French law on biodegradable bags boosts market development

Driven by a new law requiring all single use carrier bags to be biodegradable by 2010, France has seen noticeable market development in the bioplastics sector. The comment was made at a recent event hosted by European Bioplastics, the industry association in Europe for manufacturers, processors and users of bioplastics and biodegradable polymers, and the Bavarian Ministry for Agriculture.

European Bioplastics chairman Harald Kaeb said Europe needed to increase it emphasis on exportable and knowledge-based technologies and products in the renewable resources sector. And he emphasised the significance of a legal framework to facilitate the introduction of bioplastics to the market.

Club Bioplastique representative Stefano Facco said the French agricultural and local industry would increasingly profit from France’s new legislation, and encouraged other countries to follow its example.

While European starch industry association vice president Clive Rutherford warned that plant starch from Europe must remain internationally competitive.

(Cf. news of June 22, 2006 and Oct. 27, 2005.)