Announcement 2025
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!
Eligible applicants
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:
- 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.
- 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).
- 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
April 11th, 2025.
Applications can be submitted until April 11th, 2025.
Application forms
The application form and current information on the BIOPOLYMER Innovation Award can be found here
Objective
With the BIOPOLYMER Innovation Award, the non-profit association POLYKUM aims to recognize pioneering products and applications made from bio-based, biodegradable plastics and the technologies developed for them. The award-winning projects are to be made accessible to a broad public in this way and encourage material and product developers, manufacturers, processors and players from a wide range of industries to use and further develop them and promote exchange between them
Jury and selection process
The award winners will be selected from all the entries that meet the competition criteria by the jury nominated by Polykum, which includes the following experts from business, science and the media:
- Dr. Martin Bussmann, Expert Renewable Polymers and Chemicals
- Simone Fischer, editor of the specialist magazine "Plastverarbeiter", Hüthig GmbH, Heidelberg.
- Dr. Patrick Hirsch, expert for bioplastics at the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS and Fraunhofer Pilot Plant Center for Polymer Synthesis and Processing PAZ, Schkopau.
- Peter Putsch, Chairman of POLYKUM e. V. - Fördergemeinschaft für Polymerentwicklung und Kunststofftechnik in Mitteldeutschland, Merseburg.
- Michael Walter, Business Development Manager, Hexpol TPE GmbH, Lichtenfels.
The award winners are nominated on the basis of the award's published application criteria. All jury members have the same number of votes and weighting. Each member decides independently and autonomously on the allocation of their votes following joint consultation and assessment of the entries. Legal recourse is excluded.
Award ceremony
The award ceremony will take place during the international BIOPOLYMER - Processing & Moulding congress on June 11, 2024, which will be held simultaneously as a live event in the Georg-Friedrich-Händel-Halle in Halle (Saale) and as a global online event. The award winners will have the opportunity to present their innovation to congress participants from more than 40 countries.
BIOPOLYMER Congress – Processing & Moulding
Price categories
In addition to the main prize, which is endowed with prize money of 2,000 euros, a second and a third prize (both not endowed) will be awarded. In addition to the award, which is produced individually by hand, all winners will be given the opportunity to present their project in a lecture at the international "BIOPOLYMER - Processing & Molding" congress. In addition, the award-winning innovations can be presented to the invited guests on site and also to the online audience in an attractive setting. POLYKUM also supports the award winners in their press and public relations work.
Contact for applicants and press
Applications can be submitted electronically or by post until April 11, 2025 to:
POLYKUM e.V.
Peter Putsch
Brandisstraße 4
06217 Merseburg
Germany
phone
+49 (3461) 7940320
mail
biopolymer-award@polykum.de
web
bioploymer-award.polykum.de
Initiator
You can find information on the awarding organization “Fördergemeinschaft für Polymerentwicklung und Kunststofftechnik - POLYKUM e.V” here
Contact
Newsletter
Contact
Phone: +49 (3461) 7940320
E-Mail: biopolymer@polykum.de
Fördergemeinschaft für Polymerentwicklung und Kunststofftechnik
Peter Putsch
Brandisstraße 4
06217 Merseburg
Germany
Newsletter
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POLYKUM-Newsletter
POLYKUM e.V.
The Association for the Promotion of Polymer Development and Plastics Technology in Central Germany - POLYKUM e. V. sees its most important task in promoting the transfer of knowledge, innovation and technology and the cooperation of small and medium-sized companies in particular with each other and with science along the value chain. The diverse activities and measures for this include maintaining regular contact with members, organizing workshops and scientific events on industry-specific topics, and organizing joint stands at regional and international trade fairs.
Learn more about POLYKUM e.V.
