The UK Government says it may introduce a ban on oxo-degradable plastics, following its consultation seeking evidence to develop standards for biodegradable, compostable and bio-based plastics.
The consultation launched in 2019 and the responses have been published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
It says it received 85 responses and are now exploring some issues raised in the government’s consultation on an extended producer responsibility scheme for packaging, as well as its consultation on introducing greater consistency for household and business recycling collections in England, which will be published in ‘due course’.
It noted: ‘We may introduce a ban on oxo-degradable plastics, subject to further consultation.’
‘Repeated and strong concerns’ were raised, Defra said, regarding the extent to which plastics marketed as biodegradable actually biodegrade in the open environment
Government called for advice to identify gaps and provide expert advice on the overall sustainability of bio-based and biodegradable plastic products in comparison with those made from other materials.
This included all aspects of a product’s life-cycle and it was set out that this would help in assessing whether technical standards or other related options were suitable mechanisms to add value for such products.
It’s also sought advice on existing relevant plastic degradation standards and how, or if, they might be promoted without any adverse effects to the environment and disposal routes.
Government also looked at the design and implementation of standards for biodegradable plastics to ensure that they ‘fully biodegrade in a reasonable time-frame in specified environments’.
‘Repeated and strong concerns’
It says responses were mixed regarding the potential contribution of bio-based plastics to a more circular economy, with positive views regarding their potential carbon impact (in comparison to conventional alternatives) contrasting with more cautious views regarding their potential impacts on both land-use and the existing waste management system.
There was more consensus on biodegradable plastics, with the majority view being that they have a limited but nonetheless valid role, primarily in applications where conventional plastic is typically too contaminated to be reused or recycled.
‘Repeated and strong concerns’ were raised, Defra said, regarding the extent to which plastics marketed as biodegradable actually biodegrade in the open environment, and whether the use of biodegradable plastics could encourage littering if citizens consider them to be in some way environmentally-friendly.
As with biodegradable plastics, the consensus was that compostable plastics should only be encouraged in very specific circumstances.
Similar issues were raised in relation to compostable plastics, albeit with recognition that, unlike biodegradable plastics more broadly, there is a recognised standard that plastics suitable for industrial composting (but not home composting) should achieve.
As with biodegradable plastics, the consensus was that compostable plastics should only be encouraged in very specific circumstances.
There was a clear consensus in relation to plastics containing prodegradant agents aimed at aiding the biodegradation process (typically referred to as oxo-degradable or oxo-biodegradable plastics), which was that such technologies are unproven and likely to be a source of microplastic pollution.
In regard to product labelling, evidence suggests that plastics should not be labelled as ‘bioplastics’ as the term is ambiguous and offers little value to the public.
Responses tended to focus on the need for labelling to be clear and provide guidance on how to dispose of products alongside whether they are bio-based and/or biodegradable. Such clarity would also bring benefits in waste management through helping ensure different materials are sorted correctly.
For the full response document, click here.