European Bioplastics

Quantifying a biopolymer's degradation in soil / Microbes convert PBAT into biomass and carbon dioxide / Implications for agricultural films

Flexible and rigid food packaging to see healthy growth in Europe / Environmental pressure will intensify on certain sectors / Smithers Pira report

Consumer awareness advancing significantly / Global revenues could grow by more than 5% over next three years / US Plastics Industry Association report

Global production forecast to grow by 20% to 2022 / Transition to circular economy drives demand / Brand owners increasing usage of bio-based materials / Study by EUBP and nova-Institut

Use of plastics in agriculture increasing worldwide / Reaction to shortage of land area and water / Biodegradable mulch films included in EU fertilisers regulation for first time / Biopolymers and recycling associations have conflicting opinions

Biodegradable bioplastics for single-serve coffee capsules launched

Call for separate recycling stream for biodegradable plastics / More investment in infrastructure needed in Europe

European Bioplastics: François de Bie remains chairman of the board

EU commission presents its “Plastics Strategy” roadmap / Adoption this year / European Parliament opts for stricter waste legislation / 80% of packaging waste to be recycled by 2030

EP Environment Committee targets 80% packaging waste recycling / EU Commission's original goals revived

Rapid growth of novel bioplastics forecast / Share of global plastics market to remain very small / Asia's stake to rise as Europe and North America recede / New studies by IfBB and European Bioplastics

European Parliament seeks more ambitious targets for waste sorting and recycling / Bioplastics producers pleased with proposals

Plastic bag ban delayed to 1 July / Authorities promote use of bio-based plastic carrier bags / “ORPlast” circular economy initiative calls for higher recyclate usage / Pressure to lift recycling rates in E&E and packaging segments

New study points to ways of “triggering a revolution” in the plastics industrial ecosystem / Strategies for improving material flow, recycling and reuse / Part of “Project Mainstream” / Release at WEF in Davos

Plastics organisations critical of EU's revised proposals / Waste reduction targets seen as insufficient / Landfilling will still be allowed / Recyclers call new package “light” version

Global growth rates remain high / Degradable and bio-based polymers still niche materials / Market dominated by drop-in applications / Europe is leading production region / 5m t of bio-PET for bottles by 2018

European bioplastics organisations establish Bioplastics Organisations Network Europe / New lobby group under European Bioplastics umbrella

National Assembly passes energy transition bill / Ban on plastic single-use carrier bags and tableware / Legislation also promotes building insulation / Plastics industry critical

EU Parliament plenary session approves circular economy resolution / Binding rules for waste disposal and recycling / Bioplastics producers welcome package design proposal

Global market expected to reach 6.7m t by 2018 / Growth driven by biobased, non-biodegradable plastics / Asian market share rising / New study by European Bioplastics

Follow-up: European Bioplastics and Assobioplastiche welcome European Council's amendment to Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive

“9th European Bioplastics Conference” to be held in Brussels in December

European parliament approves legislation on lightweight carrier bags / Latest legal hurdle mounted / Decision welcomed by European Bioplastics and Novamont

European parliament's Environment Committee signs off on draft rules to reduce plastic bag consumption by 80% by 2019 / Recommends replacing traditional bags with biodegradable and compostable ones

Follow-up: Industry associations criticise a "short-sighted" EC proposal / Allowance of individual regulations goes against a united European market