Issue 06/2021

Automotive
In November 2011, Stefano Facco,
New Business Development Director,
Novamont, said:
Ten years ago, plastic bags were one of the main
topics of discussion in Europe. In 2011 Italy paved
the way to implement legislation banning single-use
plastic bags and allowing only very thick reusable
ones and compostable singl-use ones. A few years
later the European Union applied a very similar Plastic
Bags Directive.
Films|Flexibles|Bags
In the last ten years, in Italy, the consumption of
carrier bags heavily decreased (-58 % between 2010
and 2020 [1]), the quantity and quality of organic recycling
improved (Italy collects around 47 % of biowaste
against the 16 % European average [2] ) and the compostable
plastics value chain grew (2,775 employees
and a turnover of 815 million Euros [3]), allowing the
development of a virtuous model, an example of circular
bioeconomy, with the production of high-quality
compost.
In 2020 Biorepack started its activity, the world’s
first National Consortium for the biological recycling
of compostable plastics. It is the first European-wide
system of extended responsibility to manage the end
of life of certified compostable packaging.
This circular bioeconomy model of a European MS
is now ready to be extended as well to foodserviceware
and compostable packaging.
www.novamont.com
Major groups such as Matrica (ENI/Novamont JV),
Roquette, Cereplast and other companies started, or
have announced, huge investments in the production of
monomers, intermediates and polymers based on RRMs or
in compounding facilities. Therefore, the coming into force
of this new decree not only boosted once more the optimism
of local converters, but it also helped to attract huge
investments in future-oriented technologies such as fully
integrated biorefineries.
References:
[1] Plastic Consult, 2021, La filiera dei polimeri compostabili. Dati
2020 e prospettive
[2] BIC and Zero Waste Europe, Bio-waste generation in the EU:
Current capture levels and future potential
[3] Plastic Consult, 2021, La filiera dei polimeri compostabili. Dati
2020 e prospettive
Briefly summarizing the positive outcome of the new
situation that we are experiencing in Italy, we may affirm
that the composting industry is easily able to handle the
increase and treatment of the new compostable shopping
bags. Retailers have reduced consumption of shopping
bags in general by 30% to 50%, which may be considered
environmentally beneficial, converters are again increasing
their production and replacing partially imported products,
and new industrial investments have proven that investors
believe firmly in the future of these new technologies.
tinyurl.com/shoppingbags2011
www.novamont.com
bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/11] Vol. 6 23