The European institutions have adopted a legislative proposal amending the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive (PPWD) that addresses the challenge of conventional single use plastics carrier bags consumption, and explicitly sanctions the actions of several member states that have already recognised the benefits of compostable bags.
"Italy and France have recognised the benefits that are achievable with biodegradable and compostable shopping bags," says François de Bie, chairman of European Bioplastics. "These countries are pioneers in putting the decisive ecological advantages of such bags to good use. This means enhancing the separate collection of biowaste and thereby diverting it from landfill."
In this context, European Bioplastics also highly appreciates the endorsement of the EN13432 as the standard to certify biodegradation and the initiative to further improve biodegradability and compostability labelling for plastics carrier bags.
Referring to the requirement of the Commission to present a report to the European Parliament and Council, examining the impact of the use of oxo-degradable bags on the environment, de Bie concludes: "The report will clearly show that oxo-degradable plastics are not biodegradable and hence do not qualify as an ecological solution".
www.european-bioplastics.org
