10113840BB-REG-NET (Biobased and Biodegradable materials REGulatory NETwork)ClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UK**Challenge** The climate emergency is the greatest societal challenge of our time. Chemicals and plastics manufacturing accounts for ~6% of global CO2-equivalent emissions; international aviation, in comparison, is responsible for ~1% (CEFIC-2024). Yet despite movement toward Net Zero, petrochemical production is increasing (IEA-2018). Currently ~88% of chemicals and plastics are made from virgin-fossil resources (Nova-Institute-2023). This fossil-based carbon must be replaced by renewable carbon sources, such as biomass, to manufacture bio-based and biodegradable chemicals and plastics (BB-materials). To remove our reliance on virgin-fossil resources by 2050, we will likely need ~20% of all chemicals and plastics to be manufactured from biomass---yet today, only a fraction are (Nova-Institute-2023). Development of BB-materials is essential to deployment of a UK circular bioeconomy, which holds significant potential for sustainable economic growth, resource efficiency, and environmental conservation (DSIT-2023). Transitioning from fossil-based to BB-materials will require a whole-of-government approach that tackles petrochemical "lock-in" (DOI:10.1016/j.erss.2022.102729). Today, the commercialisation and adoption of BB-materials are hampered by regulatory hurdles, inadequate standardisation, communication barriers, and conflicting policies from different government bodies. BB-materials are not being afforded a level-playing-field with their fossil-based counterparts (Nova-Institute-2024). **Proposal** The Bio-based and Biodegradable Regulatory NETwork (BB-REG-NET) will foster a virtual network of stakeholders from across the sector to address specific challenge areas, including: _**Regulation**_: Current regulations favour fossil-based incumbents, slowing market entry of BB-materials. Legislative hurdles to assess include, REACH, Plastics Packaging Tax, Extended Producer Responsibility Scheme, Simpler Recycling, and waste management and classification. **_Standards, certification, and labelling_**: Standards for Life Cycle Analysis and end-of-life labelling for BB-materials are inadequate and misleading. Labelling schemes and advertising are inconsistent and confusing for consumers. **_Communication_**: Communication about BB-materials is challenging, with terms such as "biodegradable" often being misused, leading to greenwashing. Clear, standardised terminology is needed. **_Policy:_** There is a disconnect between policies across government, hindering commercialisation of BB-materials. Research funding priorities do not align with the Biomass Strategy, DEFRA's simpler recycling guidance, or the EPR scheme. This misalignment perpetuates the unequal footing of BB-materials and reduces benefit to the taxpayer. BB-REG-NET will assess current status and future requirements of the sector, and develop evidence-based tools, standards and interventions to support formulation of policies that accelerate growth of innovative BB-materials, reducing our reliance on fossil resources.