On 16 October, the BioSupPack project proudly participated in the wrap-up event of the European Bioplastics (EUBP) Talk Series on Alternative Feedstock, titled “Alternative Feedstock for Biobased Plastics: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Market.”  

The live event, held in Brussels, brought together leading experts from research, industry, and EU policymakers to explore the latest innovations in biobased plastics and the challenges of scaling these technologies to industrial levels. 

During the first panel, Rafael Jiménez Lorenzo (AIMPLAS) represented BioSupPack, alongside other EU-funded projects such as MoeBIOS, PERCAL, CALIFA, and LUCRA, discussed the potential of transforming brewery waste into bioplastics, highlighting the groundbreaking work of BioSupPack in creating sustainable, rigid packaging materials from brew spent grains—a by-product of the brewing industry. 

The panel discussion was followed by a high-level conversation with European Commission representatives from ZeroWaste, DG ENVI, DG AGRI, and DG RTD, who explored the existing policy barriers and the necessary incentives to help transition research results, like those from BioSupPack, into large-scale industrial production. 

BioSupPack’s Innovative Approach: Brewery Waste to Bioplastics 

Earlier this year, BioSupPack was featured in the EUBP Talk Series, specifically during EUBP Talk #3, titled “From Brewery Waste to Bioplastics: Results of the BioSupPack Project on New Value Chains for Innovative and Sustainable Packaging.” During this session, Rosa González Leyba (AIIMPLAS), BioSupPack´s coordinator, showcased how brew spent grains—typically considered waste—can be upcycled into polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), an environmentally friendly alternative to fossil-based plastics. These PHAs are being developed into versatile rigid packaging for food, beverages, cosmetics, and homecare applications, offering a sustainable, circular solution to conventional plastic packaging.Through its innovative use of plasma technology in the production process, BioSupPack ensures that the biobased materials it creates are compatible with both mechanical and enzymatic recycling, significantly enhancing their lifecycle and reducing environmental impact. 

 

Bridging the Gap Between Research and Market 

The recent Brussels event emphasized the critical importance of transferring cutting-edge research into the marketplace. Policymakers and stakeholders engaged in discussions on the need for clearer regulatory frameworks, financial incentives, and infrastructure investments to scale up promising innovations like those demonstrated by BioSupPack. By establishing strong connections between research projects and industry, and by overcoming regulatory hurdles, BioSupPack aims to make its PHA-based packaging solutions commercially viable in the near future. 

 

The EUBP Talk Series: A Platform for Innovation 

The EUBP Talk Series, which ran from April to September 2024, provided an invaluable platform for researchers, companies, and stakeholders to exchange ideas in an informal setting. Over the course of five talks, the series explored a wide range of topics related to alternative sustainable feedstocks for bioplastics, featuring outstanding innovations from various projects. Some of the highlights included: 

  • EUBP Talk #1: Waste cooking oils as feedstock for polymers and plastics. 
  • EUBP Talk #2: Organic waste converted to plastic monomers. 
  • EUBP Talk #3: BioSupPack’s innovative use of brewery waste to create bioplastics. 
  • EUBP Talk #4: Pre-industrial scale production of bio-succinic acid from organic waste. 
  • EUBP Talk #5: Addressing the lignin challenge to create scalable CO2-reducing solutions in plastics production. 

 

For a full overview of the speakers and the key insights from each talk, visit EUBP Talk Series Summary. 

Looking Ahead 

As BioSupPack continues its research and development in biobased packaging solutions, the project remains committed to bridging the gap between research and market adoption. By leveraging waste products like brew spent grains and working closely with industry and policymakers, BioSupPack is paving the way for innovative, sustainable packaging solutions that can transform the future of the bioplastics industry.