About the EU "Plastic Limit Order"
The EU Policy framework for biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics (hereinafter referred to as "the Policy"), which promotes the use of recyclable and environmentally friendly materials, sets the course for an environmentally sustainable future. Not only can better regulate the bioplastics industry, so that Europe's biobased and biodegradable plastics industry ushered in a new wave of growth, but also brought about a series of new regulatory issues on biobased and biodegradable plastics and compostable plastics.
In the face of this aggressive "plastic restriction order", what are the details worth digging? Let's highlight it for you and take a closer look.
01, a clear concept of "bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics"?
"Biobased" means that the raw material or feedstock used in its production is made from biomass, such as non-food sources such as sugar cane, cereal crops, oil crops or wood. Other sources are organic waste and by-products such as used cooking oil, bagasse, etc.
"Biodegradable materials" usually refer to materials that are biodegradable under certain conditions under the action of natural microorganisms (bacteria, mold, algae, etc.). The ideal biodegradable material can be completely broken down by environmental microorganisms after waste, and then converted into water and carbon dioxide, thus becoming part of the natural carbon cycle.
Compostable plastics are a subset of biodegradable plastics designed to biodegrade under controlled conditions, usually through industrial composting or anaerobic digestion in dedicated facilities.
One of the priorities of this policy development is to further clarify biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics and to establish the conditions to ensure that their production and consumption have a positive impact on the environment.
02, the use of the term "bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics"?
For "biobased," the term should only be used when specifying an accurate and measurable share of the biobased plastic content in a product, so that consumers know how much biomass is actually used in the product. In addition, the biomass used must be sustainably sourced and pose no harm to the environment.
For "biodegradable", it should be clear that such products should not be left littering, and should state how long it takes for the product to biodegrade, under what circumstances and under what environment (such as soil, water, etc.). Products that are likely to be littered, including those under the Single-use Plastics Directive, cannot be claimed or labelled as biodegradable.
03, after the policy is formulated, the specific requirements for the product to go to sea?
In the context of low-carbon environmental protection, achieving the goal of "carbon neutrality" has become the consensus of the international community, and accelerating the construction of a green and low-carbon development system has become the trend of The Times, and the launch of the new policy of the European Union is undoubtedly the best evidence. The policy also reflects the European Commission's transition to a circular, resource-efficient and climate-neutral economy, as well as its determination to achieve zero pollution. It can be seen that for the subsequent export of products to the EU, the relevant certification is undoubtedly the basis of everything.