The biobased economy in Europe is at a tipping point. This became clear during Tech Tour Biobased Industries on 13 November in Wuppertal, the annual event that brings entrepreneurs into contact with investors.

The market for biobased packaging is growing steadily, but for now remains stuck at a share of only one to two per cent. That is the message repeatedly heard in the bioplastics sector. ‘Without quotas or incentive regulations, the market will not take off,’ warned Dirk Carrez, director of the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), during a recent webinar on bio-based plastic packaging. Yet something is happening. New materials, projects, and investments show that bioplastics are coming of age – provided Europe dares to take action.

The textile industry is at a turning point. While global demand for fibres continues to rise, there is also a growing awareness that the unlimited use of fossil raw materials is no longer sustainable. A recent webinar organised by the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) focused on the necessity and possibilities of a large-scale transition to bio-based textiles.