BBIA, advancing the UK circular bioeconomy
Welcome to the Bio-based and Biodegradable Industries Association (BBIA), representing companies involved in the production of biodegradable polymers and finished products for the benefit of the environment.
Our members’ activities span a wide range of sectors and applications, providing a range of sustainable solutions that benefit both businesses and individual consumers. BBIA aims to develop the circular bioeconomy in the UK, promoting markets and production of bio-based and biodegradable chemicals, their transformation into consumer and other products and materials.
With increasing pressure to keep fossil fuels in the ground, bio-based alternatives can bridge the gap to meet demand. This can be done through the use of starch and glucose derivatives, as well as fibre reinforcements, including flax, hemp, sisal, jute and wood regenerated cellulose. The production of new biomaterials is opening up opportunities, creating jobs and wealth in the new green economy.
COOP advice on the provision of compostable carrier bags
The COOP has developed an open-source document providing advice on how to sell compostable carrier bags. Read more.

Chairman’s Message
BBIA’s Chair, Andy Sweetman, Marketing Manager at Futamura UK, considers the progress BBIA has made over its first five years and the work still to do. Read more
Market
development
Consumer
awareness
Industry
engagement
Promoting recognised standards
Introducing our members
BBIA welcomes members from across the bio-based and biodegradable sector involved in designing and producing products to grow the bioeconomy.
Take a look at what our members are up to.
BBIA member case studies
BBIA has produced a series of case studies of BBIA members for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), which is seeking to to produce a strategy that will encourage a world leading bioeconomy appropriate to the UK’s industrial structure and availability of natural resources.
Check out case studies from BBIA members Aquapak, BioBag, Ecospray, Futamura, Snow Business, Vegware and Woolcool to see how they are helping to grow the bioeconomy in the UK.
Our News
BEIS announces new Industrial Energy Transformation Fund
BEIS has announced that it will be launching a new Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) competition window in spring 2021 due to the large amount of interest it received during the recent competition, which closed on 28 October 2020. [...]
Defra publishes revised Waste Management Plan for England
On 27 January Defra published its revised Waste Management Plan for England. Responses from the consultation, including those made by BBIA, have been taken into account in the revised Plan. They are also reflected in [...]
Consumers misled on environmental credentials
BBIA strongly recommends its members ensure that all claims made for their materials are supported by certification. Another example of unsubstantiated claims is evidenced in a report from The International Consumer Protection Enforcement Network, which claims [...]
BIOME Bioplastics launches biodegradable tree shelters
BBIA member BIOME Bioplastics has launched a new range of biodegradable tree shelters. Plans to significantly increase tree planting as part of the UK’s push to net-zero emissions are expected to exacerbate the country's littering [...]
On the Web
Development of biodegradable plastic from marine seaweed
The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) has developed a bio-plastic film using marine seaweed [...]
There is an alarming amount of microplastics in farm soil and our food supply
Microplastics, loosely defined as plastic pieces smaller than 5 millimeters across, or roughly the size [...]
Webinar: Circular Towns – driving sustainability in the built environment
Against a backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic and a subsequent green recovery, targets to mitigate [...]
Upcoming events
Webinar series: John Warner’s Sustainability Webinar Series
February 18 @ 1:00 pm - April 15 @ 2:30 pmGlobal Research and Innovation in Plastics Sustainability
March 16 - March 18