The current method of determining the product environmental footprint (PEF) of products and services does not take into account the end-of-life options of products. It assumes that all materials are incinerated at the end of their life. This assumption ignores the fact that materials are also often recycled or used in long-term applications.
According to the signatories, a new PEF method should take into account the long-term storage of biogenic carbon in products and the CO2 returned to the atmosphere at end-of-life. This would provide more clarity on the difference in sustainability between biobased and fossil-based products. Moreover, this approach encourages recycling. Thus, the use of renewable raw materials could contribute to the EU’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
The organisations that signed the statement are: Bio-based Industries Consortium, Rede ACV, APAG Oleochemicals Europe, Biochem Europe, Cefic, CEPE, CEPI, EFCC, European Panel Federation, IFRA, The Renewable Carbon Initiative, Plastics Europe, FEICA, and European Bioplastics.
For more information and the full text of the statement, visit the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC) website.
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