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
BBIA writes to Treasury Minister about Plastics Tax
On 10 December BBIA wrote to the Treasury Minister responsible for the implementation of the Plastics Tax, Kemi Badenoch MP. This was to point out that the tax unfairly penalises all compostable packaging as compostables [...]
Improving the costs of food waste collection: enhancing economic and environmental outcomes by choosing the right caddy liner
The BBIA and associated member companies have commissioned Sancroft International to undertake a detailed cost analysis of the implications of different food waste caddy liners – including PE bags, compostable plastic bags, paper bags and [...]
Grant gives BioPak go-ahead for composting infrastructure expansion
BioPak has been awarded a grant from the Australian Government to support waste recovery in Australia as part of its National Product Stewardship Investment Fund. BioPak will use the funding to develop and support its [...]
London and Brighton compostable packaging collections featured in Ellen MacArthur Foundation guide
Paper Round’s collections composting Vegware disposables is featured in the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s new Upstream Innovation guide, released 19 November. Highlighted as a circular economy solution for plastic, the collaboration is London and Brighton’s first [...]
On the Web
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 [...]
UK Government announces separate food waste collections in Spending Review
This year’s spending review for 2021-22, delivered by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak on [...]
BPF believes PAS 9017 will not help provide a solution for littering
The BPF strongly advocates the enabling of circularity in the use of plastics - the [...]
Upcoming events
Webinar series: John Warner’s Sustainability Webinar Series
November 19, 2020 @ 1:00 pm - April 15, 2021 @ 2:30 pmWebinar: Food waste: Compostable liners and packaging
January 25 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pmVirtual event: RWM
February 23 - February 25