To promote a circular economy and combat the mountain of plastic waste, the European Commission wants bioplastics to be promoted in the EU - but only if everyone knows exactly what these plastics, which are used in many products (packaging, textiles and other consumer goods), cover and if this alternative to traditional single-use plastics is really beneficial for the environment.
The policy framework on bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics, which was presented by the European Commission on Wednesday 30 November in the form of a communication, meets this dual requirement according to two principles: Reducing the use of conventional plastics, Reusing and Recycling plastics (the 3 Rs), and saying ‘No’ to false generic claims.
By providing clarity, this framework is intended to guide future EU policy and serve as guidelines for Member States and all stakeholders - citizens, public authorities and economic operators - in their purchasing or investment decisions to develop, on the basis of a common understanding, a market that today represents only 1% of the EU plastics market.
“We need to understand the added value of each of these materials, which present different challenges, ensure that they are monitored and that the consumer knows how to contribute,” summarised EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius, stressing that “this framework will help the consumer to find their way around”.
However, the proposal for a regulation on substantiating environmental claims using the product/organisation environmental footprint method, which was originally expected on Wednesday, has been postponed until 2023.
Removing ambiguities for consumers
The European Commission proposes that, in order to be labelled as bio-based, compostable or biodegradable, the products concerned must meet the following conditions:
- biobased. The term should only be used if the exact and measurable share of biobased plastic content in the product is specified, so that consumers know how much biomass has actually been used in the product. In addition, the biomass used must come from a sustainable source, without harming the environment. The sourcing of these plastics must meet sustainability criteria. Producers should give priority to organic waste and residues.
- biodegradable. These products should not be disposed of in nature, and it should be specified in which environment (such as soil, water, etc.). Products that are likely to be disposed of in nature, including those covered by the Single-Use Plastics Directive (2019/904) (see EUROPE 12730/7), cannot be claimed to be biodegradable.
- compostable. Only industrially compostable plastics, which comply with the relevant standards, should be labelled as compostable. Industrially compostable packaging must indicate how the items are to be disposed of. In home composting, it is more difficult to achieve complete biodegradation of compostable plastics.
Home composting for plastics not covered by EU regulations should only be considered in the context of specific local conditions, under the supervision of the authorities and provided that the use of these plastics has a clear added value.
In addition, in line with the revision of two consumer protection directives proposed on 30 March ‘to empower consumers for the green transition’ (see EUROPE 13033/4), unsubstantiated generic claims for these plastics deemed to be bio-based, biodegradable and compostable should be banned.
New concrete requirements for industry
Before placing a bio-based plastic on the market, the value chain will need to ensure that the percentage of its biomass content is clearly specified, and that these plastics have been sustainably sourced.
To achieve this, producers should favour the use of well-managed organic waste and by-products, rather than primary biomass. They should also ensure that these plastics meet similar sustainability criteria to those used in the bioenergy sector.
Before marketing a biodegradable or compostable plastic, the industry will have to take into consideration the properties of the material and the receiving environment.
See the text: https://aeur.eu/f/4d9 (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)