On 15 March 2022, ACR+ provided feedback on the consultation on a “Policy framework on biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics”. The aim of the new framework, expected to be adopted in summer 2022, is to address emerging sustainability challenges related to the use of the biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics and enhance investment certainty within the internal market, by driving innovation, and increase environmental protection.

Biobased solutions should be considered only if they can be circular and make significant (environmental) improvement. Thus, ACR+ calls for provisions ensuring the long-term sustainability of bioplastics rather than measures to increase their use. ACR+ considers more valuable to design policies that allow any kind of product (hence including bio-based plastics) to be produced and used according to circular models (prevention should be the first thing to consider: limiting single use products whenever possible and promoting reuse (e.g. packaging), finally, ensuring that products can biodegrade (through biological processes such as composting) or be recycled, closing the material cycle).