The fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5) in Busan, South Korea, aimed to finalise a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty but ended without consensus. Due to major divergences around key elements of the future Treaty, the session has been extended to INC-5.2, with the date and location still to be determined. Key Developments [...]
As the bioplastics market grows, it is essential to address the issue of recycling biodegradable bioplastics and to study their most effective recycling pathways, to be able to manage bioplastic products at their end of life. Bioplastic waste does not yet constitute a relevant amount of the total plastic waste (being only 1% in [...]
Open the document Continuous growth: global production capacities of bioplastics 2024-2029 Bioplastics currently represent roughly half a percent of the almost 414 million tonnes* of plastics produced annually. Overall global plastics production continues to rise steadily. This development is driven by rising demand combined with the emergence of ever more sophisticated applications and [...]
Advanced recycling Advanced recycling, often referred to as chemical recycling, includes depolymerisation, pyrolysis, gasification and others. It is a complementary option for polymers where mechanical recycling is not technically or economically feasible today. It is an option for bioplastics to the same extent as it is for conventional plastics. [...]
Home composting Home composting is an additional form of organic waste treatment, which is suitable for certified home compostable products. EUBP supports the Commission’s view that home composting should only be considered in the context of specific local conditions. Home composting is not a professional waste management activity, but [...]
Open the document The properties of the wide range of bioplastic materials make them suitable to be used in a large variety of applications. Bioplastics play an important role in achieving environmental goals such as providing a lower carbon footprint products compared to fossil-based plastics, and additional end-of-life options. This position paper covers [...]
Open the document Bioplastics should be complementary tools to help end plastic pollution. The fifth session of the intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC-5) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, including the marine environment, will be held in Busan, Republic of Korea, from 25 November to 1 December 2024. To address [...]
The European Union recently included soil-biodegradable mulch films, coating agents and water retention polymers in the Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR) 1009/2019. The strict biodegradability criteria outlined in the Delegated Acts underlines the important biodegradability standards that will ensure these products are environmentally safe and contribute to healthier soils. The inclusion paved the way for further [...]
The FPR sets high requirements in terms of environmental safety. Berlin, 31 October 2024 – European Bioplastics (EUBP) welcomes the inclusion of soil-biodegradable mulch films, coating agents, and water retention polymers in the EU Fertilising Products Regulation (FPR) and the key role given to existing standards concerning the biodegradation of mulch films in soil. [...]
Open the document Different types of bioplastics offer unique solutions to improve the sustainability of the variety of agricultural plastic items in terms of their environmental impacts and their circularity. All agricultural plastic applications that can be easily collected and recycled can be substituted with biobased, non-degradable materials. They have the environmental advantage [...]
