Melissa Hockstad of SPI's Bioplastics Council shares insight into the Council's work

15 June 2011

Melissa Hockstad, Vice President, Science, Technology & Regulatory Affairs, SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association shared information with us about her organizations start and the issues that they're working on, as well as insight into trends and innovative initiatives that the bioplastics industry is working on.

What were the driving factors behind SPI's decision to form your Bioplastics Council?
In early 2007, SPI: The Plastics Industry Organization organized a meeting with leaders in the bioplastics industry to discuss the concept of forming a group in the U.S. The proposed focus of the group was on the development of bioplastics as an integral part of the plastics industry. A U.S.-based bioplastics group did not yet exist so the companies, under the umbrella of SPI's leadership, decided to launch the Bioplastics Council.

What are the objectives of the Council for the next 5 to 10 years?
The Council's key objectives include influencing bioplastics policies and practices for the industry, working with government agencies and organizations, growing the industry, and education. Over the next 5-10 years, the Bioplastics Council, like the bioplastics industry as a whole, will continue to evolve and grow. The Council will continue to strengthen its role as a leading business forum where manufacturers, processors, suppliers or and other companies involved in the development and promotion of bioplastics work to educate, minimize regulatory burdens and positively impact members' bottom-line growth potential.

What are the key issues in the industry that the Bioplastics Council has chosen to work with? Where do you see the most potential for growth?
For 2011 we are focused on several key areas:

• Continuing to build relationships with federal government agencies working on "bio" related issues. As an example, the Council works with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's BioPreferred Program staff to grow the program, show our strong support for it and to promote appropriate levels of funding to ensure its success. The BioPreferred Program plays a critical role in increasing the purchase and use of renewable, environmental friendly products including bioplastics while providing "green" jobs and new markets for farmers, manufacturers, and vendors.
• Emphasizing education such as addressing "bioplastics-related" marketing claims issues as well as the development of new "beginning of life" and "end-of-life" guidance related materials.
• Enhancing synergy and partnerships with other 'bio' organizations to not duplicate efforts but rather to promote a collective voice on issues of joint interest.
• Increasing programming at trade shows and conferences such as the 2011 Biopolymers Symposium to provide bioplastics education.

Each of these areas add to the growth of the bioplastics industry and Council members.

What are the most innovative initiatives being pursued by end users? Do you see anything that will become a trend in the consumer products arena?

• We continue to see demand moving from single-use to durable applications. According to European Bioplastics, by 2011 durables are expected to account for almost 40% of bioplastics used compared to 12% previously.
• As a trend we will continue to see advances in the field of packaging as well as other areas including as automotive applications, consumer electronics and housewares.
• In addition, similar to last September's announcement by Proctor & Gamble such as the replacement of 25% of all petroleum-based materials with "sustainably sourced" renewable materials by 2020, we will continue to see more and more end-users making similar announcements. The use of bioplastics in various applications will expand.
• Bioplastics continue to be an exciting industry full of growth and opportunity, and the Council is excited to be a leader in this area.