Nature-based biodegradable materials could become a key pillar of Europe’s circular economy, helping to reduce pollution, decrease dependence on fossil resources and support rural industries. To unlock their potential, the European Union needs a clear and coherent regulatory framework, according to a European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) opinion adopted at its last plenary.

In its own-initiative opinion, A comprehensive strategy for nature-based biodegradable materials to foster circularity and resource efficiency, strengthen the agri-food sector and scale-up the EU bioeconomy, the EESC calls on the EU to use the forthcoming Circular Economy Act and Bioeconomy Strategy to turn sustainability ambitions into concrete action.

Rapporteur Stoyan Tchoukanov stressed that innovative nature-based biodegradable materials can help tackle pollution, including microplastics, while creating new opportunities for farmers, fishers and rural and coastal communities.

‘To make this work, we need clear, coherent and enabling regulatory frameworks that actively support sustainable solutions. If we get this right, we can scale up innovation, attract investment, and position Europe as a global leader,’ Mr Tchoukanov said.

The EESC believes that biological and technical cycles should complement each other and that EU policies should better support innovation while ensuring genuine environmental benefits. Agricultural, forestry and fishery residues should be used more effectively, and regulatory approaches should move beyond a narrow focus on technical recycling systems towards a lifecycle-based framework that recognises different circular pathways.

The EESC also highlights the importance of applying the waste hierarchy established in the Waste Framework Directive and prioritising prevention, reuse and material efficiency. It supports a technology-neutral approach that delivers the best environmental outcomes while recognising the contribution of both biological and technical cycles.

By creating the right conditions for sustainable solutions, the EU can strengthen the bioeconomy, support local communities and reinforce its position as a global leader in circularity. (ks)