Politics Situation in
Politics Situation in France Club Born From the Parliamentary Debate on Plastic Bags Article contributed by Florence Nys, Club Bio-plastiques, Paris, France In France, the companies involved in bioplastics are united in a national organization named ‘Club Bio-plastiques’. It is the Association Française Pour Le développement des Bio-plastiques. The Club Bio-plastics was born in 2004 in order to participate in the French parliament debate regarding a project proposed by members of parliament to forbid the use of non biodegradable plastic bags. Its objective was to mobilize the main producers of bioplastics, the producers of vegetable raw materials (cereals and potatoes) and starch producers, to form a coherent and intelligent voice for bioplastics and biomaterials. The Club subsequently intervened actively in the debate on article 47 of the Law of Agricultural Orientation and its decrees of application, which created the basis of a political development of bio-plastics in France. The Club was officially created, as an association, in 2007. Its objective was to represent companies, associations and bodies which want to ensure the promotion and defence of plastics and the biodegradable polymers made from vegetable raw materials (bioplastics and bio-polymers). In 2008 the Club was enlarged and welcomed Three new members from the plastic manufacturing industry and environmental management services. The membership of the club now encompasses the entire chain of the industry, from resin production all the way to the end of its life as a valuable source of compost. The key focus of the Club is to act on the following political and statutory control levers: 1. Implementation of a statutory framework intended to encourage materials with a more desirable environmental impact. The Club proposes the promotion of a credible compostable alternative to plastic bags, which are not recyclable. The deputies (legislators) who first proposed a statutory measure put down an amendment, which was then adopted by the Commission of Finances of the Assembly (Parliament). 2. Development of a composting network in France. 3. Promotion and support of compostable and biodegradable labels in accordance with the established European standard EN 13 432, and the French standard NF U 52-001 for biodegradable mulch film, to facilitate the legibility of the commercial supply towards the consumer. On these last two points, France is committed to immediate and middle term legislative measures by adopting the conclusions of the ‘Grenelle de l’environnement’ (national environmental recommendations). The first text of the Grenelle was to be adopted by the Parliament and the Senate in September 2008. It contained the following objectives in respect of waste management: • To reduce the production of household refuses by 5 kilos per capita per year during the next five years. • To increase the composting of organic material from 24% in 2004, to 35% in 2012 and 45% in 2015 from the households of France. • To limit the use of landfill and incineration and to strongly discourage waste products by establishing a dissuasive tax system. Regarding the labeling of products the text of the Grenelle mentions that consumers must be in receipt of objective environmental information. A platform of discussion concerning the environmental labeling of consumer goods was introduced in May 2008 to anticipate the Environmental Labeling Rule, which should come into effect in 2011. In light of those subjects, the Club Bio-plastiques participates in different workshops in collaboration with the main representative associations of the plastics industry, such as Elipso and Plastics Europe at the French level. At a European level, it is actively involved in the discussions initiated by The European Bioplastics Association, in the capacity as an official member of its new commission named, ‘Convent European Bioplastics Organization Network’. clubbioplastiques@free.fr www.bioplastiques.org 36 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/08] Vol. 3
Our cover photo shows Nathalie Gorce-Joire (chef de marché biolice) of the French company Limagrain Céréales Ingrédients (LCI). Limagrain is a member of the Club Bio-plastiques and was one of the exihibitors at the 3rd European Bioplastics Conference in Berlin. Nathalie explained to bioplastics MAGAZINE: Our biolice products are NATURAL because made from flour and not starch, AUTHENTIC because of our roots in agriculture - LCI is 100% owned by 600 French farmers, FUNCTIONAL because our expertise in plant selection allows us to produce high performance plastic films. Club Bio-plastiques members: AGBP/AGPM: Association of crop producers for wheat and maize. BAGHERRA: Plastic manufacturer. GROUPE BARBIER: Plastic manufacturer. LIMAGRAIN Céréales Ingrédients: Producer of bioplastic resins. NOVAMONT: Producer of bioplastic resins. SPHERE: Producer of bioplastic resins. USIPA: Association of starch producers. UNPT: Association of potato producers. VEOLIA Environnement: Environmental management services. bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/08] Vol. 3 37
