Program
June 14 & 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
Presentation of partner country Austria & introduction
Andreas Ederecoplus
Helmut Miernickiecoplus
Pitches: Exhibitors introduce themselves.
2:00 PM
Patent strategies – important instruments in the plastics industry
Dr. Michael Westendorp
Patent Attorney | Law Firm Hoefer & Partner
Pitches: Exhibitors introduce themselves.
3:00 PM
Agency for Renewable Resources – Project Management Agency and more
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The Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR) is a project management agency of the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMEL). Its mission is to make an effective and continuous contribution to the development and use of biogenic resources. The funds and measures employed for this purpose are presented.
Dr. Gabriele Peterek
Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR)
Pitches: Exhibitors introduce themselves.
4:00 PM
Circular economy – are recycled materials and bioplastics the solution?
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The PPWR, as well as the entire circular economy, presents the plastics industry with major challenges in terms of materials, product design, disposal and also in the area of marketing.
What do the PPWR regulations mean for bioplastics, especially biodegradable plastics? How will bioplastics position themselves, or need 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 recycled materials? What challenges arise, particularly for the production of PCR recyclates?
What measures should and must be considered in the context of global sustainability, independent of the PPWR? These and similar questions will be examined in the presentation, and corresponding answers, including product examples, will round out the topic.
Patrick Zimmermann, Dipl.-Ing., Dipl.-Wirtsch.-Ing., Managing Director | FKuR Kunststoff GmbH
Pitches: Exhibitors introduce themselves.
5:00 PM
Biotechnology in the automotive industry - opportunities and challenges
Dr. rer. nat. Fabian FischerHead of Biomaterials and Polymers | Volkswagen Group Innovation
BIOPOLYMER Award
greeting
Peter Putsch
Board of Directors | POLYKUM e. V.
Greeting from the state government of Saxony-Anhalt
Dr. Jürgen Ude
State Secretary for Structural Change in the Central German Region and Major Industrial Projects
Greeting
Dr. Alexander Vogt
Mayor of 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, presenter & speaker
Peter Putsch, Board Member of POLYKUM e. V.
Michael Walter, Gobal Business Development Manager | Wirthwein SE
Opening remarks and greetings
Welcome and opening remarks by the organizers POLYKUM & WIN-Verlag
Greetings
Video message from Saxony-Anhalt's Minister-President Sven Schulze
Sven Schulze, Minister-President of Saxony-Anhalt
Greetings from the representative of the German-Austrian economy
Video message from the German Chamber of Commerce in Austria
Thomas Gindele, German Chamber of Commerce in Austria
Keynote speeches
09:15 - 09:45
Biodegradation of polymers – from basic research to practical relevance
Prof. Dr. Michael Sander
ETH Zurich
09:45 - 10:15
Current market situation for biopolymers
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- Current fossil-based raw material base in plastics production (including reference to the Circular Economy Report 2026)
- The transition away from fossil raw materials
- The role of biogenic carbon
- Global production capacities and availability of bio-based polymers
- Regulatory and policy framework for bio-based polymers
Dr. Aliaksandra Shuliakevich
Plastics Europe Deutschland e. V.
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
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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 merely wishful thinking? What application areas already exist where this can work?
Mag. Dipl.-Ing. (fh) Simon Riepler
IFG Asota GmbH
Andreas Weinberger
IFG Asota GmbH
11:00 - 11:30 am
Three partners and a bio-network – compostable net solutions
Dr. Rudi Eswein
Plastrans Technologies GmbH
11:30 - 12:00
Bio-based PHA composites for plant pots: A sustainable approach for modern applications in green wall design
Ivana Burzic
Wood K plus/Competence Center Wood GmbH
Lunch break, networking, visit to the exhibition
New biopolymers and products
13:00 - 13:30
Wood-based monomers and fillers for sustainable polymers and compounds
Dr. Gerd Unkelbach
UPM
1:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Development of a biodegradable and antimicrobial nanocomposite packaging material to extend the shelf life of perishable goods
Dr. A.S. Sakshi Gumber
BRIC-NABI, Mohali, India
2:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Beyond conventional plastics: Tailor-made biodegradability for the agricultural and packaging sectors
Prof. Dr. Ramani Narayan
Michigan State University
Here's what you can expect:
We will travel by bus to Leuna to visit the UPM Biorefinery, a globally unique flagship project of the bioeconomic industry. There, we will witness firsthand how wood-based biomaterial is transformed into high-quality, renewable biochemicals.
The plant produces innovative materials such as renewable glycols, functional fillers, and industrial sugars, which are used in numerous industries ranging from automotive and textiles to packaging and cosmetics. All raw materials come from sustainable, certified forestry.
This excursion offers a rare opportunity to go behind the scenes at one of Europe's most innovative biochemistry plants. It's an opportunity that doesn't come around often. As part of the conference program, we're combining expert insights with an inspiring, hands-on experience on site.
