Yes, the situation may be booming — but mostly for EUBP itself. As an association, it’s thriving financially thanks to membership fees, sponsorships, and event revenues. The question is: where are the real results?

In terms of tangible impact, European Bioplastics remains one of the least efficient trade associations in Brussels. The trust in bioplastics has never been lower, and the word “bioplastics” has become, for many, a synonym for greenwashing.

EUBP continues to promote questionable surveys and play semantic games. A typical example: they ask whether people think “compostable packaging” is a good solution — conveniently leaving out the word “plastic.” The more accurate question would be: “Do you think compostable plastic packaging is a good solution?” The omission isn’t accidental; it’s strategy.

Let’s talk about policy. The EU Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD) was supposed to be a turning point. Do you see any meaningful change before and after its implementation? I don’t. In fact, one could argue the opposite — the confusion and greenwashing have only deepened.

So how much money have EUBP members poured into the association over the years? The financial support has been steady — even generous — yet the measurable results remain invisible.

And looking at the photos from the latest K Show, it’s the same familiar faces again. No fresh leadership, no new ideas. How much lower does the situation have to sink before someone decides it’s time for real change?

EUBP’s biggest weakness has always been communication. If I were advising them, I’d tell them to buy Bioplastics News. That might be the smartest move they could make — because if nothing changes, we’re heading for another twenty years of stagnation in the bioplastics sector.