Highlights:
Toys
Automotive
Basics:
Amorphous PHA
Digital product passports
INITIATIVE RENEWABLE
INITIATIVE RENEWABLE CARBON Policy action promoting sustainably sourced biobased plastics is needed now By 2050, the EU aims to be the first climate-neutral continent. Ambitious climate change reduction targets have been set for 2030 and the 2020 Circular Economy Action Plan outlines key target policy areas to achieve a sustainable, carbon-neutral, and circular economy in Europe. More than any other material, plastics have become a focal point for EU policy action, triggered by low recycling rates, plastic pollution, and marine littering. The European Commission’s ambitious objective to have at least 20 % of the carbon used in chemical and plastic products come from sustainable, non-fossil sources by 2030 supports this drive towards a circular plastics economy. However, an important part of the plastics circularity discussion has been overlooked in legislation. 98 % of the European plastics production derives from fossil fuels, and while reuse and recycling targets are crucial to supporting the shift towards a sustainable plastics economy, there is a lack of focus on supporting the shift away from the plastic sector’s dependence on virgin fossil resources. The European Commission’s recent proposal on the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation is a case in point. It sets out requirements for recycled content targets for plastics but omits to take the opportunity to legally mandate complementary biobased content targets. This is despite the fact that packaging makes up almost 40 % of all plastics consumption in the EU. The targets set in the proposal leave a third of all plastic packaging and half of contact-sensitive packaging still fossil-based by 2040. Braskem believes that further progress towards climate neutrality in the sector can and should be taken by adding biobased content targets on top of the recycled content targets. It will be crucial that these biobased plastics are drop-in solutions that are fully recyclable within existing recycling streams. Furthermore, it needs to be recognised that in order to reach the necessary scale of production both first – and second-generation biobased plastics have a role to play. Biobased plastics from cultivated crops currently consume less than 0.04 % of global biomass demand. As a comparison, about 2 % of the worldwide biomass demand is used for biofuels, 16 % for bioenergy and 10 % for materials [1]. Rather than focusing on the feedstock being first or second generation, attention should be on the development of solid and stringent sustainability criteria for all biobased plastics. This determines if the feedstock is sustainable or not. It is better to use first generation feedstock from a sustainable source than waste from a non or less sustainable source. For all biobased feedstock, first or second generation, such sustainability requirements should include the protection of biodiversity and ecosystems, prevent air, soil and water pollution, promote a positive social impact and finally, follow the biomass cascading principle putting food security and affordability above other uses. Directional guidance and a first blueprint for what should be included when developing these criteria can be found in the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive. Braskem urges the European Parliament and the Member States to include a 10 % separate target for biobased content in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. This would give much-needed legal certainty for industry investments as well as recognition that in order to achieve a truly circular economy for plastics sustainably sourced biobased plastics have a role to play. [1] Biobased plastics sustainable sourcing and content. (European Commission report, 2022) By: Katarina Molin Head of EU External Affairs & Advocacy Braskem Europe Rotterdam, Netherlands 10 bioplastics MAGAZINE [01/23] Vol. 18
