Brussels, 20 November 2023 – A recent study from Wageningen University & Research (WUR) yet again confirms the advantages of compostable coffee capsules over any other type of coffee capsules. Last week, WUR(1) released a study which assessed the environmental impact and circularity of coffee capsules made from compostable biobased materials, aluminium, and conventional [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Inhabitants: 9,1 mio Area: 83,882 km2 NATIONAL WASTE SYSTEM – GENERAL LEGISLATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE Authorities for waste management and organic waste management (if different), and key contacts: Waste Management is organized locally by the federal states and backed by government law (Abfallwirtschaftsgesetz, AWG). The executing authorities are Bundesministerium für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Energie, Mobilität, [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
The European Bioplastics (EUBP) Conference, the leading business and networking event for the bioplastics industry, will take place on 6/7 December 2022 in Berlin. Its long-awaited conference programme was just recently published. “The success story of this conference continues in its 17th edition. We look forward to welcoming the international bioplastics community in Berlin”, [...]
The current revision of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD), as well as the Waste Framework Directive (WFD) review and the forthcoming framework on bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics provide crucial opportunities to fully acknowledge the role of bioplastics in a circular economy. The Bioplastics Organisation Network (BON) Europe, a collaboration of [...]
Chemical recycling: ‘A small but significant part of addressing the plastics puzzle’ Chemical recycling may not be a perfect solution to the plastic waste problem, but in certain scenarios, it’s the best answer we have. Ignacio Gavilan, sustainability director at The Consumer Goods Forum, tells us more. Unlike mechanical recycling, chemical recycling changes the [...]
In order to achieve the ambitious goals of the European Green Deal, respectively the Circular Economy Action Plan, the European Commission already initiated a significant number of regulatory processes. To improve Europe’s waste management in line with the waste hierarchy and the implementation of the polluter principle, the Commission had initiated a Call for [...]
