EU policy framework on biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics.

The EU policy framework on biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics promotes the sourcing, labelling and use of biobased plastics, and the use of biodegradable and compostable plastics as a more sustainable alternative to fossil-based, non-biodegradable plastics to achieve the EU’s transition to a circular, resource-efficient and climate neutral economy, together with the ambition to reach zero pollution and the need to protect and enhance biodiversity. This policy aims to contribute to a sustainable plastics economy by improving the understanding around these materials and clarify where these plastics can bring genuine environmental benefits, under which conditions and applications; guiding citizens, public authorities and businesses in their policy, investment or purchasing decisions; and preventing differences at national level and fragmentation of the market by promoting a shared understanding across the EU on the production and use of these plastics.
In order to avoid misleading consumers, generic claims on plastic products such as ‘bioplastics’ and ‘biobased’ are banned and claims should only refer to the exact and measurable share of biobased plastic content in the product. In line with the circular economy principles, producers should prioritise the use of organic waste and by-products as feedstock, by thus minimising the use of primary biomass and avoiding significant environmental impacts. Biomass should be preferably used where it has higher economic added value to produce materials, including plastics, and only in subsidiary order, as a source of bioenergy. Biomass used to produce biobased plastics must meet the EU sustainability criteria for bioenergy. Furthermore, priority should be given to long-lived products over short-lived products, including single-use products.
This policy underlines the need to ensure that labelling a product as ‘biodegradable’ or ‘compostable’ does not mislead consumers and does not encourage them to dispose of it in a way that causes plastic littering or pollution due to unsuitable environmental conditions or insufficient time for degradation. The existing European standard will be reviewed with the view to taking into account, in particular, the risk of plastic residues that biodegrade in soil entering water systems. Consistent and science-based testing and certification standards for biodegradation of plastic will be developed. Industrially compostable plastics will only be used for specific applications when the environmental benefits are higher than their alternatives and when they do not have a negative impact on the quality of the compost, taking into account consumer behaviour. Information campaigns will be carried out to promote effective and correct disposal action. Research and innovation will be promoted with the aim of designing circular biobased plastics that are safe and sustainable by design and that allow for reusability, recyclability and biodegradability.