Home > Metals & Materials > Plastic & Resin > News

European Commission reveals its views on the future of plastics

8/1/2011

The European Commission has published its first Science for Environment Policy briefing - Plastic waste: redesign and biodegradability. The document focuses on "the future of environmentally-friendly plastic design".

"The brief explores the latest research into the redesign of plastics and developments in biodegradable plastics, with policy options to ensure that plastic's benefits are maximised and its risks are minimised," according to the report's authors.

"The redesign of plastics is already happening and bioplastics, which are made or derived from natural, renewable sources, such as plants and bacteria, are already on the market. They are rarely used and make up just 0.1-0.2% of plastic used in the EU.

Greater use of bioplastics could help reduce our reliance on petroleum, which is used to make conventional plastic."

However, according to the report a question mark remains over the environmental credentials of bioplastics. "For example, there is debate as to whether they fully degrade in the natural environment, and not just in the laboratory settings where they have been tested.

"There is also disagreement on their life-cycle impacts. If more crops are grown for plastics, this may exacerbate existing environmental issues with agriculture, such as fertiliser polluted water."

Related Exhibition:



			WASMA'2011
			The 8th International trade exhibition and forum of equipment and technologies for waste management. 10/19/2011 - 10/21/2011 Venue: EcoCentre Sokolniki, Moscow, Russia

The Flux® Chair's Elegant Simplicity Hinges on SABIC's High-Performance, Sustainable Polypropylene Resin 7/19/2011

SABIC adds impact copolymer to Flowpact range of Polypropylenes for thin wall packaging 7/19/2011

Borealis and Borouge launch high productivity moulding innovation for healthcare market 7/19/2011

FREE iPhone App for the plastics industry from Imtech design 7/19/2011

Arnitel PB500-H: DSM blow molding grade approved for FIAT car platforms 7/16/2011

SABIC's New PP Homo polymer spun bond resins meet full range of customer needs 7/9/2011

SABIC Innovative Plastics' Tough Ultem* HU1004 Resin Validated as Top Material of Choice for Multiple Sterilization Capabilities vs. PPSU 7/6/2011

Plastic Colors Will Reflect Changing Times, Clariant ColorForward™ 2012 Predicts 7/1/2011

SABIC's Lexan* LUX FR PC Grades Featuring Custom Diffusion and Optimal Luminance Help Light Engine's LED Tubes Shine 6/20/2011

Plastic & Resin Exhibitions
	PLAST 2026 6/9/2026 - 6/12/2026 Milan, Italy
	PlasTech Vietnam Expo 2026 6/10/2026 - 6/12/2026 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
	Ningbo Plastics Exhibition 2026 6/16/2026 - 6/18/2026 Ningbo, China
	Rosplast Exhibition 2026 6/16/2026 - 6/19/2026 Moscow, Russia
	InterPlas Thailand 2026 6/17/2026 - 6/20/2026 Bangkok, Thailand
More Trade Shows