Our News
IBioIC CTP Call for PhD Projects for 2021 is now open
The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) is offering 15 fully-funded 4-year BBSRC studentships and up to three 50 per cent IBioIC-funded studentships via application from Higher Education Institutions across the UK. All projects require at [...]
New report reveals biggest plastic polluters obstructing plastic reduction initiatives
A new report by the Changing Markets Foundation, 'Talking Trash: The Corporate Playbook of False Solutions', accuses big plastic polluters of undermining efforts to address the plastic crisis. The report lists the top 10 individual [...]
Plastic straws, cotton buds and drinks stirrers ban guidance published
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has published guidance for businesses on the ban on plastic straws, cotton buds and drinks stirrers. The ban will enter into force on 1 October and [...]
Vegware coffee cup and lid receives Cré certification
BBIA member Vegware has received certification from the Composting and Anaerobic Digestion Association of Ireland (Cré) assuring that one of its coffee cups and lids are compostable. You can read a discussion between Vegware and [...]
IBioIC announces next webinars in Bioeconomy Cluster Builder series
The Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC) will be hosting its next two webinars in its Bioeconomy Cluster Builder series. These are: Sustainable Materials for Packaging (24 Sept) Net Zero Chemical Manufacturing (20 October) The purpose [...]
Get food waste collections cleaned up to avoid huge bill for biowaste industry, say biowaste treatment experts
The European biowaste treatment industry is calling for European policy makers, waste management companies and local authorities to ensure food waste is free from plastic contamination to avoid a bill of €2.5 billion a year [...]
Oceanium hiring sustainable packaging development experts
New BBIA member Oceanium, which makes compostable bio-packaging materials from sustainably-farmed seaweed, is seeking new packaging development experts. You can view the job descriptions for the roles below: Packaging Director – Consultant Packaging Materials Innovation [...]
Biome Bioplastics releases video on value of bioplastics
BBIA member Biome Bioplastics has released a new video on the properties of bioplastics and the contribution they can make to sustainability goals. You can view the full video, featuring Paul Mines, CEO of Biome [...]
First practical application of Usable Packaging project compostable material
A new milestone has been reached in the EU-funded Usable Packaging project as a family in Spain become the first to use a new bio-based, reusable and compostable plate manufactured from a new bio-based PHA [...]
Latest IBioIC funding opportunities
A number of funding opportunities are available from the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre (IBioIC). Details can be found below: Feasibility Programme November 2020: IBioIC's Feasibility Funding is available for collaborative Proof of Concept projects that have [...]
Biome Bioplastics receives large compostable coffee pods order
BBIA member Biome Bioplastics has received an order worth $550,000 from a client in the US packaging market for its compostable coffee pods. Biome produces heat-resistant, industrially biodegradable food-contact approved bio resins, including the BiomeHTX, [...]
On the Web
Small businesses make strides in compostable packaging
For years, plastic has played an important role in the food and drink sector by protecting goods from damage and ensuring a longer shelf life. But with the UK generating around 2.4 [...]
South Korea once recycled 2% of its food waste. Now it recycles 95%
The world wastes more than 1.3 billion tonnes of food each year. The planet’s 1 billion hungry people could be fed on less than a quarter of the food wasted in the US and [...]
AORA: Four Corners Plastic Wars has lessons for Aus
The Australian Organics Recycling Association (AORA), the national voice of the organics recycling industry, believes Plastic Wars, featured on Four Corners, contains valuable lessons for Australia in better managing its waste and recycling [...]
Australian made BioBag goes full circle from farm to compost
Farmers using plastic mulch film now have a compostable alternative that returns to the earth as organic matter instead of polluting soil with microplastics that remain for decades, even centuries. An Australian made, [...]
Compostable Product Disintegration Rate
Part I of this article summarized the scope and research methods for a recent study at Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands that analyzed the fate of compostable packaging in an industrial composting [...]
Moving up the agenda | Supplier analysis – compostables
Waqas Qureshi hears from seven compostable and biodegradable packaging suppliers. The mood on the long-term outlook is mixed but there is a call for clarity over how the UK manages these materials. [...]