Berlin, 4 December 2018 – The results of the European Bioplastics’ annual market data update, presented today at the 14th European Bioplastics Conference in Berlin, confirm a dynamic growth of the global bioplastics industry. “In an increasingly environmentally conscious context, the global market for bioplastics is predicted to grow by more than 15 percent [...]
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, [...]
Bioplastics operate at the forefront of modern green businesses, but the security systems put in place to protect businesses in the industry are often at odds with the inherent environmental advocacy of degradable plastics. According to a study published by the UK’s University of Surrey, burglar alarms and CCTV often have a surprisingly high [...]
Sugarcane plants growing at field The Dutch company Corbion is a manufacturer of lactic acid and lactic acid derivatives, emulsifiers, functional enzyme blends, minerals, vitamins, and algae ingredients. Part of the company’s key sustainability initiatives is the responsible sourcing initiative. It aims to create a sustainable supply chain for its agricultural raw [...]
François de Bie, Senior Marketing Director at Total Corbion PLA In September 2019, Total Corbion PLA, a 50/50 joint venture between Total and Corbion, officially inaugurated its 75,000 tons per year PLA (Poly Lactic Acid) bioplastics plant in Rayong, Thailand. The new facility produces a broad range of Luminy® PLA resins from [...]
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 [...]
There are published standards for life cycle assessments (LCA) that provide guidance on how to compare different polymers fairly with regard to their environmental impacts. However, the rules still leave sufficient room for manoeuvre to specify the methods by which such comparisons are to be carried out. The fact that there is still a [...]
Berlin, 13 September 2019 – Regarding FEAD’s (European Federation of Waste Management and Environmental Services) latest position paper “Biodegradable and Bio-Based Plastics”, European Bioplastics (EUBP) believes that FEAD displays an incomplete perception on how a circular economy can be achieved. Unfortunately, the association exclusively focuses on mechanical recycling while at the same time refusing [...]
In recent years, policy makers have become increasingly reliant on the use of Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) to establish a proper basis for more transparent and evidence-based decision-making on policies and regulations. However, succesful LCAs must take into account a number of considerations in terms of how they influence the final result and policy [...]
(c) American Chemical Society Biodegradable polymers are often promoted as an environmental solution to plastic pollution. However, their degradation in managed and unmanaged environments is not always well understood. The authors of the study “Biodegradable plastic blends create new possibilities for end-of-life management of plastics but they are not a panacea for [...]
