Ivona Miketa, our general manager, gave a presentation as a guest lecturer at the „EFRI Career Week 2022”, held on 7 November 2022 as part of the CEZAR project - Increasing Student Employability by improving the Career Center and Development of Professional Practice, carried out by the Faculty of Economics, University of Rijeka. (https://www.efri.uniri.hr/en/career_week_2022/2822/325)
In addition to general information about the company, students were introduced to the concept of bioplastics and our research and marketing activities that result in semi-final and final products that are 100% biodegradable as well as bio-based. Being an important segment of our research and innovation activities, Ivona presented our role in different EU projects, ranging from domestic to European funding instruments, with special attention addressed to Horizon 2020, now Horizon Europe and Circular Bio-Based Europe Joint Undertaking. In light of the conference’s theme, the students were presented a new profession that is in the phase of inclusion in the national classification framework, as well as circular model of economy and the "end of life" of our products.
Aim of the presentation was to familiarize students with bioeconomy and bioindustries, as well as the environmental problem of the use of conventional plastics today. By raising awareness of how much traditional plastics we use in our everyday life, we can try to change our consumer habits and become bearers of a more sustainable future.
Being an active member of the bioeconomy industry sector in Croatia, we hope our products speak for themselves, but sometimes it helps to address certain challenges that often affect our work. In that regard, Ivona stressed out that bioeconomy needs to be better supported in a sense that having political agendas and official documents for the future are not enough if they remain on paper. Bioeconomy industry needs a functional political framework in order to deliver sustainable solutions that will enable realization of environmental goals that were agreed upon by decision makers in Croatia and beyond.
