Asks to government

Policy recommendations

These are our policy recommendations to accelerate the transition to a transformative UK bioeconomy

The key to unlocking the UK bioeconomy

1

We ask that UK government develop a unified cross-departmental biomass utilisation hierarchy and associated joined up policies and regulatory environment that ensures biomass and biowastes are prioritised for high value materials and products, to derive the maximum value from our bio-resources.

Accelerating  the transition to a truly transformative UK bioeconomy

2

Recognition of the benefits of the bioeconomy, and bio-based materials and products, with a dedicated and coherent policy and regulatory framework.

3

Investment frameworks for biomanufacturing of bio-based materials and products, including access to risk capital, enabling multi-scale biorefining facilities.

4

Elevate the role of organic recycling in the waste management hierarchy,  and invest in organic recycling infrastructure, allowing certified compostable products to be collected with food waste, to be composted, or treated via Anaerobic Digestion with one or more composting phase.

5

Innovation principle-applied R&D priorities for bio-based materials and products, digital and AI advancement, intellectual property and innovation protection, plus skills development to support the transition away from fossil resources.

6

Ensure sustainable government procurement, by implementing a bio-preferred procurement scheme, where the use of bio-based feedstocks is incentivized over fossil-based incumbents.

7

Remove the Plastic Packaging Tax from certified bio-based and certified compostable packaging products containing more than 30% bio-based content.

8

Restrict the use of the term biodegradable to specific applications e.g. agricultural plastics, forestry products and bio-lubricants, and incentivise their use though inclusion in the sustainable farming incentives agreement.

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