Dear members,

Please find below an overview of activities carried out by European Bioplastics throughout April 2022.

Regulatory Affairs (WG REGA)

The WG REGA met on 6 April 2022 to discuss the following top policy priorities: The Commission’s proposal for a revised Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (including Essential Requirements) is still expected to be published on 20 July 2022. In the meantime, it became known that the Commission is planning for the revised PPWD to take the form of a Regulation instead of a Directive (i.e., it would have legal binding force on Member States’ level). Matters of concern in the current proposal for EUBP include the proposed definition of recyclability, the notion of ‘recyclable at scale’, a proposed negative list, and a proposal for innovative products to have a recycling stream established within 5 years of entering the market. EUBP will develop an updated position on these particular issues to be used in the continued outreach to relevant MEPs (meeting with MEP Huitema scheduled in May).

EUBP is preparing a response to the Commission’s proposal for the Ecodesign for sustainable products Regulation (as part of the Sustainable Products Initiative), which was published on 30 March. The main issues of concern include the proposed use of PEF and LCA to develop a single consumer labelling scheme, and a proposed ‘Digital Product Passport’ that would list information on composition (material and chemical properties) for each product. The response will be used to contribute to the public consultation open until 1 June 2022).

EUBP will continue to increase its efforts and outreach regarding the JRC’s ‘Plastics LCA method’ which is quite likely to become the norm for future policy making. EUBP met with DG GROW once more in April to stress our concerns. EUBP will now seek further alliances and academic support to make sure the LCA method is proven unfit for purpose.

The Commission is planning new EU rules on the certification of carbon removals as part of the Sustainable Carbon Cycles Communication. A call for evidence is currently open until 2 May, which EUBP is planning to respond. A position is currently being developed together with the members’ experts from PG Biobased /TF1.

On 8 April, EUBP submitted its input (in German) to a consultation by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) on the implementation of further parts of the European SUPD.

The next WG REGA meeting will take place in person on 10 May 2022 at the Novamont office in Brussels (Av. de la Joyeuse Entrée 1).

For further detailed information on the work of the WG Regulatory Affairs, please refer to the slides and minutes of the last meeting and contact Maria Neguț (negut@european-bioplastics.org) or Katrin Schwede (schwede@european-bioplastics.org).

BON Europe

The BON Europe group met on 21 April 2022 to update each other on current policy developments on national level. The Spanish association Asobiocom reported about a new law to transpose the SUPD into national law, which also allows for changing to compostable plastics (or wood or paper) for some of the banned single-use applications. Belgian BioPackaging informed the group that the Belgian Parliament is planning to reduce the plastics tax for biodegradable plastics for biowaste collection bags (from 21% to 6%). Association Français des Compostables Biosourcés informed about a treaty between France and Italy that is currently being written on the joint intentions to advance the bioeconomy in both countries. The German Verbund kompostierbare Produkte reported about the successful lobby campaign to revert a proposal (via an amendment of the Biowaste Ordinance) to ban compostable biowaste bags from being allowed in the organic waste collection streams. However, an upcoming revision of the Biowaste Ordinance will likely bring that issue back up. The British BBIA informed the group about the revision of the EPR for packaging in which the UK Government proposes to categorise compostable plastics as non-recyclable “due to the risk that they might produce microplastics” and use this reason to exclude them from the market. BBIA is strongly lobbying against this proposal and invites BON members to support.

The next BON Europe meeting will take place on 19 May 2022.

For more information regarding BON Europe, please contact Katrin Schwede (schwede@european-bioplastics.org).

Product Groups

Product Group Bio-based

PG Biobased met on 27 April to discuss how to deal with mass balance approaches for bio-based plastics. The group agreed to develop a position paper, as EUBP is increasingly asked for a clear position on the subject. A first draft will be shared with the group as soon as possible.

Another topic was the JRC study on LCA for alternative feedstock of plastics production and the Product Environmental Footprint method, which is currently under discussion of becoming a mandatory method for assessing the environmental footprint of products. TF 1 already met on 5 April to discuss these both subjects. A letter will be drafted as a response to the JRC who did not take up any of the concerns brought up in the EUBA position paper on their study. Regarding PEF, EUBP will seek alliance with CEFIC and Plastics Europe. A first meeting with CEFIC/Biochem Europe already took place on 21 April. TF 1 will also contribute to a PEF position for the SPI consultation.

TF 2 has been asked to give input to EUBPs “Closing the carbon loop” graphic, to implement also chemical recycling. The next meeting of the PG will take place on 28 June.

For further information regarding bio-based plastics, including sustainability issues and the work of the PG and TFs, please contact Constance Ißbrücker (issbruecker@european-bioplastics.org).

Product Group Biodegradables

PG Biodegradables met on 5 April. The group was informed about recent policy developments with a focus on the policy framework and the revision of the PPWD and the WFD. A further topic was the recent standardisation voting results regarding the home compostability of carrier bags. While the parent standard EN 17427 was approved in the national votings, the related disintegration test method was not. The group agreed to update the existing position paper. The paper should stress the focus on garden waste for home compostable bags, and the advantages for industrial composting as well as AD. The position paper on AD is currently with the group chairs, and the new draft will be distributed in the PG at the end of April / start of May.

