Climate protection
Utilising fossil resources in industrial processes increases the share of CO2 in the atmosphere, which in turn causes an increase in the average temperature, the so-called greenhouse effect. Scientists see a distinct connection between CO2 increase in atmosphere and climate change, such as the increasing prevalence of the number of thunderstorms, floods and aridity. Climate protection nowadays is a central part of environmental policy due to the fact that climate change can create far-reaching negative consequences. Governments and organisations work against this threat with targeted measures.
The increased use of renewable resources is an important step towards a solution. Life cycle analysis show that biobased plastics enable a CO2 saving from 30 to 70 percent compared to conventional plastics, depending on the feedstock, the product and the application.
During its Lead Markets Initiative, the EU Commission determined that bioplastics are of high interest due to, among others, their lower carbon impact. In its innovation strategy „2020“ drafted in 2010, the Commission recognised the need to set environmental targets to restrain the dangers of climate change.
The European Union has recently announced its new competitiveness strategy “Europe 2020”. This strategy contains reduction targets such as 20 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions compared to 1990, 20 percent increase in energy efficiency, and a total share of 20 percent of energy from renewables. European Bioplastics is confident that an increased share of biobased products would substantially contribute to the GHG mitigation goal.
