French law introduces measures to strengthen bioplastics market

Under the new law, not only will the share of nuclear power in the French energy mix will be reduced, also a wide range of legislative proposals, relating to the use of renewables (40% by 2030) and CO2 reduction (-40% by 2030), will be put forward.

Bioplastic lightweight bags for fruits and vegetables, for example, will need to be biobased and compostable in home composting from 1 January 2017 on. The minimum biobased content and its progressive increase will be defined in a decree of the State Council, which will also define measures for consumer information about the material composition and utilization of such bags. Furthermore, plastic packaging for commercial mailshots will have to be biodegradable/compostable in home composting by 1 January 2017.

All of this is welcome news to European Bioplastics (EUBP), the European association representing the interests of the industry along the entire bioplastics value chain. “We fully support the clear commitment to plastics which are biobased and biodegradable,“ commented François de Bie, Chairman of the Board of European Bioplastics.

Yet, as Christophe Doukhi-de Boissoudy, president of French association Club Bio-plastiques, pointed out, while the provisions represent an important step for the French bioplastics industry, at the same time a golden opportunity was missed. The industry, he said, has invested more than 40 million euros in the last 15 years. “Unfortunately, however, an important opportunity to promote single-use bags that are biobased and biodegradable at the cashier’s desk was missed. They could have been a valuable tool to safely transport goods and later on to hygienically collect biowaste,” he said.

The French law on energy transition and green growth also clearly distinguishes between biobased, biodegradable/compostable plastics and oxo-fragmentable plastics. Compostable plastics that have been certified according to harmonized European norms support a separate biowaste collection and home-composting infrastructures. They help to keep other waste streams such as mechanical recycling efficient and clean. Oxo-fragmentable plastics are essentially durable, fossil-based plastics with artificial additives, which cause the plastic to fragment into micro-particles. They do not meet the European norms for compostability and can potentially hinder mechanical recycling. European Bioplastics therefore welcomes the clear vote of the French institutions to prohibit the production, distribution, sale, provision and utilization of packaging or bags made partially or completely from oxo-fragmentable plastics.

As Mr. de Bie said: “France has taken a step forward to the responsible consumption of plastic materials and to treating waste as a valuable resource. Bioplastic materials will contribute their share to its environmentally responsible economic growth.”(KL)

http://www.european-bioplastics.org