Bioplastics News
News in brief: November/December 2021
European bioeconomy robust as bio-based industry turnover jumps to 780 billion EUR The bio-based industries continue their ascent marking a total contribution of 780 billion EUR, a notable increase of 30 billion EUR (+ 4%) compared to 2017. This represents a more than 20% increase compared to 2008 which is the earliest data taken into account in this series [...]
Revision of PPWD puts key legislation for plastics industry on the spotlight
At the end of last year, the European Commission has started to revise the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) and its Essential Requirements. After the implementation of the Single-use Plastics Directive (SUPD) which came into effect in July, this revision could mean additional far-reaching changes for the whole plastics industry. In a three-month consultation process that ended at [...]
The importance of clustering for innovations and the transition to a circular bioeconomy
Screenshot of speakers (and moderators) during the workshop on “Upcycling bioplastics from food & drink packaging”, 20 October 2021 © PRESERVE, upPE-T, UPLIFT On 20 October 2021, the EU projects PRESERVE, UPLIFT, and upPE-T held a joint workshop with around 160 participants to introduce their initiatives on upcycling bioplastics to a wider audience and to strengthen their collaboration [...]
News from the members: October 2021
Tetra Pak expands production of plant-based coatings for aseptic cartons to North America As demand for sustainable packaging continues to grow, Tetra Pak has expanded production of aseptic cartons made with sugarcane-based polyethylene (PE) coatings to their Denton, Texas converting plant. The cartons incorporating plant-based PE will come with a plant-based cap, also derived from sugarcane. The plant-based PE coating offers the same recyclability, functionality, and food [...]
News in brief: October 2021
Italy’s plastic tax postponed again under new budget plans Italy’s planned plastic tax, which was get off the ground in 2020 and aims at promoting a reduction of single-use plastics, has faced a series of delays. The Italian Government refers to economic factors connected to the pandemic to justify the delay. The tax on plastic was scheduled to come [...]
Implementation of the Single-use Plastics Directive or how to create a legislative hotchpotch
Source: European Commission Read in the following an article by Katharina Hinse, Environmental Affairs Manager at European Bioplastics (EUBP). I thought plastic straws, plastic cutlery, and EPS take-away boxes were banned this summer. So why do I still find them everywhere? Well, as always, it’s complicated: Even though the Directive (EU 2019/904) on the reduction of the [...]