European Bioplastics recognises the need for a more resource efficient and sustainable economy. An overall reduction in the consumption of plastic shopping bags will play an important role achieving this goal.

European Bioplastics advocates the introduction of suitable measures to minimise the consumption of oil-based plastic shopping bags, such as taxes or charges. In addition, European Bioplastics advocates the following exceptions to offer consumers and retailers an alternative solution:

1) Plastic shopping bags containing at least 50 percent biobased content should be exempted from reduction measures in all countries.

2) Compostable EN13432 compliant plastic shopping bags that contain at least 50 percent biobased content should be exempted from reduction measures in countries where organic waste is recovered and organically recycled.