BIO-BASED AND BIODEGRADABLE INDUSTRIES ASSOCIATION (BBIA) LTD

Their core work

BBIA is a UK-based trade association representing companies that manufacture or use bio-based and biodegradable materials — including bioplastics, compostable packaging, and bio-derived polymers. In EU research projects, they serve as the industry voice: connecting research teams with member companies, providing market intelligence on commercial viability, and ensuring project outputs actually reach industrial adoption. Their value to consortia is not technical research capacity but sector access — they open doors to manufacturers, brand owners, and retailers who need sustainable material solutions. For any research project targeting industrial uptake of bio-based materials, BBIA provides the channel into that market.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

BBIA's first H2020 engagement (RES URBIS, 2017–2019) was at the broader circular-economy level — recovering value from urban bio-waste — with no specific materials keywords recorded, suggesting a generalist industry-liaison role. Their second and larger project (USABLE PACKAGING, 2019–2022) shows a sharper focus: biodegradable polymers, biopolymers, bioplastics, and biobased materials — the core commercial territory of their member companies. The shift indicates a move from wide circular-economy participation toward the specific industrial materials space where BBIA has the deepest member network and commercial relevance.

BBIA is consolidating around sustainable packaging and bioplastics — the fastest-growing segment of their membership base — making them a natural partner for any consortium targeting industrial adoption of bio-based materials in food or consumer packaging.

How they like to work

BBIA has never led an H2020 project — they participate as a partner, consistently in the industry-liaison and dissemination role typical of trade associations. Their two projects involved large consortia (39 unique partners across 12 countries combined), which fits the profile of major RIA projects where an industry association is brought in to ensure research-to-market relevance. Working with BBIA means gaining access to their membership base of bio-based industry companies, not a technical research team.

BBIA has collaborated with 39 unique partners across 12 countries through just two projects, reflecting the large consortium structure typical of H2020 RIA calls. Their geographic reach is European, though as a UK organisation their post-Brexit participation in future Horizon Europe projects may be constrained.

What sets them apart

BBIA is one of the few dedicated trade associations for bio-based and biodegradable industries with direct H2020 project experience — they understand both the research language and the commercial realities of the sector. For a research consortium, they offer something universities and research institutes cannot: direct access to the companies that will actually buy, manufacture, or regulate the materials being developed. Any project targeting market deployment of bioplastics or biodegradable packaging in Europe should consider BBIA as the industry uptake partner.

Highlights from their portfolio

• USABLE PACKAGING
  BBIA's largest H2020 engagement (EUR 303,947), directly aligned with their core membership interests in biodegradable packaging — likely their most commercially relevant project contribution.
• RES URBIS
  BBIA's entry into H2020 research, addressing urban bio-waste valorisation and signalling their early appetite to connect circular-economy research with industrial audiences.