Recently, the European Parliament Environment Committee clearly voiced its support for decisive steps to reduce the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags in Europe.

European Bioplastics supports the outcome of the vote, and the new provisions on biodegradable and compostable plastic carrier bags.

François de Bie, Chairman of European Bioplastics, commented: “We are very glad to see provisions that acknowledge the important contribution that biodegradable and compostable plastic bags can make to enhanced biowaste collection across the EU.

Biodegradable bags that are EN13432 compliant can help Member States to reduce landfilling by diverting biowaste from landfill to organic recycling. We now call on the Council of the EU to support the provisions taken up by the Parliament and recognise the value that biodegradable plastic bags offer to European society”.

The report exempts very lightweight carrier bags (below 10 micron thickness) from the scope of any measures and requires their progressive replacement with biodegradable and compostable bags. It also allows Member States with existing separate collection of biowaste to reduce the price of biodegradable and compostable lightweight carrier bags by up to 50%.