One on One with Filip Miketa, CEO of Bio-mi

The interview is available on the EFFECTIVE newsletter! 

1. How would you describe Bio-Mi’s mission?

Bio-Mi is a SME manufacturer and research and development enterprise from Croatia, created on the platform of Mi-plast company, dedicated to the production of final and semi-final thermoplastic materials and products used for the production of primary, secondary and tertiary packaging products but also in agriculture sector etc. Bio-mi is a synergy of Mi-plast´s 39 years of experience in the field of plastics technology and our young R&D team with strong experience in EU funds and programmes. Apart from developing new bio-based building blocks and materials, Bio-mi provides services of advising in the field of tailoring and transformation of bioplastics and other advanced materials into final products in line with bio-economy and circular economy goals.

2. What is your mission?

Our main mission is to bring forth new solutions that are truly sustainable: good for the environment and for all of us. That is why we have directed all of our activities at reaching our full bioeconomy potential. Our ambition is to complement already existing recycling streams with bio industry and biomaterials in order to achieve full impacts of circular economy.

Together with our partners, we want to continue working on new packaging solutions with advanced and/or tuned properties that are environment friendly. In other words, the “end of life” of our products should be a beginning and not the end like it is in the current linear economy model.

3. What is your role in the EFFECTIVE project?

Our role is significant. In fact, Bio-Mi is the leader of the WP dedicated to demonstration activities together with other partners such as H&M, Balsan, Vaude, Novamont, Carvico and Aquafil. Although we are a small company, we are proud to have the opportunity to collaborate with large and well-known industry partners. Our core actions fall under two directions:
1. Demonstration and production of new bio-based polyamide food packaging based on sustainable biomass
2. Demonstration and production of new biobased and bio-degradable packaging for other partners within our work package (packaging of carpets, garments etc.)

4. How can companies from the Adriatic region contribute to the green transition Europe? Where do you see the potential?

The potential is huge. In fact, this potential is visible not only in the Adriatic region, but also in the whole South East Europe. Italy already has a Bioeconomy Strategy but other countries in Adriatic region such as Croatia, Slovenia and others do not. We should all work together on this issue. Of course, in this process, the most important players are policy makers and there is still a lack of knowledge and awareness of the potential of bioeconomy. However, integration of South East Europe into bioeconomy streams has already started, first with small companies like ours. We are expecting stronger commitment in the next 5- year period, but again, we need to include all relevant sides. We see this as a huge chance for our generation and we will do our best to make it real – that is why we are here.