Events & Conferences
Below are a few conferences – in-person, online or hybrid – that I recommend.
30 September 2026
Webinar
Following our recent post on the need for complementary recycling systems for plastics, an important question remains: how do biodegradable and compostable plastics fit into the wider recycling landscape?
To explore these opportunities and challenges, we are organizing a webinar on 29 September at 09:00, bringing together experts from across the value chain:
🔹 Prof. Steven De Meester (Ghent University), expert in innovative recycling technologies and bioplastics, actively involved in several European research projects.
🔹 Annemarie Abbeel, Sustainability Packaging Senior Expert at Fostplus, specialized in Design for Recycling across different packaging material streams.
Registration : Please contact president@belgianbioproducts.be.
13 October 2026
Mons - Belgium
On 13 October 2026, experts from research and industry will gather at Hotel Van der Valk Mons to explore how coatings can help extend product lifetime, enable reuse and improve the recyclability of materials.
Wenda Van Uffelen (TÜV AUSTRIA Belgium) will contribute to the discussion alongside other experts, sharing insights on assessing and demonstrating the benefits of coatings for material circularity.
14-15 October 2026,
Detroit (MI) - USA
This year, we’re going beyond the usual conference space. The 2026 BPI Summit is designed as our most immersive event to date—featuring three industry tours, real-world learning, a focused half-day summit, and an evening reception across two days in Michigan.
By stepping into operational composting environments, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how systems work in practice. It’s an experience that goes beyond what can be captured on a screen—you have to see it firsthand.
17-18 November 2026
Cologne - Germany
The unique concept of presenting all advanced recycling solutions and related topics at one event will guarantee a comprehensive and exciting conference experience, including technologies such as extrusion, dissolution, solvolysis, enzymolysis, pyrolysis, thermal depolymerisation, gasification, and incineration with Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU).
1-2 December 2026
Berlin - Germany
The European Bioplastics Conference is Europe’s leading business and discussion forum within the global bioplastics sector. More and more brands and manufacturers are embracing the potential of biopolymers, and policy makers are increasingly streamlining their efforts to create frameworks that benefit the growth of sustainable bio-industries. Now is the time to put bioplastics at the top of the agenda of a biobased circular economy in Europe and beyond.
8-9 December 2026
Brussels - Belgium
The Sustainability & Policy Forum integrates the policy dimension as a key factor in developing effective sustainable solutions for the future of the nonwovens industry. It addresses key topics such as stakeholder expectations, circular economy, green claims, sustainability reporting, and corporate due diligence, and provides an opportunity to learn, share knowledge, and network on sustainability and policy issues.
21-22 April 2027
Cologne - Germany
This conference provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in transforming CO2 into fuels, chemicals, polymers, and other materials like e.g. alternative proteins, offering participants unparalleled insights into technological innovations, market trends, and evolving regulatory frameworks.
It hereby serves as a crucial platform for knowledge exchange, networking and collaboration, supporting the acceleration of sustainable carbon solutions central to achieving a circular transition and successful transmission to renewable carbon. .
22-24 September 2026
Siegburg - Germany
The Renewable Materials Conference (RMC), organised by the
nova-Institute, will present leading solutions and innovations for
replacing fossil carbon with biomass, CO₂ utilisation and recycling.
The
growing success of RMC demonstrates that its unique concept of
presenting all solutions for renewable materials at a single event is
proving successful. In just a few years, the conference has established
itself as the global meeting place for the renewable carbon economy.
23 July 2026
Webinar
Join us for this BBIA webinar where Claire Skentelbery, Director General of Europe’s leading biotechnology industry association, EuropaBio, for an insightful webinar exploring the latest EU policy developments impacting the bio-based sector.
Claire will
provide an overview of key legislative initiatives, strategic priorities, and
funding opportunities, as well as discuss how bio-based innovation is
contributing to Europe's climate, industrial and resilience objectives..
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22 July 2026
Webinar
Explore how testing and certification can unlock scale-up, de-risk innovation, and accelerate growth in the bioeconomy
Are you working in bio-based materials, industrial biotechnology, engineering biology or sustainable chemicals ?
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30 June 2026
Webinar
This webinar will bring together the European projects from the Bio4PAck cluster (Viss and Rebiolution) with the cluster of PHAntastic, Vinny, Biobive and Agro4Agri to share how they are applying the Safe and Sustainable by Design (SSbD) approach in the development of innovative, sustainable and circular solutions.
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8 July 2026
Webinar
How can EU Digital Product Passport (DPP) requirements become more than just compliance? 🤔
Join our webinar on Wednesday 8 July with Wenda Van Uffelen(TÜV AUSTRIA) and Koppelaar, Rembrandt (EcoWise Ltd) as they share practical insights on the evolving regulations and how to turn them into real business value.
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29 June 2026
Webinar
This session starts with a clear overview of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), including its scope, priority product groups, and the timeline and key obligations companies need to prepare for.
We will explore the main product requirements and parameters under ESPR, introduce Digital Product Passports (DPPs), and highlight the implications for design, production, and compliance.
