AIMPLAS, the Plastics Technology Centre, held last week in Valencia the ninth edition of its International Seminar on Biopolymers and Sustainable Composites, an event that—with more than 150 attendees and over 20 speakers—has consolidated itself as an essential international meeting point for technical debate on regulation, certification and innovation surrounding biopolymers.
On a first day marked by technical depth, international specialists analyzed how the new European regulatory framework, and especially the PPWR Regulation, is transforming material design towards certified compostability solutions. The opening presentation, delivered by Lorette Du Preez from European Bioplastics, underlined the expected growth in production capacity and the implementation of the forthcoming Bioeconomy Strategy, which require regulatory stability and firm support for industrial scaling in order to consolidate market demand. According to Du Preez, “although bioplastics currently represent barely 0.5% of the global plastics market, the sector expects to double its global capacity between 2025 and 2030, with Europe increasing from 330,000 to 800,000 tonnes annually in that period.” During her intervention, she also highlighted the relevance of the European Bioeconomy Strategy and the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), and noted: “in a context marked by new initiatives such as the future Bioeconomy Strategy and the European packaging regulation, the political message is clear: it is necessary to give the market time to consolidate, to guarantee competitiveness and to stimulate demand, supported by European funding opportunities for R&D and industrial scaling.” Along these lines, Rafael Auras, from the University of Michigan, argued that the mass adoption of these technologies inevitably depends on accelerating biodegradation processes, whether by optimizing the chemical structure of the material or by improving the conditions of the environment where degradation occurs. And María Mozo, from AIMPLAS, provided a general overview of the different groups of bioplastics, highlighted the key aspects of biodegradation in different environments and compostability along with the testing required to obtain certification, while also focusing on the European PPWR legislation, which will demand extremely robust testing and certification criteria to ensure real performance in industrial facilities, and additionally highlighted projects currently being carried out at AIMPLAS relating to accelerated biodegradability testing and open‑environment conditions.
The day continued with a block dedicated to standardization and certification featuring Francesca Braca from ARCHA, who detailed the experimental protocols aligned with methodological traceability standards for residues in leather. Next, Ramón Plana from the Compostable by Design platform presented a proposal for a technical manual acting as a bridge between laboratory and industry. For her part, María Rocha from DIN CERTCO explained the international schemes necessary for access to global markets, while ASOBIOCOM provided an update on the legislative keys for correct labeling of compostable materials in Spain.
After a workshop from the BIOSUPPACK project, the block dedicated to raw materials highlighted the market potential through success stories such as that presented by Iván Navarro from Prime Biopolymers, who introduced the ZIMA range optimized for conventional injection processes, or Notpla, which, with Luciana Bicalho, demonstrated the viability of algae‑based coatings for paper. Also noteworthy was the contribution of Jenifer Mitja from TotalEnergies Corbion, who presented recyclable and compostable PLA solutions designed to prevent the persistence of microplastics in textile and hygiene applications.
The first day concluded with a block dedicated to success cases led by Jose Badia, from the University of Valencia, who presented his work on the valorization of plant biomass, the development of bio‑based membranes for decarbonization, and chemical recycling processes using neoteric solvents aimed at improving polymer stability and degradability. For his part, Octavio Garcia, from the University of Valladolid, presented his advances in the valorization of bioplastics through acidogenic fermentation techniques to obtain volatile fatty acids (VFA) as a platform for new materials, highlighting that pH control significantly optimizes process yields.
Biopolymers in open environments
The second day of the seminar, held today, focused on the application of biopolymers in open environments, with special attention to the agricultural sector as one of the main testing grounds for the sustainability of materials. The session began with an intervention by Bernard Le Moine, from APE Europe, who emphasized the structural role of agricultural plastics in sustainable productivity and how certified biodegradability is the key solution when residue collection is technically difficult. In the same line, Miguel Ángel Domene from Fundación Grupo Cajamar presented the potential of biodegradable plasticulture products within the circular economy, showing field trials for validation of their use and end‑of‑life, as well as innovative solutions for functionalization based on plant residues. For his part, Francisco Javier Egea, from the University of Almería, delved into the circular bioeconomy ecosystem in greenhouse agriculture, stressing the importance of projects for biomass valorization and the transition from fossil‑based to bio‑based polymers.
Technical analysis of soil health played a fundamental role thanks to Patrizia Schmidt, from BASF, who presented a pioneering methodology to distinguish between persistent microplastics and the fragments released by certified mulch films such as Ecovio®, demonstrating that the latter integrate into the natural cycle without generating toxic residues. Complementing this approach, Sara Guerrini, from Novamont, detailed Mater‑Bi solutions for a sustainable end‑of‑life, sharing studies carried out with the University of Bologna on the effect of these materials on soil and the progress of the European SOUL project.
The block of success cases began with Chelo Escrig, from AIMPLAS, who presented new developments in plasticulture including new agricultural products to improve water‑use efficiency in crops, the incorporation of natural inputs, and the development of controlled‑release coatings for fertilizers, all biodegradable.
The final block of industrial success cases enabled a clear view of the real transfer of these technologies to the market. Matías Martínez and José Ignacio Valero, from Ercros, presented their ErcrosBio® range of biodegradable coatings for both agricultural and packaging applications, while Giovanni Grieco, from NUREL, shared success stories in tomato, pepper and maize crops using INZEA biopolymers, which help optimize soil temperature and plant growth in a circular manner. The seminar also explored biotechnological frontiers with Antonio del Saz, from Beyond Seeds, who presented AGARENE®, a bioplastic derived from red algae designed to be functionalized according to crop needs. Finally, Emanuele Martini, from Gruppo MAIP, closed the seminar with an exhaustive case study on the PHA value chain, advocating for the “Naturpolymer” concept as a microbial‑origin material capable of fully mineralizing in any environment, thus consolidating the vision of an industry that not only innovates in material development but also ensures its safe reintegration into the biosphere.
Innovations at your fingertips
The seminar served as a showcase for real innovations through a demonstration area where solid water and algae hydrogels, as well as controlled‑release tablets and fertilizers that not only improve agricultural performance but also preserve soil health, were exhibited, along with a small “bodeguita” made from agricultural by‑products in which the results of valorizing residues from the olive oil and wine sectors were displayed. Even biodegradable marine structures for the regeneration of vegetation and marine organisms were presented. All of this reinforced the role of AIMPLAS as a key technological partner in accelerating the arrival of these materials to the market under a model of positive impact and social responsibility.
The celebration of this seminar is made possible thanks to the support of sponsoring organizations BASF, NOVAMONT, COLUMBUS INSTRUMENTS, ARCHA, ASOBIOCOM, GREAT PACKAGING, RAIZ Instituto de Investigação da Floresta e Papel, DIN CERTCO, ENCO and NUREL.