France’s parliament has backed a law that will introduce measures to strengthen the country’s bioplastics market, including the enforcement of mandatory bio-based, biodegradable fruit and vegetable bags by the start of 2017.
Besides plans to reduce France’s share of nuclear power, the law contains a wide number of legislative proposals including 40% targets on the adoption of renewables and reduction in carbon dioxide by 2030. In addition, some types of packaging will need to be bio-based and compostable in home from 1 January 2017.
The French law on energy transition and green growth also clearly distinguishes between bio-based; biodegradable and compostable; and oxo-fragmentable plastics. It is hoped that its adoption will help to boost the performance and environmental credentials of France’s bioplastics market.
Christophe Doukhi-de Boissoudy, president of French bioplastics association Club Bio-plastiques, said: “These provisions represent an important step for the French bioplastics industry, which has invested more than €40m in the last 15 years. Unfortunately, however, an important opportunity to promote single-use bags that are bio-based and biodegradable at the cashier’s desk was missed. They could have been a valuable tool to safely transport goods and later on to hygienically collect biowaste.”
And European Bioplastics chairman François de Bie added: “France has taken a step forward to the responsible consumption of plastic materials and to treating waste as a valuable resource. Bioplastic materials will contribute their share to its environmentally responsible economic growth.”
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