European Bioplastics e.V. Marienstr. 19/20
European Bioplastics e.V.
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Considerations of European Bioplas tics conc er ning the
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CIRCUL AR ECONOMY
PROPOSAL 2015 OF THE
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
European Bioplastics (EUBP) has taken note of the Commission’s decision to withdraw the Circular Economy package and supports the commitment to present a more ambitious proposal in 2015.
EUBP represents the European bioplastics industry. Our
sector has a strong record for developing innovative technological solutions and aligning industrial objectives with
environmental sustainability. In order for Europe to reinforce its position as a front-runner of resource efficiency
and green growth, forward looking sectors with strong
environmental credentials and growth potential, such as
bioplastics, need to be promoted. We therefore call on the
Commission to adequately consider the role of this sector
and the bioeconomy at large in its forthcoming proposal,
as further explained below.
European Bioplastics’ key considerations on the Circular
Economy Proposal 2015:
We agree with the underlying principle of the circular economy that waste should be regarded as a valuable resource.
Materials used for industrial and commercial purposes
should safely (re-)enter re-use, mechanical or biological
recycling systems by design or intention. Therefore, a new,
more ambitious circular economy package should address
a range of economic sectors.
EUBP calls on the Commission to:
1. Introduce concrete provisions that stimulate the
bioeconomy and further use of responsibly sourced
renewable raw materials
Stimulating the bioeconomy
Bioplastics constitute a large family of alternative plastic
materials that are biobased, biodegradable, or both. With
a current global market share of almost one percent, they
represent an economically innovative sector that grows 20100 percent per year. These growth rates can drive economic development and employment, also in rural European
areas.
Using biomass for industrial purposes, such as the production of bioplastics, can help provide solutions to the
current resource efficiency challenges that the EU is facing. The benefits include a reduced dependency on limited fossil resources, a much lower carbon footprint of
biobased plastics products, and the implementation of the
efficient use of biomass (via e.g. zero-waste biorefineries)
combined with use cascades, where appropriate. However,
there is currently no comprehensive EU framework in place
to support the material use of renewable raw materials.
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-European
Therefore,
it is crucial that the EU Waste Framework
Bioplastics e.V. Marienstr. 19/20 10117 Berlin
Directive (WFD) explicitly encourage Member States
to consider the impact on the bioeconomy when
introducing legislative or economic instruments. In a bid
to incentivise further use of biobased products, EUBP also
calls for the inclusion of eco-design measures in the
WFD that promote the use of products made from
responsibly sourced renewable raw materials.
Biobased content in packaging
Packaging is currently the largest field of application for
bioplastics where it plays an important role in the overall
reduction of especially food waste, a major source of CO2
emissions. There are for example bioplastic packaging materials on the market, which have the valuable property to
better protect food and prolong its shelf life.
- In order to encourage a more resource efficient packaging
sector, EUBP calls for an indicative target to be set for the
use of sustainably sourced renewable raw materials in
packaging in the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste
Directive (PPWD).
2. Increase waste management efficiency by promoting the
separate collection of biowaste for organic recycling
Separate biowaste collection and organic recycling
Better use of compostable plastics will help to divert organic waste from landfills and incineration into organic recycling. Increased collection of biowaste can significantly
contribute to better waste management, reduced landfilling and lowered greenhouse gas emissions.
- In light of this, it is crucial that the WFD ensure that the
European Bioplastics e.V.
separate collection of biowaste is binding for Member
States by January 2020 atMarienstr.
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lation, which is why EU waste legislation also needs to
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include clear definitions of biowaste as well as organic
recycling. As an important waste management method, organic recycling - in the form of composting and anaerobic
digestion - should be included in the definition of recycling.
Phasing out of landfill
Landfill is at the bottom of the EU waste hierarchy and
EUBP supports a progressive phasing out of landfilling in
the EU.
- In light of this, EU legislation should require Member States
to exclude mechanically and organically recyclable waste
from landfills by 2020 at the latest
About European Bioplastics
European Bioplastics represents the interests of around
70 member companies throughout the European Union.
With members from the whole value chain, European Bioplastics serves as both a contact platform and catalyst for
advancing the objectives of the growing bioplastics industry.
For further information, please visit http://en.europeanbioplastics.org.
Contact:
European
Bioplastics e.V.,
Phone: +49 USt-IdNr.
30 28 48 23
50, Email: [email protected], www.european-bioplastics.org
VR 19997
Nz, Amtsgericht
Charlottenburg,
DE235874231
Rosenheim, BLZ 711 200 77, Konto 6356800, IBAN DE26 7112 0077 0006 3568 00, BIC/SWIFT HYVEDEMM448
AprilHypoVereinsbank
2015