In modern agriculture you can find a great number of plastic products that help improving the efficiency and, thus, the yield of the cultivated product. However, due to certain conditions that accompany many agricultural procedures, a not-negligible share of plastic remains in the soil. Especially in areas of intensive agriculture, significant amounts of microplastic [...]
A recently conducted study which focused on the identification and quantification of microplastics in final refined compost found no remains of used EN 13432 certified industrial compostable bioplastics. If correctly composted, their use does not contribute to the increase of microplastic pollution. Microplastics and their potential environmental and health impacts have been of growing concern in recent years. Compost produced from separately [...]
Constance Ißbrücker, Head of Environmental Affairs at European Bioplastics e.V. The Single-use Plastics Directive (SUPD) coming into effect on 3 July 2021 will not only ban several plastic applications, such as cutlery, plates or drinking straws from the market. It will also prohibit all products made from so-called oxo-degradable plastics. The Directive [...]
Contrary to popular belief, certified, industrial compostable organic waste bags neither bear harm for soil or human health, nor do they contribute to the problem of microplastics, as experts underline. On the contrary, they convey chances for a higher quality and quantity of collected organic waste. Read in the following a guest commentary by the Verbund kompostierbare Produkte e.V. (Association for Compostable Products / “Verbund”). For many years now, the [...]
Maija Pohjakallio, Sustainability Director at Sulapac Ltd., Finland In each issue of the Bioplastics Bulletin, we present some facts about a member of European Bioplastics. This month, Maija Pohjakallio, Sustainability Director at Sulapac, shares some interesting insights on her company. 5 facts about Sulapac Ltd., Finland Sulapac® accelerates and inspires the plastic [...]
PSI and Danimer Scientific to create bio-based, home compostable film packaging EUBP member Plastic Suppliers, Inc. (PSI), a global manufacturer of biopolymer EarthFirstÒ PLA barrier and non-barrier sealant films, recently announced the cooperation agreement with Danimer Scientific, a leading developer and manufacturer of biodegradable materials. Together they will create bio-based, home compostable films. PSI [...]
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 [...]
SETAC organizes course on biodegradation assessment of polymers As part of its 30th annual meeting (3-7 May 2020) in Dublin, Ireland, the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) will organize a training course entitled “TC12 - Regulatory Applicability of Guidelines for Testing Biodegradability of Microplastics and Polymers with an Emphasis on ISO Standards”. [...]
The European Commission launched an initiative regarding a study on the ‘Relevance of biodegradable and compostable plastics in a circular economy'[1]. European Bioplastics welcomes the initiative, as scepticism amongst stakeholders towards the relevance of biodegradable certified compostable plastics usually stems from a vague notion about their characteristics (please also see corresponding EUBP press release [...]
Hofer’s certified compostable shopping bag with the seedling logo (c) VictorGroup In April, the University of Plymouth published the study "Environmental deterioration of biodegradable, oxo-biodegradable, compostable, and conventional plastic carrier bags in the sea, soil, and open-air over a 3-year period". Days after the publication, European Bioplastics released a press release stating [...]
