Program
June 15 & 16, 2026 | Live in Halle (Saale) or via digital livestream
Monday, June 15, 2026
BIOPOLYMER Kongress Opening Event
BIOPOLYMER Exhibition
Opening of the exhibition accompanying the congress
1:00 pm
Introduction of partner country Austria
Andreas Eder
ecoplus
Pitches: Short presentations of exhibitors
2:00 pm
Patent strategies - important tools in the plastics industry
Kanzlei Hoefer & Partner
Pitches: Short presentations of exhibitors
3:00 pm
Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe – Promotor and more
more
The Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR) is a project sponsor of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Protection (BMLEH). Its task is to make an effective and continuous contribution to the development and use of biological resources. The funding and measures used for this purpose are presented.
Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e. V. (FNR)
Pitches: Short presentations of exhibitors
4:00 pm
Circular economy — are recyclates and bioplastics the solution?
more
´The PPWR and the circular economy as a whole pose major challenges for the plastics industry in terms of materials, product design, disposal, and marketing.
What do the PPWR requirements mean for bioplastics, especially biodegradable plastics? How will bioplastics position themselves or have to position themselves in Europe? What opportunities do biodegradable plastics offer, and where are bio-based plastics the better alternative? How will they coexist with recyclates? What challenges arise for the production of PCR recyclates?
What measures should and must be considered in the context of global sustainability, regardless of the PPWR? These and similar questions will be examined in the presentation, and corresponding answers, including product examples, will round off the topic.
Dipl.-Ing., Dipl.-Wirtsch.-Ing. Patrick Zimmermann
CEO | FKuR Kunststoff GmbH
Pitches: Short presentations of exhibitors
BIOPOLYMER Award
Welcome & Opening
Peter Putsch
Chairman | POLYKUM e. V.
Opening greetings by the State Government of Saxony-Anhalt
Dr. Jürgen Ude
State Secretary for Structural Change in the Central German Mining District and Large-Scale Industrial Projects
Opening greetings
Dr. Alexander Vogt
Mayor Halle (Saale)
- Presentations by the award finalists
- Presentation of the BIOPOLYMER Innovation Awards 2026
- Gala evening with networking opportunities
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Biopolymer Congress
Moderation:
Julia Witt, Freelance moderator & presenter
Peter Putsch, Chairman | POLYKUM e. V.
Michael Walter, Gobal Business Development Manager | Wirthwein SE
Opening remarks and greetings
Welcome and Opening
POLYKUM e. V.
Greetings from a representative of German politics
Video message from the German Chamber of Commerce Abroad in Austria
German Chamber of Commerce in Austria
Keynote speeches
09:15 - 09:45 am
Polymer biodegradation – from basic science to real-world relevance
ETH Zurich
09:45 - 10:15 am
Current market situation for biopolymers
Plastics Europe Deutschland
Coffee break, networking, visit to the exhibition
Partner country Austria
10:30 - 11:00 am
Challenges for bioplastics in the field of thermoplastic staple fibers
more
The topic of bio-based and biodegradable raw materials is becoming increasingly important in the fiber industry. The market is demanding alternatives to thermoplastic fibers based on PP, PET, PE, PA6, etc. – sustainable products – that are in no way inferior to classic petroleum-based plastics in terms of performance and, ideally, price. Is this a feasible challenge or just wishful thinking? What application areas already exist where this can work?
Mag. Dipl.-Ing. (fh) Simon Riepler
IFG Asota GmbH
IFG Asota GmbH
11:00 - 11:30 am
Three partners and a bio-network – compostable net solutions
Plastrans Technologies GmbH
11:30 am - 12:00 pm
Bio-based PHA Composites for planting pots: A Sustainable Pathway for Modern Green Wall Applications
Wood K plus/Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH
Lunch break, networking, visit to the exhibition
New biopolymers and products
1:00 - 1:30 pm
Wood-based monomers and fillers for sustainable polymers and compounds
1:30 - 2:00 pm
Development of biodegradable antimicrobial nano-composite packaging material for shelf-life extension of perishable commodities
BRIC-NABI, Mohali, India
2:00 - 2:30 pm
Beyond Conventional Plastics: Tailoring Biodegradability for Agricultural and Packaging Use
Michigan State University
By bus we are going to Leuna to the
UPM Biorefinery, a globally unique flagship project of the bioeconomy industry. On site, we will witness live how wood-based biomass is transformed into high-quality, renewable biochemicals.
The plant produces forward-looking substances such as renewable glycols, functional fillers, and industrial sugars, which are used in numerous industries—from automotive and textiles to packaging and cosmetics. All raw materials come from sustainable, certified forestry.
This excursion is a rare opportunity to peek behind the scenes of one of Europe’s most innovative biochemical plants. An opportunity that is not offered often. As part of the congress program, we combine technical impulses with an inspiring hands-on experience on site.
