Practical information
- Composition of the study group and calendar
- Administrator / Assistant in charge: Caroline VERHELST / Lukáš ĎURECH
- Contact
Background
Plastics that are fossil-based and non-biodegradable are contributing to resource depletion and increased greenhouse gas emissions and pollution, if not properly managed at their end of life. In response to a plastics economy, alternative solutions such as biobased, biodegradable and compostable plastics have been sought to shift to a sustainable plastics economy that delivers on the Commission's commitments on a carbon neutral and circular economy set out in the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan.
As a follow-up action to the Plastics Strategy, the Commission adopted on 30 November 2022 a policy framework on the sourcing, labelling and use of biobased plastics, and the use of biodegradable and compostable plastics. The EU policy framework aims to prevent fragmentation of the market by promoting a greater understanding of the production and use of these plastics across the EU, increasing environmental protection, reducing consumer confusion, enhanced investment certainty within the internal market, and encouraging competitiveness and innovation.
To ensure coherence of EU policy, the initiative has been developed in close coordination with other initiatives, including the revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive, the Sustainable Products Initiative which aims to make sustainable products a standard, and the implementation of the Single-Use Plastics Directive.