Green Matter: nova-Institute organizes bio-event, releases comprehensive bioplastics report

Cologne, Germany—One of the most respected institutes working in the field of sustainability and the biobased economy, nova-Institute, will this year be organizing its International Conference on Industrial Biotechnology and Bio-based Plastics & Composites for the sixth time and releasing surprising results from a comprehensive study of the bioplastics industry.

From April 10-12, participants from 19 countries around the world will be attending the three-day conference in Cologne, Germany. This year's program focuses on the developments in the U.S. and Germany, the world's two leading countries in this area, and features speakers from political bodies and associations, as well as leading companies from both countries. 

Market study
One of the highlights of the conference promises to be the presentation for the very first time of the results of the recently published multi-client market study of the international bio-based polymers market by nova-Institute director Michael Carus, who calls it the most comprehensive international market study of bio-based polymers to date.

The study looks at the full range of bio-based polymers produced by 247 companies at 363 locations around the world. It examines 114 companies at 135 locations in greater detail. The study has produced a number of interesting findings, including a considerably higher worldwide production capacity, than reported in previous studies. Carus, in an initial reaction to the study's results, put this down to the comprehensive scope of the study, pointing out that previous studies failed to take all polymers and producers into account. The study also reports that production capacity is projected to triple from 3.5 million metric tons in 2011 to nearly 12 million metric tons in 2020 (total polymer production is projected at 400 million metric tons in 2020). Drop-ins—chemically identical (partially) bio-based versions of petroleum-based polymers—will play a major part in this development, with bio-based PET (Bio-PET), whose production capacity is predicted to reach about 5 million metric tons by the year 2020, playing a starring role, and PE and PP in the supporting cast. However, the outlook for "new" bio-based polymers such as PLA and PHA is also excellent, with capacity predicted to quadruple through 2020.

Further details and figures will be presented at the conference. PlasticsToday will be attending to take full advantage of the opportunity to talk to some of the movers and shakers in the industry who participated in the study.

"Biomaterial of the Year" Award
No self-respecting conference is complete these days without an award ceremony of some kind, and the 6th International Conference on Industrial Biotechnology and Bio-based Plastics & Composites is no exception.

For the sixth time running, the "Biomaterial of the Year 2013" Innovation Award will be presented at end of the first day of the conference. Conference attendees will pick the three winning companies out of a field of six nominees. The nominees will first introduce their innovation in a brief, 10-minute presentation. This year's nominees are: Eastern Bioplastics (U.S.), Bioserie by Dandelion Research (U.S./China), Newlight Technologies (U.S.), ajaa! (Germany), fischer (Germany) and Windmöller (Germany), with products varying from a "green" screw anchor to a new, patented carbon capture and plastics manufacturing technology.