EU & UK Bioeconomy Strategies: Scaling Bio-Based Materials, Policy & Textile Innovation Impact

28 Apr 2026
Main Stage
  • How do the UK and EU bioeconomy strategies compare in driving the adoption of bio-based and natural polymer materials across sectors like packaging, textiles, and cosmetics, while accounting for variation in environmental performance and end-of-life outcomes?
  • How can public procurement, such as in the NHS, accelerate the uptake of high-performing bio-based and natural polymer alternatives that deliver clear sustainability benefits?
  • What role does cross-industry collaboration and collective advocacy play in creating regulatory clarity and enabling market adoption for bio-based and biodegradable materials?
  • How can standards, testing frameworks, and traceability systems evolve to more accurately reflect the performance and life-cycle impacts of plant-based materials?
Host
Lucy Mortimer
Lucy Mortimer, Co-Founder - ARCHIPELAGO VENTURES
Speakers
Dr Jen Vanderhoven
Dr Jen Vanderhoven, CEO - BBIA
Agata Kotkowska
Agata Kotkowska, Deputy Head of the Bioeconomy & Sustainable Materials Unit - EU COMMISSION