Objectives

Bio-based and biodegradable plastics are key materials for eco-efficient material cycles, a microplastic-free environment and minimizing the use of fossil raw materials. In order to promote innovations in this field, the non-profit support association for polymer development and plastics technology POLYKUM has been honoring the most important new developments in the field of bio-based and biodegradable plastics from all over the world for five years!

POLYKUM supports the award-winners in making their honored projects known to a broad public. Therefore the award ceremony takes place as a highlight of theBIOPOLYMER - processing & moulding congress in Halle (Saale), one of the most important conferences in this field worldwide. Material and product developers, manufacturers, processors and stakeholders from a wide variety of industries should be encouraged to use, develop and to improve these materials.

Eligibility

Companies, research institutions and associations, project groups or individuals from all over the world and from all sectors are invited to apply for the Award. The competition focuses on pioneering products or applications made of bioplastics as well as on groundbreaking technologies for their production, processing and recycling. Applications can be submitted by the originators of the innovations themselves or by third parties.

Criteria of Applying

Developments and inventions from the following areas can be submitted for the competition:

 a) Pioneering products or applications made from bio-based and at the same time biodegradable plastics. Intrinsic biodegradability and environmental compatibility of the submitted plastic products and/or materials are required. Intrinsic biodegradability means that the used materials can be metabolized by microorganisms and enzymes in a bioactive environment. So these materials can become part of natural cycles at the end of their useful life. Certified biodegradability is not mandatory.

b) Particularly innovative bio-based but non-biodegradable materials and products can only take part in the competition if objective technical reasons exclude biodegradability (e.g. due to safety regulations or physical conditions).

c) Innovative technologies that significantly simplify the production, processing or utilization (e.g. recycling, composting) of biopolymers, make them more effective or raise them to a new level of quality.

The innovations should have passed the basic research stage and have realistic chances of entering the market or should already be successfully placed on the market.

Deadline

Applications can be submitted until April 15th, 2024.

For detailed information please check our Call for tender 2024(pdf download).

The awarding ceremony is one of the highlights of the „BIOPOLYMER – Processing & Moulding“ congress on June 11th, 2024 in Halle (Saale), Germany. The event will be streamed live worldwide. In each of the last two years the event brought together people from more than 40 countries of five continents. The winners are invited to present their innovations to this worldwide audience.