Supportive measures

Although the global production of biobased plastics is constantly expanding and developing positively, biobased plastics have still not achieved a market breakthrough in Europe. There are numerous possibilities to improve framework conditions, to promote market and technology development and by this to make use of the whole potential of bioplastics.
European Bioplastics deems the development of a coherent system of political measures throughout Europe as being crucial to pushing biobased plastics.

European Bioplastics has developed several key recommendations for European and national decision makers. The speedy implementation would further facilitate the market penetration of bioplastics:

• Inclusion of bioplastics in the EU (renewable) targets for 2020 and 2030:
  Bio-based plastics should constitute a new option to fulfil the targets on renewable energy utilisation
• Fair and competitive sourcing:
  Introduce a level playing field for the industrial use of renewable raw materials and their high added value applications.
• Financial Support / Incentives:
  Allow EU Member States to use economic incentives (e.g. tax exemptions, funding mechanisms) for bioplastics during the market introduction phase
• Communication & Marketing:
  Inform the public and the end consumer on the benefits of bioplastics through public-private information campaigns and standardised product labels; support marketing and trade
• Resource Efficiency and Recycling Policies:
  Put bio-based and recycled plastic content at equal level in all measures promoting the increase of plastic recycling and use of recyclates
• (Organic) Recycling:
  Allow bio-based plastic to enter all waste collection and recovery systems, including organic and mechanical recycling and energetic recovery. Products certified compostable according to EN 13432 should gain unhindered access to biowaste collection systems.
• EU regulation on carrier bags:
  Impose a levy on plastics bags and exempt bio-based and compostable plastics to drive waste diversion and reduction targets
• Green Public Procurement:
  Encourage Green Public Procurement for bio-based plastics products