The UK government seeks to achieve “Citizen Clarity” on the minefield which is bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics. Their aim is to encourage clean growth, a circular economy and environmental protection. Hoping to achieve well-understood standards, the outcome of their consultation is anticipated to provide clear UK standards and guidelines in a market currently underregulated and misunderstood. Until then, we can use the working definitions to begin to understand what is what in the world of “green” plastic.
BIO-BASED PLASTIC
Bio-based plastics are plastics made from plant material. Bio-based plastics can either be “biodegradable”, “compostable” or have the same longevity as traditional fossil-fuel based plastics. Whilst the production may be “greener” because fossil fuels are not used, care must be taken to assess the full product life cycle to ensure a lower environmental impact is achieved through the production of bio-based plastic when compared with fossil-fuel based plastic. The source of the plant material, the production process and the fate of the plastic in the environment need careful evaluation to demonstrate that bio-based plastic is indeed a “greener” option.