TF Agri met on 21 April to discuss a Q&A document on agricultural mulch films, which should clarify misconceptions about these kinds of products and should later act as a base for discussion with different stakeholders.

The TF on compostable plastics in mechanical recycling plans to finalise the presentation with the most important information and studies in May.

The next meeting of the PG will take place on 12 July.

For more information regarding PG Biodegradables, please contact Constance Ißbrücker (issbruecker@european-bioplastics.org).

Working Group Standardisation

There have been no activities directly related to the WG in April. CEN/TC SC 4 WG 2 will meet again in May to discuss the outcome of the voting in the standards related to home composting of carrier bags and continue with the revision of EN 13432.

CEN/TC 411 WG 4 plans to finalise a NWIP on comparative LCA for bio-based and fossil- based plastics, which should be an additional standard to existing ones.

No meetings are currently scheduled for WG Standardisation.

For more information on standards for bioplastics, current standardisation processes, and certification of bioplastics, please contact Constance Ißbrücker (issbruecker@european-bioplastics.org).

Communications

Please find under the following link a selection of relevant media clippings from April 2022 (online).
 
Throughout the month, Comms further proceeded with the drafting of the Annual Report 2021 which included a draft of the preface and the coordination of input from the different EUBP team members. Comms also proceeded with the update of EUBP’s publications.
 
Additionally, EUBP Comms coordinated and prepared the responses to several requests by journalists regarding the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukrainian-Russian conflict on the plastics respectively bioplastics industry, e.g., for the AllThings.Bio project. Requests also included an interview by Packaging Europe with EUBP’s new Head of EU Affairs.
 
In order to further improve EUBP’s media monitoring, Comms restructured the monitoring tool’s search structure and revised the list of search words.
 
On 4 April, EUBP Comms attended the launch event for the ReShaping Plastics Report commissioned by Plastics Europe and conducted by Systemiq, which included a number of very interesting data focussing on a net zero system change scenario using alternative feedstock for the production of virgin plastic. 
 
On 26 April, EUBP Comms had a virtual meeting with Circulatam/Bio Planet Solution to discuss possibilities of cooperation, e.g. a guest article in the EUBP Newsletter.

For more information or questions concerning the communications activities of EUBP, please contact Oliver Buchholz (buchholz@european-bioplastics.org).

Seedling Logo

The changes to the certification scheme decided in the last two years have been implemented, and the document is currently with the Advisory Committee (ACS) for final approvement. The publication is planned for May.

The next meeting of the ACS is scheduled for 3 June 2022, 2 p.m.

For more information on the Seedling Logo or the Certification Scheme, please contact Constance Ißbrücker (issbruecker@european-bioplastics.org).

Events

The Networking Event and the Members Meeting will take place at the Representation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia in Brussels on 22 and 23 June 2022. The organisation of the events is ongoing. Two sponsors have been found so far.

The Conference website has been set up, and the registration for the 2022 conference has been opened. Sponsorship options have been updated and published. First abstracts have been received as well as sponsorship requests.

For more information or questions concerning the annual conference and further EUBP events, please contact Denise Valdix (valdix@european-bioplastics.org or conference@european-bioplastics.org).

Planned activities

Regulatory Affairs:

• Update position on PPWD & ER
• Outreach to MEPs on PPWD and forthcoming policy framework on bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics (proposal expected in May 2022)
• Develop position on SPI (public consultation until 1 June 2022)
• Increase outreach on LCA/PEF
• Provide response to Call for Evidence on planned Certification of Carbon Removals (closes 2 May 2022)
• Provide response to public consultation on microplastics (closes 17 May 2022)
• Next meeting on 10 May 2022 (Novamont office in Brussels) 
  

Communications:

• Next steps EUBP Annual Report: layout/design ready by 3 May 2022, final correction loop, final approval and printing (by 30 May 2022)
• Update EUBP publications (May 2022)

BON Europe:

• presentation on 2 June 2022 @ Nordics Bioplastics webinar on an overview of national bioplastics legislation
  
• Next meeting on 19 May 2022

PG Bio-based:

• Develop position on mass balance
• Draft response to JRC Letter (TF1, together with EUBA)
• Develop position on PEF for SPI (REGA with TF1)
• Collect information on bio-based additives (TF3)
  
• TF meetings to be scheduled
• Next meeting PG 28 June 2022, 10 a.m.

PG Biodegradables:

• New draft PP Anaerobic Digestion
• Draft Q&A document on soil-biodegradable mulch films (TF Agri)
• Finalise presentation on compostable plastics in recycling (TF Recycling)
• Next meeting PG on 12 July 2022, 10 a.m.
• Next meetings TF Agri 23 May 2022, TF Recycling 3 May 2022

WG Standardisation:

• Monitor revision process EN 13432 and activities in relevant WGs of CEN/TC 249 and 411
  
• Next meeting of CEN/TC 261 SC 4 WG 2 on 6 May 2022

Seedling Logo:

• Finalisation of the new version of the CS
• Next meeting 3 June 2022, 2 p.m.

If you have any suggestions regarding the content and/or format of our monthly report, please do not hesitate to share them with us.  

This email is sent to all the contacts of our member companies that we have registered in our database. If you would like to share it with further colleagues, kindly send us an email to members@european-bioplastics.org. 

Kind regards,
Hasso v. Pogrell

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