25 OCTOBER 2022
“Bio-base equivalence” contributes to a more circular and sustainable packaging
In the range of options to improve the sustainability and circularity of packaging materials and of Europe’s economy, biomass-derived content must be seen as a viable complementary alternative to increased recycled content.
Background
In the preparatory discussions of the revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, the possibility that sustainable biomass-derived content was considered as contributing to achieving the circularity ambitions has been suggested(Eunomia impact assessment, Questionnaire of the online stakeholders consultation on bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics). It seems that the proposal that will be tabled on 30th of November will ignore that possibility, hence making the fulfilment of waste reduction and circularity ambitions more challenging.
The ultimate goal should prevail
BioChem Europe and its members welcome the revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive and the intention to further improve the sustainability and circularity of packaging materials. They see the latter and the carbon neutrality objective as the overarching ambition that should prevail. They are convinced that all potential contributions should be considered and encouraged instead of adopting restrictive approaches when it comes to the ways and means to achieve these goals. This would be consistent with the intentions of the Commission’s Communication on Sustainable Carbon Cycles that aim primarily at reducing the extraction and use of more fossil carbon in Europe’s economy.
BioChem Europe and its members therefore call for clear recognition of the positive role that biomass-derived materials can play in fulfilling them – also when food contact regulations limit feedstocks usage -, provided some realistic conditions are set:
- A clear and visible distinction should be made between the biomass-derived content and the recycled one in communication towards the consumer, to avoid confusing statements.
- The possibility of a biomass-derived content contribution to the PPWD targets should be seen as complementary and not competing with other circularity options (recycled content) nor as a replacement solution since it also aims to be recycled.
- Moreover, when recycled feedstock cannot be used because of safety regulations for Food Contact Materials or because packaging is compostable, exemptions should be granted or biomass-derived content should be allowed to be used by policy tools as an equivalent to the recycled content.
- Sustainability criteria should be considered to ensure the overall consistency of the packaging policy, provided that:
- They are inspired from existing policy instruments defining such criteria (such as the Renewable Energy Directive), but are adapted to the specificities of packaging materials, and are aligned with the criteria that might be provided for in the forthcoming Policy Framework for bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics;
- Should there be a GHG reduction criterion, it should be based on proper accounting that fully considers the biogenic carbon uptake in biomass (contrary to the current PEF methodology) as suggested into the BioChem Europe position available here.