About Me
I’ve been blogging about bioplastics since 2013. Check out my website Bioplastics News. You can find more information about me on the following page.
Bioplastics refer to two types of plastics: bio-based and biodegradble
- Bio-based plastics refer to an alternative source of carbon to crude oil (naphtha);
- Biodegradable plastics refer to an alternative end-of-life option to conventional recycling.
Italian state-owned fossil oil company “ENI” and its plastics company NOVAMONT, and the European Commission—through one of its employees—have initiated legal proceedings against me.
- ENI is seeking €2.1 million in damages from me.
- NOVAMONT is seeking €1.05 million in damages from me.
- EUROPEAN COMMISSION — through one of its public officials — is also seeking something from me. What exactly? I’m not entirely sure. It was formulated in such magnificently complicated legal language that, by the time I reached the end, I had forgotten what the beginning meant.
When a powerful organisation launches a legal witch hunt against an individual—using and abusing the legal system, backed by an army of expensive lawyers—there’s a name for it: a SLAPP.
About this website
This website has the following purposes:
- Document the case – to provide factual updates about the lawsuit and the broader context surrounding it.
- Collect resources – including articles, research, legal developments, and examples of other SLAPP cases around the world.
- Support public discussion – about freedom of expression, public participation, and the role of litigation in shaping that space.
- Satire — Making readers laugh through my distinctive satirical style (my specialty).
SATIRE
Although the legal proceedings and lawsuits against me are very real, I extensively use satire, sarcasm and humour throughout my writing. That’s what got me in trouble by the way.
To add a humorous touch to this website, I created a fictional satirical character named “Eni Versalis.” Through this persona, I poke fun at the “system,” including the European Commission and other major industry players.
“The duty of comedy is to correct men by amusing them.” – Molière
SLAPPs
SLAPP stands for Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation. These lawsuits are not primarily intended to win on the merits of the case, but rather to intimidate, silence, or exhaust critics through lengthy and expensive legal proceedings. Around the world, SLAPPs are increasingly being used against journalists, researchers, NGOs, and independent bloggers who report on matters of public interest.
As someone who has been writing about environmental and industry-related topics for many years, I believe that open discussion, transparency, and access to information are essential in a democratic society. When powerful actors use legal pressure to discourage criticism or scrutiny, it raises important questions that go far beyond a single case.
This is not only about one lawsuit. It is about a broader issue: whether individuals and independent voices can continue to speak openly about matters of public interest without facing disproportionate legal pressure.
If you are a journalist, researcher, activist, or reader interested in SLAPP cases and freedom of expression, I hope this blog can serve as a useful resource.
Freedom of Speech &
Right of Opinion
Freedom of speech and humor—particularly satire and sarcasm—are tools that enable ordinary people to question, criticize, and make fun of those in positions of power. In my view, they provide an outlet for expressing frustration with perceived injustices and inequalities and can make these realities easier to cope with by allowing people to laugh at the establishment and challenge it through humor.
ENI & NOVAMONT
Eni is a major big oil sister; a multinational energy company headquartered in Rome, Italy. Founded in 1953, it is one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies and operates across the entire energy value chain, including exploration and production of oil and natural gas, refining, petrochemicals, and energy trading. The company is partially owned by the Italian state (+/- 35 %) and operates in more than 60 countries. Novamont is a plastic producer 100 % owned by ENI. Versalis is a chemical company 100% owned by ENI.
European Commission
I believe that the intentions of the European Commission are, in theory and on paper, good. The institution was created to serve the public interest and uphold the values of the European Union.
However, in practice, I feel that it has let ordinary people like me down. That is frustrating because, in theory, the European Commission should be an ally of the common citizen. Yet, in my experience, it often seems distant and unresponsive to the concerns of individuals.
The European Commission has adopted anti-SLAPP legislation intended to protect citizens from abusive lawsuits that may seek to silence criticism or public participation. However, from my perspective, there appears to be a gap between the principles embodied in these measures and their practical implementation.
This is a harsh conclusion for me to reach. The very institution that I believe should help protect people in my position instead feels, to me, like another source of pressure and disappointment.
European Commission DG Justice letter
I contacted the European Commission repeatedly to raise my concerns about what I consider to be abusive litigation against me and to ask how the EU’s anti-SLAPP protections could apply in practice.
On 3 July 2026, I finally received the response published above.
I appreciate that the European Commission responded and acknowledged my concerns. I also understand that the Commission cannot interfere with independent judicial proceedings or decide whether a particular lawsuit constitutes a SLAPP.
However, the response illustrates what I believe is a fundamental weakness in the European Union’s approach to SLAPPs.
The EU creates an anti-SLAPP framework. It establishes an Expert Group against SLAPPs. It adopts a Directive designed to provide safeguards against abusive litigation. It recommends support mechanisms for journalists and others targeted because of their public participation.
But when an individual journalist actually knocks on the door and says, “I believe this is happening to me — what protection is available?”, the practical answer appears to be: the European Commission cannot assess your case; contact national authorities, support organisations and ultimately the courts.
I followed the European Commission’s advice. I contacted the relevant actors in both Belgium and Italy. Unfortunately, neither was able to provide me with practical assistance. In other words, I followed the path suggested by the Commission — and still ended up without meaningful support.
And that is precisely the problem.
A SLAPP derives much of its power from forcing an individual to spend time, money and energy defending themselves through legal proceedings. Protection that exists primarily on paper, or that can only be established after navigating those very proceedings, risks arriving too late to fulfil its purpose.
I do not expect the European Commission to act as my lawyer or to decide the outcome of my cases. But I do expect an institution that has made fighting SLAPPs part of its policy to ask a simple question when a journalist reports potentially abusive litigation:
Is the system we created actually protecting this person?
In my experience so far, the answer is difficult to see.
TOXIC MICROPLASTICS
The underlying reason I am being sued is that I have been warning the public about the potentially harmful effects of compostable and soil-biodegradable plastics.
“The European Commission seems strongly invested in promoting and supporting compostable and soil-biodegradable plastics, including PBAT (= BASF) and Mater-Bi (Novamont/ENI) technologies. I believe these soil-biodegradable and compostable plastics could become the next ‘asbestos-like’ public-health scandal involving EU funding.”
Axel BARRETT – Chief Editor Bioplastics News
Disclaimer: This text reflects personal opinions, subjective interpretations, and satirical commentary on complex industry and regulatory developments. It should not be construed as factual allegations, verified reporting, or legal claims against any company, institution, or individual mentioned. References to corporate behavior, regulatory processes, or legal proceedings are expressed in a critical and interpretive manner only, and readers should consult official sources and court records for verified information.
SUPPORT ME
I’m facing €3.15 million in damages claims after years of warning about compostable and soil-biodegradable plastics.
If you believe independent voices should be able to question powerful organisations without being buried in legal costs, please consider supporting my GoFundMe.
Every contribution helps me keep fighting—and keep writing.
ENI - SLAPP 