Biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics are emerging in our daily lives as alternatives to conventional (fossil based and non-biodegradable) plastics. They are used in packaging, consumer goods and textiles, and in other sectors.
Why is the Commission presenting today’s Communication?
It is easy to think that they are environmentally-friendly because they are named ‘bio’. This is true to a certain extent but only if specific sustainability conditions are met.
Today’s Communication aims to improve the understanding around these materials and clarify where these plastics can bring genuine environmental benefits: under which conditions and in which applications. By doing this, it aims to guide citizens, public authorities and economic operators in their policy, purchasing or investment decisions. A shared understanding across the EU on the production and use of these plastics will also prevent differences at national level and fragmentation of the market.
What is the Communication proposing?
The Communication brings more clarity on biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics and sets out the conditions to ensure that the environmental impact of their production and consumption is positive. For this, a product labelled as ‘biobased’, ‘biodegradable’ or ‘compostable’ needs to satisfy key conditions:
- for ‘biobased‘, the term should be used only if the exact and measurable share of biobased plastic content in the product is specified, so that consumers know how much biomass has actually been used in the product. In addition, the biomass used must be sustainably sourced, with no harm to the environment. The sourcing of these plastics should comply with sustainability criteria. Producers should prioritise organic waste and residues.
- for ‘biodegradable‘, it should be made clear that such products should not be littered and it should be specified how long the product needs to biodegrade, under which circumstances and in what environment (such as soil, water etc). Products that are likely to be littered, including those covered by the Single-use Plastics Directive, cannot be claimed to be or labelled as biodegradable.
- for ‘compostable‘, only industrially compostable plastics, which comply with relevant standards, should be labelled as ‘compostable’. Industrially compostable packaging should display the way in which the items should be disposed of. In home composting, it is harder to reach full biodegradation of compostable plastics. Home composting for plastics not covered by EU rules should only be considered in the context of specific local conditions under the supervision of the authorities and provided that the use of such plastics has clear added value.
In addition, in line with the Commission’s proposals on Empowering consumers for the green transition, generic unsubstantiated claims about these plastics (i.e. ‘bioplastics’, ‘biobased’, ‘biodegradable’) should be banned.
What does the new policy framework mean for consumers?
They will bring more clarity and trust. Consumers expect these plastics to deliver genuine environmental benefits. They also ask to be informed about their proper use and disposal, as shown by a report published today together with the Communication. In this context, consumers should be informed for instance that biodegradable plastics are not a licence to litter: any plastic that is littered and enters the open environment has the potential to damage it and increase microplastics pollution.
As to industrially compostable plastics (i.e. plastics that are designed to decompose in industrial composting facilities), such packaging should display the way in which it should be disposed of using pictograms, as outlined in today’s proposal for a Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation.
Avoiding generic claims on plastic products such as ‘bioplastics’ will help fight greenwashing and avoid misleading consumers.
How does the initiative contribute to the EU’s strategic autonomy in terms of critical raw materials and energy use?
Using sustainably sourced biomass, in particular organic waste and residues, can partially replace fossil fuels for the chemical and derived material industries, like the plastic industry. In this sense, it is a way to reduce dependency on imported fossil fuels and increase the EU’s open strategic autonomy. But when biobased plastics are derived from plants grown specifically to be used as feedstock (sugar, cereals or vegetable oils), rather than from organic waste or by-products, these plastics are in competition for land.
When primary biomass is used, it is important to ensure that it is environmentally sustainable and its production does not harm biodiversity or ecosystem health.
In line with the circular economy objectives and the cascading use of biomass principle, the Commission encourages producers to prioritise the use of organic waste and by-products as feedstock, minimising the use of primary biomass and avoiding significant environmental impacts.
How does this initiative interact with the 2019 Directive on Single-Use Plastics?
By bringing clarity around these materials, this initiative contributes to a correct implementation of the Single Use Plastics Directive. Products likely to be littered (including those covered by the Single- Use Plastics Directive) cannot be labelled as biodegradable.
How does this initiative complement the Plastic Bags Directive?
When implementing the Plastic Bags Directive, Member States are obliged to take measures to reduce the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags. Some Member States grant exemptions from their consumption reduction measures for bags with biodegradable/compostable characteristics. Today’s Communication offers guiding sustainability principles as to the use and disposal of biodegradable and compostable plastics, including for bags applications.
For instance, the Communication specifies that industrially compostable plastic bags for the separate collection of biowaste are an example of beneficial application of compostable plastic. These bags can reduce the plastics pollution of compost as opposed to non-biodegradable plastic bags, which present contamination problems in biowaste treatment systems. Of course, in line with the circular economy principles, the total amount of bags still should be reduced to the minimum.
What is the link between the Communication on a policy framework for biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics and the ecodesign requirements for sustainable products?
This Communication can help develop eco-design requirements for sustainable products.
For instance, the initiative specifies the essential elements to be considered when designing these plastics: the share of biobased plastic content used and the sustainability of the sourcing for biobased plastics; the correct use and disposal of biodegradable and compostable plastics, as well as the conditions and timeframe needed to biodegrade.
In general, the initiative encourages more circular plastics – the reuse of materials of all feedstocks, including biobased feedstocks, for as long as possible, remains a central priority. Eco-design requirements should also take into account that the Communication encourages the use of secondary raw materials instead of primary raw materials, including biobased materials, wherever possible.
What does the Communication mean for the industry?
This Communication is expected to guide future choices of the industry:
- before placing a biobased plastic on the market, the value chain should ensure that the percentage of its biomass content is clearly specified, and that these plastics have been sustainably sourced;
- for that, producers should prioritise the use of well-managed organic waste and by-products, instead of primary biomass; they should also ensure that these plastics comply with sustainability criteria similar to those used in the bioenergy sector[1]. Methodologies to assess the impacts of biobased plastics compared to fossil-based plastics from a life-cycle perspective are still under development.
- before placing a biodegradable or compostable plastic on the market, the industry needs to consider the whole system: the material property, the receiving environment (i.e. soil, water), the timeframe needed for biodegradation, as well as consumer behaviour.
- For biodegradable plastics and compostable plastics, producers should focus investments only in applications where there are genuine environmental benefits in using such plastics.
- Biodegradable plastics have benefits where the full removal, collection and recycling of conventional plastics are not feasible. As an example, this is the case of mulch films used in agriculture, provided that they are certified compliant against appropriate standards.
- Compostable plastics have benefits where applications are likely to protect compost against plastic contamination and increase biowaste collection. As an example, this is the case of tea bags and filter coffee pods, fruit and vegetable stickers as well as very light plastic carrier bags although alternatives with no packaging or reusable alternatives are to be preferred.
- Additives used to manufacture biodegradable (or compostable plastics) should biodegrade safely and not be harmful for the environment. They should be disclosed to retailers, users and the public.
The Commission will continue to promote research and innovation on these plastics to address the still persisting technical challenges related to their production, use and disposal.
What is the impact of the Communication on small and medium companies?
This Communication offers guidance for citizens, public authorities and all relevant economic operators in their policy, purchasing or investing decisions. It will guide SMEs in their investments in applications that are most beneficial for the environment and society. If an SME is confronted with technical or technological challenges related to the production, use or disposal of these plastics, it can apply for research and innovation funding, but the sustainability principles of this initiative will apply to SMEs as well.
[1] The same criteria are applicable except on greenhouse gas emissions: because biobased plastics are not used to generate energy, using the same methodology to calculate greenhouse gas emissions would not be appropriate.
Source
European Commission, press release, 2022-11-30.
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