A new study commissioned by the European Commission, Directorate-General for Environment, and carried out by Nova‑Institute on the role of bio‑based feedstocks in plastic packaging has just been published.
The study provides early insights and will support the implementation of Article 8 of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).
A fully circular plastics system will still require virgin, non‑fossil carbon. So what role can bio‑based plastics play in packaging?
👉 By 2050, bio-based plastics could account for 10-30% of plastic packaging
This key finding is based on a comprehensive assessment covering:
- Biomass Flows & Market Data
- Technological Development
- Environmental Performance
- Sustainability Requirements
The study highlights that bio‑based plastics can play a key role in reducing the packaging sector’s reliance on fossil resources. However, their contribution will largely depend on the implementation of supportive policy measures, as proposed in the study, including:
- Introducing binding targets for bio‑based content in packaging
- Recognising the equivalence between recycled and bio‑based carbon
- Harmonising sustainability criteria
- Supporting the development of collection and recycling infrastructure for bio‑based plastics
- Promoting scale‑up and market deployment
👉 Read the study at https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/98759f3f-3d27-11f1-814f-01aa75ed71a1/language-en
