Hans-Josef Endres is for almost 20 years Professor at the Hanover University of Applied Sciences and Arts.  He is founder and current Director of the Institute for Bioplastics and Biocomposites – IfBB and at the same time the founder and Head of the Application Center HOFZET of the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research WKI (Hanover, Germany). His research is focused on the effective use of renewable resources for industrial applications. Current research topics include analysis and improvement of processing and performance properties of bioplastics and biocomposites, development of sustainable manufacture process chains transferrable to volume production, effective recycling scenarios (End of Life, New Life scenario), LCA as well as market and land use statistics. He has over 9 years of industrial experience including a position as departmental director at Thyssen-Krupp, overseeing a staff of 230 employees. He created several new degree programs, supervised more than 200 final theses and 15 cooperative doctoral dissertations, published several books and numerous articles on bioplastics and biocomposites. For his pioneering research on biomaterials for industry-related research at universities of applied sciences and for the development of new sustainable bio-based plastics in 2012 Prof. Endres received Lower Saxony Sciences Award and a Research Professorship. Due to his long-term commitment and exemplary initiative in matters of environmental protection and sustainable development in 2015 Prof. Endres was the receipt of the B.A.U.M. Environmental Award.