For quite some time now, the European Commission (EC) is putting a special focus on biodegradable and compostable polymers when assessing the general role of bioplastics. This becomes obvious when looking at the number of related EU studies and reports that had been published in 2020. The last publication in this regard was the [...]
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 [...]
It was already for the sixth time that the annual Bioplastics Week opened its virtual gates. During 17 and 21 August 2020, the social media campaign aimed at increasing visibility for bioplastics by driving digital conversations. The activities were coordinated by the Plastics Industry Association’s (PLASTICS) Bioplastic Division. The campaign used social media posts [...]
In the course of implementing the European Strategy for Plastics, so far, the European Commission (EC) initiated a remarkable number of research studies. The recently published study on the ‘Relevance of biodegradable and compostable plastic products in a circular economy’ ranks amongst the most important ones for the bioplastics industry. It aims at contributing [...]
Almost a year has passed since the European Parliament and the European Council adopted the Single-use Plastics Directive (SUPD) in summer 2019. In order to comply with the SUPD, Member States (MS) have two years to bring into force the necessary laws, regulations and administrative provisions. Now, with the deadline ending on 3 July [...]
In 2019, there was a strong, quite single-minded push against plastics in general from many civil society organisations as well as from major players in the media, and politics predominantly switched to this opinion. Long before the Covid-19 outbreak, industry associations expressed great reservations as to whether the restrictions included in the Single-use Plastics [...]
On 10 February 2020, the French law on fighting waste and the circular economy was enacted after months of discussions between the National Assembly and the Senate. The law contributes to the framework set out by the 2004 French Environmental Charter, and transposes provisions of several related EU regulations. Read in the following a [...]
On 11 December 2019, the European Commission (EC) published the long-awaited Communication on the European Green Deal, which highlights the new EU leadership’s climate and sustainability ambitions. Amongst others, the Commission foresees the adaption of a new Industrial Strategy closely linked to a new Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP). “This action plan marks Europe’s [...]
Since the entry into force of the Single-use Plastic Directive (SUP) in July of this year, the precise implementation of the new EU regulation is flanked by many question marks. In particular, a big question remains with regard to the ‘more sustainable material alternatives’, which potentially will substitute the plastic elements in the products [...]
In many EU Member States the political process that led to the Single-use Plastics Directive has initiated dynamic debates around bioplastics. This is also the case in France, where the national parliament is currently discussing a draft law on anti-waste and circular economy. Amongst other possible instruments, the draft also includes restrictions against plastic bags.However, [...]
