKOS opened the event with an official welcome, highlighting the imperative need for communication alignment between EU projects and EU policies. Dr. Jelena Barbir of BIO-PLASTICS EUROPE & EBRN, along with Dr. Susanna Albertini of GLAUKOS & EuBioNet, introduced the Projects2Policy concept. Topics explored included Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of bio-based versus conventional plastics, end-of-life options for bio-based and biodegradable plastics, raising awareness and stakeholder engagement strategies, and the contributions of projects to EU policies in this domain. Dr. Barbir further delved into key questions and future directions for the Projects2Policy initiative. The workshop culminated with representatives from BIO-PLASTICS EUROPE and GLAUKOS providing closure, emphasising the alignment of EU project outcomes with EU policy goals in the context of sustainable bio-based and biodegradable plastics practices.
In this workshop, Estela López-Hermoso, PRESERVE Communication & Dissemination Manager from European Bioplastics, also intervened in delivering a keynote speech. In this speech, she underlined the importance of aligning communication between EU projects and EU policy, as well as expressing the concerns of the sectors regarding the new EU plastic policies. "In the current developments, the policies will help solidify the dominance of fossil-based plastics and undo the great research and innovation that has been achieved in the many successful EU-Funded projects", stated López-Hermoso.
Unlocking EU's bioplastics policy potential: collaborative efforts for a greener future
By fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among these projects, we can harness the collective expertise, resources, and innovative potential to make informed and impactful contributions to EU policies on bioplastics. This collaborative approach not only accelerates progress in developing sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics but also underscores the EU's commitment to fostering a greener future for generations to come.
