As a key driver for innovation, bioplastics have the potential to enable the whole industry to adapt to the deal’s objectives. The new Circular Economy Action Plan, which will be completed in March 2020, includes a strong focus on the plastics sector. A “sustainable products” policy will be presented, which focuses on the support of a circular design for all products as well as on prioritizing reduction and reuse of materials over recycling. In the field of packaging, the Commission plans to develop requirements to ensure that all packaging placed on the market is reusable or recyclable in an economically viable manner by 2030. A regulatory framework for bio-based and biodegradable plastics and further measures on single-use plastics are also foreseen.
“In order to reach circularity and fossil-decarbonisation formulated in the concept, it is highly important to create a strong link between bioeconomy and circular economy”, says François de Bie. “Bio-based plastics can make a strong contribution as they use sustainably sourced biomass as feedstock for their production. They help diminish the dependency on fossil resources and reduce the emission of green house gases. Mechanical and chemical recycling of those bio-based plastics further adds to the reduced environmental footprint of these products. What is more biodegradable and compostable plastics can help to increase circularity of organic waste and to close the nutrient cycle which is equally important to closing the material cycle”, de Bie added.
