On April 1, 2025, the REBIOLUTION project hosted its second public webinar, titled “Biodegradation Uncovered: Science, Standards & Policy Insights.” The event brought together leading experts from the biodegradation field to discuss the scientific principles, environmental implications, and regulatory frameworks shaping the use of biodegradable materials across Europe.
The session kicked off with a short introduction to REBIOLUTION and the relevance of biodegradable materials in today’s sustainability-driven world. Speakers explored where and why biodegradable polymers are particularly useful, touching on their growing role in reducing environmental impact across multiple sectors.
A key part of the webinar focused on the fundamentals of biodegradation—definitions, principles, and how to assess degradation over time in real-world environments. The session also shed light on how environmental biodegradability can be proven through standardized testing, and how this evidence plays a crucial role in current and upcoming European regulations such as the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and REACH.
The heart of the webinar featured in-depth presentations from REBIOLUTION partners and external experts on testing biodegradability in three major environments:
Compost: Presented by OWS, showcasing testing protocols under industrial composting conditions.
Soil: ETH Zürich provided insights into methods for assessing biodegradability in agricultural and natural soils.
Aquatic environments: HYDRA highlighted testing practices for freshwater and marine ecosystems.
The session concluded with closing remarks from HYDRA and an interactive Q&A, allowing participants to engage directly with the speakers.
This webinar served as a valuable platform to share REBIOLUTION’s ongoing work, promote understanding of biodegradation standards, and support a more sustainable transition to bio-based materials.
👉 Missed the live event? You can watch the full recording on our YouTube channel.