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25 June 2026
Webinar
The events deliberately take place online in order to make participation as flexible as possible for everyone. The digital format not only saves emissions, but also enables international networking: This way, interested parties can take part regardless of their location.
The program will focus on the topics that matter most to you: economic outlooks, innovative business models and practical insights into sustainable technologies..
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23 June 2026
Webinar
This joint webinar between BBIA and GCSB will compare how the EU, UK and US are shaping markets for sustainable bioproducts, with a particular focus on where policy supports — or obstructs — scale-up, market access and credible end-of-life outcomes.
This fits the Global Center's emphasis on use-inspired, policy-relevant bioeconomy research, stakeholder co-generation, and circular bioeconomy outcomes, as well as the BBIA's interests across the bioeconomy.
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18June 2026
Haus Düsse - Germany
Wie können biobasierte und biologisch abbaubare Kunststoffe dazu beitragen, nachhaltigere Lösungen für die Land- und Forstwirtschaft zu schaffen? Welche Anwendungen haben sich bereits bewährt und welche Anforderungen stellen Normen, Zertifizierungen und die Praxis?.
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18 June 2026
Webinar - EUDPP
The Digital Product Passport (DPP), part of the ESPR, will significantly impact how companies manage and share product data across the value chain.
Join TÜV AUSTRIA OKcert to learn about key requirements, regulatory updates, traceability expectations, and how to start your DPP readiness journey, including practical insights and a live Q&A.
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15-16 June 2026
Halle - Germany
The BIOPOLYMER Congress brings together decision-makers, professionals, and experts from industry and research, offering a comprehensive overview of current developments along the entire value chain.
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11 June 2026
Brussels - Belgium
Come and join us for this event.
I will be there to speak with other co-founders on"
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10-11 June 2026
The Hague - The Netherlands
Bio Innovations Europe (previously known as World Bio Markets) connects over 400 bio-pioneers through a programme of pre-arranged 1-2-1 meetings, knowledge exchange, and networking.
In this exciting year for European industrial biomanufacturing, the two-day business development event facilitates commercial connections and generates deal flow between bio-developers & producers, chemical manufacturers, consumer brands & intermediates, community enablers, investors & financiers and suppliers.
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2-3 June 2026
Munich - Germany
The Renewable Carbon Plastics (aka bioplastics MAGAZINE) is now organizing the 9th PLA World Congress.
Experts from all involved fields shared their knowledge and contributed to a comprehensive overview of today‘s opportunities and challenges and discussed the possibilities, limitations and future prospects of PLA for all kind of applications.
I will be there to speak on
" When PLA stands for Packaging, Labelling & Assessment "
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28 May 2026
Webinar
Will a quota for bio-based plastics in packaging be introduced?
Which quotas are likely, and when?
Which sectors beyond packaging are under discussion?
For which applications is industrial compostability already mandatory today?
Get the latest insights into plans and concepts of the European Commission in the framework of the bioeconomy strategy.
20 May 2026
Webinar
The Green Claims Directive is dead – long live the EmpCo Directive!!! While one initiative may have been dropped, the regulatory push on environmental claims is very much alive. With the Empowering Consumers Directive entering into force this September, the EU is enforcing stricter rules on how sustainability claims must be communicated.
12 May 2026
Webinar
Three experts will guide the online discussion: moderator Asta Partanen(nova-Institute), together with Heli Kangas (Valmet) and Melina Sachtleben (ITA Institut für Textiltechnik der RWTH Aachen University), exchange on their different perspectives from industry, research, and policy on the status quo of textile recycling.
7-13 May 2026
Düsseldorf - Germany
interpack is the key meeting place for the entire drinks industry – whether it be the brewing sector, mineral water bottlers, wine producers or soft drinks manufacturers.
The trade fair is a must-attend event for all players in the drinks sector.
This is where leading suppliers and newcomers showcase their latest solutions for drinks packaging – from bottles and cans to carton packaging and innovative reusable concepts.
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29-30 April 2026
Amsterdam - The Netherlands
The Sustainable Apparel and Textiles Conference convenes apparel and textiles leaders who are tired of surface-level sustainability talk and industry echo chambers.
Over two days of strictly off-the-record discussion, we critically assess the biggest challenges, opportunities and innovations throughout the value chain. Expect interactive, dynamic, and focused sessions where your voice matters.
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28-29 April 2026
London - UK
Taking place in London on April 28-29, Rethinking Materials will unite over 300 strategic leaders from global consumer brands, materials producers, converters, policy-makers, early-stage innovators and investors who are pioneering the future of more sustainable materials.
The 2026 agenda offers a unique opportunity to learn from adjacent sectors and gain insights into innovative applications that can be applied to your business.
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28-29 April 2026
Cologne - Germany
The upcoming 14th edition of the CO2-based Fuels and Chemicals Conference will take place on 28–29 April 2026, Cologne, Germany as a hybrid event. Organiser nova-Institute expects over 230 leading international experts in the field of CCU, green hydrogen production and Power-to-X. Once more the event will showcase the latest innovations and most important developments in the fast-growing field of Carbon Capture and Utilisation with plenty of opportunities to network.
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