Biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics

What are these plastics?

There is widespread confusion among consumers about these different types of plastics. The umbrella term “bioplastics” is often used to describe very different materials, and the terms “biobased”, “biodegradable”, and “compostable” may be misleading.

Biobased plastics are fully or partially made from biological resources, rather than fossil raw materials. They are not necessarily biodegradable or compostable. It is important to examine the full life cycle of biobased plastics to ensure that they are beneficial to the environment beyond the reduction in the use of fossil resources. This includes changes in land use.

Biodegradable plastics biodegrade in certain conditions at their end-of-life. Compostable plastics - a subset of biodegradable ones – typically decompose in industrial composting facilities, and first need to be collected. Biodegradable and compostable plastics may be made from biological resources or fossil raw materials. These plastics should be used when it is not possible to reduce, reuse or recycle, in line with the circular economy and waste hierarchy principles.

For further information, read this scientific opinion examining the conditions and criteria under which biodegradable plastic applications can be beneficial for the environment.

Objectives

This EU policy framework for biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics aims to contribute to a sustainable plastics economy by:

• Improving the understanding around these materials and clarifying where these plastics can bring genuine environmental benefits, under which conditions and applications.
• Guiding citizens, public authorities and businesses in their policy, purchasing or investing decisions.
• Preventing differences at the national level and fragmentation of the market by promoting a shared understanding across the EU on the production and use of these plastics.

Law

The Communication for an EU policy framework on biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics is not legally binding, but it does give clarifications on biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics and sets out the conditions to ensure that the overall environmental impact of their production and consumption is positive.

There is currently no EU law in place applying comprehensively to biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics.

There are two specific laws with partial objectives:

• Directive on Single-use Plastics
• Directive on Plastic Bags

Implementation

Standards

The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has published several standards on biobased products, but there is no clarity regarding the part of a plastic product that is entirely or partly derived from biomass. Currently, there are no EU sustainability criteria that apply to biobased plastics.

There is a harmonised European Norm (EN) standard for industrially compostable packaging, and a separate one for soil-biodegradable mulch films used in agriculture. There is no general standard for marine biodegradation.

Timeline

Key dates related to the policy framework on biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics

Related links