"The bioplastics – High potential through coordinated action" Francesco Degli Innocenti Ecology of Products and Environmental Communication, Director Novamont http://www.novamont.com fdi@novamont.com

1. The bioplastics – High potential
through coordinated action
Francesco Degli Innocenti
Ecology of Products and Environmental
Communication, Director
Novamont
fdi@novamont.com
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2. Bio-based products are of high societal and
economic interest and fit into the EU strategies
• Use of renewable resources
• Support to rural development
• Less dependency on limited and increasingly expensive fossil
resources
• The potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (carbon neutral / low
carbon impact)
• The potential for sustainable industrial production
• Increased industrial competitiveness through innovative eco-efficient
bio-based products
• Biodegradability or compostability
• Often low toxicity
• Green energy recovery
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4. Bio-based products are of high societal and
economic interest and fit into the EU strategies
• EUROPE 2020: A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth
• EUROPE 2020 Flagship Initiative "Innovation Union"
• Lead market for bio-based products
• Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Natural Resources (COM(2003)
572)
• Communication from the Commission – Taking sustainable use of resources
forward: A Thematic Strategy on the Prevention and Recycling of Waste
(COM(2005) 666 final)
• Commission Communication on More Research & Innovation – A Common
Approach including the lead market initiative
• The Waste Framework Directive (Directive 2008/98/EC) for a better
management of material resources and improved resource efficiency
• 2006/144/EC: Council Decision of 20 February 2006 on Community strategic
guidelines for rural development (programming period 2007 to 2013)
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5. Bio-based products already exist
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6. Biodegradable bioplastics
Bio-based plastics
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7. However
• Renewable raw materials are still only used
in certain product categories and mostly
manufactured in small volumes.
and therefore
• Early markets of sufficient scale are needed
to justify investments, bring down unit
production costs, generate higher returns on
investment, and reduce risks for investors
and entrepreneurs.
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9. Push: The EC s Lead Market Initiative
• Legislation promoting
market development
• Encourage GPP for
bio-based products
• Standards, labels and
certification
• Financing and funding
of research
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10. An EU landscape that support bioplastics where they can
add value can decisively push the market growth
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11. A real case: the Italian ban on plastic
carrier bags
PULL: the separate collection of biowaste is in place in several regions in
Italy.
PULL: compostable bioplastic bags for the collection of biowaste are
accepted in the bio-bin and well considered by municipalities,
composters and citizens as a tool for separate collection
PULL: an industrial chain for producing bioplastics is developed
PUSH: only certified compostable biobags are allowed for separate
collection of biowaste (law 152)
PUSH: a recent law in Italy has imposed a ban on non-biodegradable
single-use carrier bags. Biodegradable and compostable bags are
exempted. Re-use as bags for biowaste collection is suggested ( use
and re-use ) by mass retailers.
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12. This is causing 3 results:
(1) prevention of packaging waste
due to a shift towards long life
reusable bags (about 50%
decrease in single-use carrier
bags1; education of consumers)
(2) sudden increase of
biodegradable plastic carrier
bags volumes, promoting a
new industrial chain
(innovation; economic
development) (just for the mass
retailers sectors: at least
40.000-60.000 ton, according to
some estimations)
(3) improvements on organic waste
collection quality
1 Italian Ministry of Environment ANALISI DI IMPATTO DELLA
REGOLAMENTAZIONE (A.I.R.)
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(all . "A" alla direttiva P .C.M. 11 settembre 2008 - G .U . n . 257 del
2008)

13. Pull: Industry s role
• Industry is ready to collaborate to enhance market
demand for sustainable bio-based products, in
order to exploit the positive
• environmental (soil, water and emissions),
• economic (strengthening international
competitiveness of bio-based products), and
• social (in terms of rural development)
characteristics of bio-based products.
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14. Push: The role of European
Institutions
1. Make sure the official legal definition of
biowaste does not exclude bioplastics
(biodegradable and bio-based)
2. No discrimination should be applied to the
compost produced from feedstock containing
bioplastics (certified according to EN13432)
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15. Many thanks for your attention
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16. ANNEX
Legislative fine-tuning that can help the
creation of a favourable landscape for
biodegradable and compostable bioplastics
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