The transition from a fossil-based to a renewable, biobased economy is vital for the resilience and competitiveness of Europe and for achieving the EU's goal of climate neutrality by 2050 – that is, reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero. This transformation is central to the European Green Deal and to building a circular, sustainable industrial base. The plastics industry can contribute to the transition through the adoption of sustainable feedstocks, such as biobased feedstocks.
Using biomass for industrial purposes, e.g., to produce bioplastics, reduces dependency on fossil resources, foster circularity and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. With the right legislative incentives in place, bioplastics can create green jobs and strengthen the bioeconomy.
Global bioplastics production capacity is forecasted to grow by over 130% between 2024 and 2029* but maintained access to sustainably grown biomass is essential to guarantee this growth.
European Bioplastics supports creating sustainability criteria for biobased plastics but stresses that these must be accompanied by incentives such as mandatory biobased content targets, access to financing, and support for recycling infrastructure.
Europe also needs a level playing field for all biobased products to ensure economic value creation, environmental benefits, and fair access to feedstock.
Find out more at https://www.european-bioplastics.org/sustainability-criteria-for-biomass/
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*Bioplastics Market Development Update 2024, compiled by European Bioplastics in cooperation with the market experts of the nova-Institute (Hürth, Germany).