The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation has released a selection of resources to mark World Soil Day (5 December). World Soil Day 2017 activities aim to communicate messages on the importance of soil quality for food security, healthy ecosystems and human well-being. These include: key publications and flagship initiatives global events on 5 December 2017 […]
Read More… from FAO unveils resources to support World Soil Day
BBIA was present in Brussels at the Bioeconomy Week in November. The European Commission organised, on Thursday 16 November, a Bioeconomy Policy Day to present its review of the European Bioeconomy Strategy and Action Plan and discuss its findings with stakeholders and policy makers. The European Bioeconomy Stakeholders Panel also discussed its Bioeconomy Manifesto, setting out […]
Read More… from European Commission Bioeconomy Week – Presentations
BBIA member Aquapak Polymers Ltd is introducing HydropolTM, a library of highly functional flexible plastics that are water soluble, biodegradable, recyclable, non-toxic and FDA-approved. Despite having excellent barrier qualities as a packaging material, HydropolTM completely degrades in standard composting and anaerobic digestion (AD) residence times; while in recycling systems it can be recovered from solution […]
Read More… from Aquapak Polymers launches new flexible Hydropol range
The Bio-Based and Biodegradable Industries Association (BBIA) is one of over 150 companies endorsing a call from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation to ban oxo-degradable plastic packaging worldwide. Oxo-degradable plastic packaging, including carrier bags, is often marketed as a solution to plastic pollution, with claims that such plastics degrade into harmless residues within a period ranging from […]
Read More… from BBIA backs EMF call for worldwide ban on oxo-degradable plastic packaging
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) published two White Papers this month: Customs Bill: legislating for the UK’s future customs, VAT and excise regimes 9 October https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/customs-bill-legislating-for-the-uks-future-customs-vat-and-excise-regimes Preparing for our future UK trade policy 9 October https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/preparing-for-our-future-uk-trade-policy Input on these policies are welcomed to the following addresses: CustomsStakeholders@hmtreasury.gsi.gov.uk there is no deadline, but […]
Read More… from BEIS requests responses on two new White Papers
Innovate UK is rolling out a pilot of innovation loans from the government. These loans provide low interest (3.7 per cent), flexible funding to SMEs in the later stages of R&D, which have clear plans to commercial success. Loans offered between £100,000 – £1 million. To introduce these exciting new innovation loans, the Knowledge Transfer […]
Read More… from Innovation R&D loans to be piloted by Innovate UK
The European Commission last week (26 September) held the Reinventing Plastics: Closing the Circle conference to explore issues and potential solutions to be proposed in the Commission’s upcoming plastics strategy. This strategy intends to support and complement the existing acquis and tackle the interrelated problems of fossil feedstock dependence, recycling and reuse and plastics leakage into the […]
Read More… from Watch – Reinventing Plastics: Closing the Circle conference
BBIA member Vegware, the Edinburgh compostable packaging manufacturer, has launched ‘Close the Loop’, a new composting collection service for its catering disposables. This new service now means that composting collections are available to businesses across Scotland, taking used Vegware and food waste for industrial composting into high-grade horticultural compost. Launched to mark Recycle Week and […]
Membership of Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) and Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee has been confirmed following the summer recess. The MPs named on the EAC, which has reopened its inquiry into disposable packaging, are as follows: Mary Creagh (Chair), Labour Dr Thérèse Coffey, Conservative Geraint Davies, Labour Zac Goldsmith, Conservative Caroline Lucas, […]
Read More… from New parliamentary committee membership announced
The European Commission has organised a conference, ‘Reinventing plastics – Closing the circle’ (26 September) to discuss the challenges and opportunities of the new strategy for plastics that is under development. The Commission announced that it would be creating a strategy to create a more circular plastics industry at the beginning of the year and published a […]
Read More… from ‘Reinventing plastics – Closing the circle’ conference to inform Commission strategy