In 2022, the European Commission adopted a policy framework on the sourcing, labelling and use of biobased plastics, and the use of biodegradable and compostable plastics. The policy framework was announced in the European Green Deal, Circular Economy Action Plan, and Plastics Strategy with the aim to contribute to a sustainable plastics economy. In particular, it aims to improve the understanding around bioplastics. The framework clarifies where these innovative materials can provide environmental benefits, under which conditions, and for which applications, while holding them to the same strict standards as any other material.
There is currently no EU law in place applying to bioplastics specifically, although some legislation, such as EU Taxonomy, the Single Use Plastics Directive, the Plastic Carrier Bags Directive, the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive as well as the Waste Framework Directive address some aspects and applications of biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics. And while the Commission’s Communication for the EU policy framework is non-legislative, i.e., is not legally binding, it reflects the Commission’s views and intentions on these materials and will guide future EU policy making, such as the initiatives on green claims, ecodesign for sustainable products, carbon removal, or microplastics.
EUBP position
European Bioplastics (EUBP) and its members welcome the Commission’s initiative to develop a first comprehensive policy framework on bioplastic materials. The Communication provides an extensive analysis of our sector in Europe and acknowledges advantages and potentials of our materials to provide genuine environmental benefits.
However, despite strong and sound scientific evidence, a few persistent misconceptions remained in the policy framework with regards to land-use, the evaluation of environmental benefits, alleged risks of cross-contamination of waste streams, and biodegradability in different environments.
The policy framework fails to recognise and promote the main advantages of biobased plastics, i.e., the use of renewable resources to produce plastic materials, and their contribution to the transition to a circular and carbon-neutral bioeconomy. The framework also presents a very limiting and overly cautious view on the special property of biodegradability in specific environments, hence neglecting the huge potential, in the case of industrially compostable plastics, for the circular economy and, generally, hampering innovation in this young and promising sector.
We fear that these flaws in the Communication will prevent the Commission from fully embracing the shift to biobased products that are necessary to enable Europe to reduce its dependency on fossil resources and achieve its ambitious climate and circularity goals. We are also concerned that the current approach will stifle rather than stimulate further innovation and market potential of sustainable material solutions in Europe.
In this paper, EUBP would like to highlight the benefits of bioplastics and clarify some of the shortcomings of the Commission’s Communication.