The UPCYCLE project successfully held its First Industry Roundtable on 24 February 2026 at Villa Anamma in Gent. The event, organised by project partner PACK4FOOD, brought together representatives from industry, research, and public authorities for a focused exchange on the opportunities emerging at the intersection of bioupcycling, EU policy, and sustainable packaging innovation.
A policygrounded start: EU Bioeconomy Strategy and PPWR
The afternoon opened with an expert lecture delivered by Pieter Vervinckt (OVAM – Public Waste Agency of Flanders), who provided a clear and up‑to‑date overview of the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and its relevance for the evolving regulatory landscape. Participants gained a structured understanding of:
- How the revised Bioeconomy Strategy frames innovation priorities for European industry
- The regulatory expectations introduced by the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR)
- Where bio‑upcycling fits within EU ambitions for circularity, waste reduction, and sustainable material flows
A dynamic roundtable shaped by industry perspectives
With the policy framing in place, the group moved into an extended roundtable discussion that encouraged open, practiceoriented dialogue. Participants explored how companies are preparing for upcoming regulatory shifts, where innovation gaps remain, and how bioupcycling technologies can support both compliance and competitiveness. Several themes emerged across the conversation:
- The need for clearer pathways to integrate bioupcycled materials into existing value chains
- The importance of crosssector collaboration to accelerate adoption
- The role of regional implementation in shaping realworld opportunities
- The value of early engagement with policy developments to anticipate market transitions
The exchanges were lively and constructive, continuing informally as the afternoon progressed. The day closed with a networking reception that offered participants additional space to reconnect, deepen conversations sparked during the roundtable, and explore potential avenues for collaboration in a more relaxed setting.
Strengthening the UPCYCLE community
As the first of three industry roundtables, this event contributed valuable insights to UPCYCLE’s work on advancing bioupcycling solutions for packaging and highlighted the importance of sustained dialogue between research, industry, and public authorities. The perspectives shared in Gent will support the project’s ongoing activities and help shape the next steps in its collaboration with the sector. The series continues with the second roundtable on 20 March 2026 in Denmark, organised under the framework of The Future of Sustainable Plastics 2026, further expanding the conversation across Europe’s packaging and bioeconomy landscape.