bioplasticsMAGAZINE_1406

Politics
Fig. 5: Disposable plastic products stand
for waste and littering (Photo: Kaeb)
The difference between a carrier bag and a biowaste
bag is very simple: Consumers get and buy biowaste bags
intentionally for the purpose of composting. Buying a
compostable shopping bag is not linked to that intention.
The added value and second life of a compostable shopping
bag is a main argument, but it would need that composting
infrastructure to be available and accessible at regional /
MS level. Although European waste legislation has set
targets for separate collection and treatment of biowaste,
practice shows that many countries and regions are
lagging quite far behind (see Fig 2). The same is true for the
intended but very slow phasing out of landfill of untreated
waste. Implementation and control of legislation is much
more challenging than putting targets on paper. National
waste management policy and infrastructure must be the
guiding principle when designing Bagislation to make it fit
for purpose.
The discussions and debates on the role of biodegradable
and compostable plastics in the EU Bagislation have
revealed many open questions. How to recycle them if
organic recycling is not in place, or is in place but refuses
acceptance of compostable plastic products? Several
studies were made, or are ongoing. What about home
compostability? What happens to biodegradable bags
if littered on the land, in rivers, in sea water? Experts
know the speed and extend of biodegradability is heavily
dependent on various parameters of the environmental
conditions (industrial composting occurs under optimum
conditions). What happens to marine life if ingested, what
about the risks of entanglement? Some of these questions
are addressed in running standardisation processes or
research projects (KBBPPS, OpenBio), some are not yet
tackled at all. It would be worth reviewing these questions
and actions in a detailed review article to better understand
the situation and the implications.
Advocates of privileges for Biodegradables had to learn
that most NGOs (non-governmental organizations) in
Europe wanted a complete ban or very wide reduction of
all types of single-use plastic bags. Even if these NGOs
acknowledge the benefits of biodegradability they prefer the
switch to reusable bags. They learned that biodegradability
is not synonymous with compostability and doubt it will
happen fast enough to prevent wildlife from potential
damages. The advocates of biodegradable single-use bags
stress their advantages, e.g. to contribute to better organic
waste management and less contamination of recycling
streams with food waste. Positioning biodegradable bags
as “a good alternative” to conventional single-use plastic
bag and finding acceptance is not easy. A more general
view says: If markets are destroyed or created by legislation
the arguments need to be bullet-proof. Expect them to
be scrutinized and put under the microscope by affected
(opposing) parties.
To summarize and conclude: It is good to see that
biodegradable and compostable bags were recognized
as beneficial for proper organic waste collection. It is at
least a bit frightening to see them sometimes recognized
as a contribution to solving (marine) littering problems
– because of lack of knowledge and comprehensive
test methods. Biobased plastic bags, i.e. reusable and
recyclable products from Bio-PE or BioPET30, have not been
addressed directly but would suffer from extreme national
reduction targets and measures, i.e. if the scope addresses
reusable bags. At EU level nothing is carved in stone yet,
and implementation has to occur at national level in any
case. The list of legal measures targeting the consumption
of plastic carrier bags and promotion of biodegradable
alternatives is revealing a scattered landscape – which also
is true for the existing waste management and recycling
schemes in place. Biodegradable single-use plastic bags
should not fail to meet the expectations of awarded legal
privileges when put under the microscope.
Literature
[1] EU Plastic Bags Impact Assessment http://ec.europa.eu/environment/
waste/packaging/legis.htm#plastic_bags
[2] EC Proposal http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-1017_en.htm
[3] Procedure http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.
do?lang=en&reference=2013/0371(COD)
[4] Enzo Favoino, Scuola Agraria del Parco di Monza and International
Solid Waste Association ISWA, presentation 3rd Baltic Biowaste
Conference, 23/24 Nov. 2011, Vilnius
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/14] Vol. 9 47