In response to a call for evidence by the European Commission’s for a the Biotech Act II, EMPPA calls on EU lawmakers to make sure the Act explicitly supports established bio-based industries like moulded pulp — and not only emerging biotechnologies — and tackle persistent market distortions that prevent our proven solutions from scaling.

In our position paper, we emphasize the fact that moulded fibre products can play a major role in the European circular bioeconomy, especially when manufactured from renewable and sustainably sourced fibres like recycled paper and cardboard as well as agricultural by-products. Unlike fossil-based primary materials and bioplastic, they help reduce waste as well as plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

The moulded fibre and fibre casting industry is ready to scale. Our associated member companies have been investing billions of Euros in developing modern manufacturing technologies, new bio-based materials, and production capacity. Our products are technically proven, commercially viable, and environmentally superior to many fossil-based materials they replace.

The Biotec Act II proposal must provide a policy framework that reflects the full environmental value of these materials, removes the market distortions that currently disadvantage them, and provides the investment predictability needed to justify major capital commitments.