European Bioplastics

EUBP disputes basis of UK plastic bag study / Results throw doubt on biodegradability performance / Need for clearer labelling and certification

Share of global plastics market to remain very small / PLA and PHAs primary drivers of growth / Europe's share of global output to reach 27% by 2023 / New studies by European Bioplastics and IfBB

European Parliament greenlights commission's single-use plastics rules and adds more / Council will have the next word / Many stakeholders still critical

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