Policy and reports

Published by European Bioplastics in December 2014, this document seeks to answer frequently asked questions regarding enzyme-mediated plastics – conventional, fossil-based plastics with additives that are neither biodegradable nor compostable. The document covers how such materials should be used, what certification they require and how to spot materials that are being incorrectly marketed.

Published by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Environment and produced by the Copenhagen Resource Institute and BiPRO, this report assesses the legislation and practice of separate collection systems for waste across the 28 EU Member States. Among its recommendations following analysis of each EU member state’s collection system, is a call for the obligatory source segregated collection of biowaste.

O. Hogan, R. Jayasuriya, S. Uppala, L. Holdgate and N. Skero. (2015). ‘The future potential economic impacts of a bio-plastics industry in the UK: A report for the Bio-based and Biodegradable Industries Association (BBIA)’. Produced by Cebr, an independent economics and business research consultancy.

This report from the United Nations Environment programme (UNEP) finds that complete biodegradation of plastics occurs in conditions that are rarely, if ever, met in marine environments, with some polymers requiring industrial composters and prolonged temperatures of above 50°C to disintegrate. There is also limited evidence suggesting that labelling products as ‘biodegradable’ increases the public’s inclination to litter.

Published by the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee in March 2014, the report called on the Government to help change the way we view waste – seeing it as an opportunity rather than a problem. It also made a clear call to the Government to create a Waste Champion, to take on the job of developing a ‘brass from muck’ bioeconomy – one that could see enormous economic benefits as well as a considerable number of green jobs – and develop a long term plan for a high value bioeconomy.

Numerous potential pathways to biofuels and biochemicals exist via the sugar platform. This study uses literature surveys, market data and stakeholder input to provide a comprehensive evidence base for policymakers and industry – identifying the key benefits and development needs for the sugar platform.
The study created a company database for 94 sugar – based products, with some already commercial, the majority at research/pilot stage,and only a few demonstration plants crossing the “valley of death”.

Produced by nova-Institute, this updated market study of bio-based building blocks used as precursors of bio-based polymers. Includes data from 2012 to 2014.Aeschelmann, F, Carus, M (2015). ‘Bio-based Building Blocks and Polymers in the World – Capacities, Production and Applications: Status Quo and Trends towards 2020’.

The harnessing of biological resources or bioprocesses to produce food, fuels and chemicals is not new. For thousands of years wood has been used for energy, agriculture has focused on boosting and sustaining food production, and microbes have been exploited to produce ethanol. In the early 20th Century, we saw the introduction of commercial scale production of citric acid and penicillin via microbial fermentation.

In a 2013 presentation, Francesco Bertolini calls for more case studies to show that it is possible to have a successful bioeconomy, able to reach environmental and economic improvements.

Lancashire Environmental Fund funded the project under the Landfill Tax Credit Scheme (now Landfill Communities Fund). The project is titled ‘Kitchen Waste Composting Trial’ and has been set up as a partnership between LEF, Lancashire County Council and Preston City Council.

The government is committed to driving economic growth, reducing the deficit and increasing UK exports. Moving towards a more circular economy can contribute to this and is essential for our future growth, increased resilience and environmental and human health.

From January to July 2014, WRAP conducted a compositional analysis to identify what is being collected at front of store collection points for plastic film packaging in the UK. The overall aim of the project was to determine the efficiency of the On-Pack Recycling Label (OPRL) in promoting the film recycling message to consumers, and to determine, within reasonable bounds of confidence, the typical levels of contamination in retailers’ front of store plastic film collections, looking at different retailers across the four UK nations.