Annexes to COM(2022)682 - EU policy framework on biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics

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dossier COM(2022)682 - EU policy framework on biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics.
document COM(2022)682 EN
date November 30, 2022
agreements such as the Basel Convention on hazardous waste and their disposal; negotiations of legally binding instruments on plastic pollution, in particular those initiated by the UNEA Resolution 5/14; discussions in the context of the WTO, including the WTO Dialogue on Plastics Pollution and Environmentally Sustainable Plastics Trade, and future free trade agreements to be concluded or enhanced by the EU; as well as dialogues and cooperation with non-EU countries. The Commission will also strengthen the EU’s approach to international standardisation on these plastics, which will help to achieve consistent standards at global level.


Conclusion

Many new plastic materials are emerging on the market. Biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics can bring advantages over conventional ones if designed for circularity, produced safely and from sustainably sourced feedstock, prioritising the efficient use of secondary biomass, and compliant with relevant standards. However, these plastics also present challenges. It is important to ensure that they contribute to the circular economy, which aims to keep the value of resources, materials and products in the economy for as long as possible and to avoid waste.

The aim of this policy framework is to bring clarity and understanding of these plastics and to guide future policy developments at EU level such as under ecodesign requirements for sustainable products 50 , the EU Taxonomy for sustainable investments, funding programmes and related discussions in international fora.

The Commission encourages citizens, public authorities and businesses to use this framework in their policy, investment or purchasing decisions.

(1) ‘Reshaping Plastics’ , Systemiq (2022), based on best available academic and industry data.
(2) World Economic Forum, Ellen MacArthur Foundation, and McKinsey & Co., ‘The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the Future of Plastics’ (2016).
(3) Plastics, the circular economy and Europe′s environment — European Environment Agency (europa.eu)
(4) European Bioplastics/nova-Institute Market Update 2021 . The EU market share of these plastics is also 1%.
(5) COM(2019) 640.
(6) COM(2020) 98 final.
(7) COM(2018) 28.
(8) COM(2021) 400.
(9) COM(2021) 699 final.
(10) Renewable Carbon – Biobased Building Blocks and Polymers
(11) Commission’s Group of Chief Scientific Advisors, Biodegradability of plastics in the open environment | European Commission (europa.eu) .
(12) European standard EN 13432:2000.
(13) Biodegradable and compostable plastics — challenges and opportunities — European Environment Agency (europa.eu)
(14) European Commission study on ‘Biobased plastics: sustainable sourcing and content’ (2022). Link to come.
(15) The Dutch government plans to increase the percentage of recycled and biobased plastics to 41% and 15% respectively by 2030 and is currently looking at mandatory targets. As a pre-requisite for support, biobased plastics must meet sustainability criteria including sustainable agricultural production and a 30% CO2 emission reduction. Mandatory percentage of recycled or bio-based plastic. In the European Union - CE Delft - EN
(16) COM(2021) 800.
(17) Current level is 10%. The part used to make plastics is 1 to 2%.
(18) COM(2018) 673.
(19) https://ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=22832&langId=en
(20) Proposal for a Directive on Empowering Consumers for the green transition .
(21) These methods use 14C as a marker for biobased carbon content.
(22) Proposal for a Directive amending Directive (EU) 2018/2001 on promotion of energy from renewable sources
(23) Except for GHG emissions.
(24) Renewable Energy Directive
(25) https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32021R2139
(26) The Commission’s JRC’s Life Cycle Assessment of alternative feedstock for plastics production . Whether the impacts of biobased plastics compared to those of conventional ones turned out to be higher or lower depended on the application, the polymer, the feedstock, the reference material, the manufacturing process and the specific environmental impact category considered. Generally, methodological challenges to calculate impacts from biomass sourcing include indirect land-use changes, biotic resource-depletion effects, biodiversity impacts, end-of-life aspects, comparison of new biobased technologies with well-established, conventional ones and, finally, data sources.
(27)

  Commission Recommendation on the use of the Environmental Footprint methods .

(28) On such purpose, the JRC has recently published a framework for the assessment of Safe and Sustainable by Design chemical and materials , and is developing guidelines to support the environmental assessment of early stage technologies for biobased products. Joint Research Centre, Prospective LCA for Novel and Emerging Technologies for BIO-based products
(29) Home - Life Cycle Initiative
(30) EUR-Lex - 32019L0904 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu)
(31) EUR-Lex - 02019R1009-20220716 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu) . In the absence of such criteria, an EU fertilising product placed on the market after that date shall not contain such polymers.
(32) Commission’s restriction proposal on intentionally added microplastics.
(33) The EU’s Chemical Strategy
(34) Biodegradability of plastics in the open environment | European Commission (europa.eu)
(35) European standard EN 17033:2018
(36)

Issues for improvement are the practice of tilling, not always followed by growers, the variety of EU agricultural environments and occurrence and risks of runoff, and the presence of hazardous biodegradable and non-biodegradable additives.

(37) Haider et al. 2018.
(38) Biodegradation depends on a combination of abiotic (UV, temperature, moisture, pH) and biotic processes and parameters (microbial activity), often not present in the deep sea.
(39) EUR-Lex - 32019L0904 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu)
(40) Zimmermann L., Dombrowski A., Völker C. & Wagner M. (2020)  Are bioplastics and plant-based materials safer than conventional plastics? In vitro toxicity and chemical composition . Environment International.
(41)

Meng Qin et al. (2021) A review of biodegradable plastics to biodegradable microplastics: another ecological threat to soil environments?  Journal of Cleaner Production.

(42) European Commission study on ‘Relevance of compostable plastic products and packaging in a circular economy’ (2020). Bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics (europa.eu)
(43) EUR-Lex - 02008L0098-20180705 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu)
(44) European Commission study on ‘Relevance of compostable plastic products and packaging in a circular economy’ (2020). Bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics (europa.eu)
(45) COM(2022)677 final.
(46) SAPEA Evidence Review Report on ‘Biodegradability of plastics in the open environment’, Chapter 6 ‘Social, behavioural and policy aspects’. Influencing factors include lack of understanding, complexity and proliferation of labels as well as waste infrastructure-related factors (e.g. availability and proximity of enabling waste infrastructure).
(47) COM(2022)677 final.
(48) European standard EN 13432:2000
(49) ETC/WMGE Report 3/2021: Greenhouse gas emissions and natural capital implications of plastics (including biobased plastics) — Eionet Portal (europa.eu)
(50) Ecodesign for sustainable products | European Commission (europa.eu)