GO!PHA and the nova-Institut conducted a review of how the term “natural polymers” is defined in EU policy and scientific literature. The analysis shows that while science generally considers polymers produced through biological processes, such as fermentation, to be natural when they are identical to those found in nature, current policy interpretations often focus on where polymerization occurs.
This origin-based approach can create barriers for nature-identical materials and hinder innovation. The report therefore proposes three pathways to better align policy with science: revising the definition of natural polymers, adopting a criteria-based approach that evaluates materials based on environmental performance such as biodegradability, and introducing a category for “nature-identical” polymers to ensure fair regulatory treatment of bio-manufactured materials.
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GO!PHA, press release, 2026-03-10.
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