The European Commission has started a public consultation on an upcoming policy framework on bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics. Input from citizens and stakeholders is to be published on the EU Directorate-General for Environment website, which is open for feedback until 15 March 2022. Interested parties can respond here.

The policy framework, expected to be adopted in this summer, is part of the EU’s Green Deal, an overarching plastics strategy from 2020 designed to make Europe climate neutral by 2050, and the Circular Economy Action (see Plasteurope.com of 27.01.2020 and 09.02.2021).

Currently there is no comprehensive EU law for bio-based, biodegradable, and compostable plastics.

The public consultation is to address three aspects: the sustainability of the biological feedstock used to produce bio-based plastics; the effective biodegradation of biodegradable and compostable plastics and their role in a circular economy; and “widespread confusion” among consumers on the differences between these plastics.

The EU said it needs to thoroughly assess whether these plastics deliver on their promises, and under what conditions. There is also no clarity among consumers and businesses regarding the differences between these plastics and how they should be disposed of, it noted.

Biobased, biodegradable, and compostable plastics make up 1% of the global and European plastics market, with an overall growth of 5-8% expected between 2020 and 2025. At present, these types of plastics are mostly used for packaging and agricultural purposes, where they offer advantages like biodegradability or compostability.