Review 2025
Biopolymer Congress 2025 | Partner country Poland
The Biopolymer Congress 2025 impressively demonstrated that bioplastics are no longer a fringe topic, but a growing component of the plastics industry. Even though they currently represent only about one percent of the total volume, material and process development is proceeding at full speed to unlock their potential. Representatives from industry, research, and politics discussed new materials, additives, processing technologies, and future applications. A key focus was on bio-based and biodegradable polymers and how they can contribute to the circular economy in packaging, consumer goods, and technical components. The highlight of the event was the presentation of the Biopolymer Innovation Award, which recognized outstanding developments in the biopolymer industry. The award winners impressively demonstrate what is technically feasible—from bio-based synthetic leather alternatives and sustainable sports and leisure components to environmentally friendly packaging solutions.
Did you miss the BIOPOLYMER Congress 2025? No problem! You can find all the exciting presentations on YouTube.
Here's what participants say
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Maik Feldmann, Fraunhofer Institute
Why are you participating in the event or why have you already contributed as a speaker?
In recent years, Central Germany has positioned itself and increased its visibility through industrial engagement and major research projects funded by structural change grants in the fields of bioplastics and "circular/green chemistry." The congress also contributes to this, facilitating exchange with researchers from different regions and countries. It was a particular pleasure for me to present the customer benefits of our plastics processing and analysis activities in Halle (Saale) and at the pilot plant center in Schkopau to our industry partners.
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What makes this event special for you?
A successful blend of industry and scientific contributions with a strong practical focus and new, innovative approaches to solving existing challenges. The annual award ceremony makes this particularly attractive for applicants and participants.
Why will you participate in 2026?
I'm looking forward to the presentations by the award finalists and the guest contributions from our partner country, Austria, and I'm eager to see what interesting ideas and projects will be presented. The evening networking event is an ideal opportunity to connect with familiar faces as well as make entirely new acquaintances and discuss current market developments and future projects.
Vitus Zenz,
Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences
What motivated you to participate in the Biopolymer Innovation Award competition, and what impact did the award have?
We applied for the Biopolymer Innovation Award back then without really being able to assess whether our process, at that early stage of development, would even stand a chance against established technologies and market-ready products. So we were all the more delighted when we took second place in 2024. The award not only surprised us, but also provided us with valuable feedback from the expert community and made it clear how crucial it will be to further reduce the production costs of succinic acid in order to be able to offer the bioplastic PBS in a truly competitive way in the future.
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What makes the congress special for you?
The congress itself is a highlight for us every year because it brings together people in Germany who are truly passionate about bioplastics. You can feel a special energy there, a blend of expertise, genuine enthusiasm, and a shared commitment to further establish biopolymers in industry. This spirit inspires me anew each year, and I always look forward to meeting dedicated individuals with whom I can have open and constructive discussions.
Why should you participate in 2026?
The main reason to attend is that the congress fosters a friendly atmosphere where interactions on equal footing are possible. You'll meet people who don't just talk about sustainable materials, but actively work to establish bioplastics across society and industry – that's precisely its special value.
Eric Folz, Lehmann&Voss&Co. KG
What motivated you to participate in the Biopolymer Innovation Award competition, and what impact did the award have?
Bio-based plastics are gaining increasing importance. This is not only due to the biogenic content of the polymer, but also because their properties sometimes differ from those of conventional polymers. Through clever combination with special fibers, entirely new material property profiles emerge, extending beyond the reduced CO2 footprint. The Biopolymer Award provided an excellent platform to showcase this. The media response to our award was remarkably high.
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How did you like the event overall?
Attending the award ceremony was a real pleasure. The moderation was refreshing, and there was ample opportunity for in-depth discussions afterward. We felt it was a very successful event. From a scientific perspective, the congress was very insightful and broadened our perspective on many topics.
Will you be participating in the award and/or congress again in 2026?
We plan to be on board again in 2026, not just for the congress. Regarding the use of bio-based materials, we have a message. We also plan to submit a component for the award again.
Impressions
Photos: Redaction; Kupfer Media
