Open the document On 16 January 2018, the European Commission published its Communication ‘A European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy’, meant to be an ambitious step towards making the European plastics system more resource-efficient and to drive the change from a linear to a circular system. Bioplastics provide crucial impulses for [...]
Open the document On 28 May 2018, the European Commission presented a proposal for a Directive on the reduction of the impact of certain single-use plastic (SUP) products on the environment. The proposal is part of a wider framework of policy initiatives in the European Union aimed at reducing plastic waste and particularly [...]
Open the document Plastics are an integral part of our modern life. They play an essential role in providing, protecting, and delivering high-quality products in pretty much every market segment to consumers around the world. Today, there is a bioplastic alternative for almost every conventional plastic material and corresponding application. Bioplastics – plastics [...]
“Plastics play an essential role in modern society. However, their value chain is currently unsustainable, contributing to the generation of climate changing emissions and increasing waste and pollution. Reducing such impacts while retaining plastics’ usefulness requires a shift towards a more circular and sustainable plastics system”, states the European Environment Agency (EEA) in a [...]
In in the context of the currently discussed REACH restriction of microplastics, several business associations representing producers of biobased and biodegradable materials, including European Bioplastics, developed a joint letter to raise concerns about the proposed definition of “natural polymers” and its impact on biopolymers. The signatories’ members are companies that industrially produce solutions based [...]
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 [...]
European Parliament proposes ban on plastic waste exports to developing countries The European Parliament has given its backing to a new law that would ban exports of plastic waste to non-OECD countries and phase out the export of plastic waste to OECD countries within 4 years. The EU expects this move to boost the [...]
It was perfect timing for the 17th annual European Bioplastics (EUBP) Conference, which took place on 6/7 December in Berlin. Throughout the whole year, bioplastics already had been a permanent topic in the debate over innovation drivers in the plastics industry and the political discussion in Brussels. Like in any good blockbuster, the story [...]
Intergovernmental committee discusses legally binding instrument on plastic pollution During 28 November to 2 December, the EU and its Member States participated in the first Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) meeting which took place in Punta del Este, Uruguay. The aim of the meeting is the development of an international legally binding instrument on plastic [...]
