Ecodesign for a circular economy The Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation proposed by the European Commission in 2022 seeks to reduce the overall environmental impact of a wide range of products. To be effective, it should not only focus on individual products but also towards increasing collection, sorting, repair, and recirculation systems. 1,039 terawatt [...]
The European Commission is currently revising the EU’s rules on food contact materials (FCMs), particularly in light of its recent initiatives on Single Use Plastics, Sustainable Products, and the revision of the rules on packaging and packaging waste. In order to meet the EU’s ambitious environmental objectives, the Commission should introduce specific rules to [...]
The current revision of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD), as well as the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) review and the forthcoming framework on bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics provide crucial opportunities to fully acknowledge the role of bioplastics in a circular economy. The Bioplastics Organisation Network (BON) Europe, a collaboration of [...]
The recently published "EU Bioeconomy Strategy Progress Report" presents the state of play of the implementation of the 2018 updated Bioeconomy Strategy and Action Plan and the overall progress of the bioeconomy in Europe. In the report the Commission concludes that the actions are well on track and already contributed to the objectives of [...]
Existing certification schemes to inspire EU plan for carbon removals The European Commission’s proposal to regulate the Union’s carbon removals market will be based on existing verification and certification schemes. It will further aim to create a common method in order to bring more transparency to the opaque sector, an EU official explained. The [...]
Read below a guest article by Hasso von Pogrell, Managing Director of European Bioplastics which was recently published in the anniversary edition of the Japanese BioPlastics Association journal. During the past years, the environment for bio-based as well as biodegradable and compostable plastics in the European Union (EU) has become more and more dynamic. [...]
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 [...]
On 8 February, the European Parliament adopted its Own Initiative Report on the Circular Economy which recognised the role of bioplastics for the future. Amongst other issues highlighted, the MEPs emphasised the potential role of bio-based and biodegradable and compostable plastics in the circular economy whilst noting that bio-based and/or biodegradable plastics alone will not provide a solution to the environmental concerns related to plastics. [...]
The European Commission (EC) is currently revising the Essential Requirements for Packaging as part of the amendment of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD). They relate to the manufacturing and composition of packaging, its reusable and recoverable nature as well as to the minimization of hazardous materials. These requirements, and the associated [...]
