Biodegradable and compostable plastics

15.5.2018

Question for written answer P-002594-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Mairead McGuinness (PPE)

Plastics are high on the EU agenda.

To avoid plastic marine litter ending up in our oceans, there have been calls for the use of biodegradable and compostable plastics, particularly when plastic is not easily separated from other materials, such as in teabags and mulch film.

However, some plastic materials marked as biodegradable can only degrade in specific, non-naturally occurring conditions. Does the Commission have criteria for defining and labelling biodegradable and compostable plastics?

Furthermore, there is confusion between bio-based plastics, which are not always compostable, and biodegradable plastics. What can the Commission do to help consumers differentiate between the two?