Apr 13, 2016

A new step forward in the world of bioplastics

The end of single-use plastic bags in France is confirmed for July 2016 at cash registers

From January 2017 it will neither be allowed to use these bags at fruit and vegetable sections, cheese counters or any other points of sale, unless they are home compostable and partly bio-based. The French Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy published a decree on Thursday, 31 March which supports biobased, biodegradable and home-compostable bags by setting out the conditions on the ban on single-use plastic bags introduced in 2015 as part of the Energy Transition for Green Growth Law.

The decree applies to single-use plastic bags below a thickness of 50 microns, which will have to meet the requirements of the French norm in terms of biodegradability and home compostability, and prove a biobased content of at least 30% by January 2017. The minimum biobased content will increase progressively up to 60% in 2025.

BIOTEC has anticipated and developed some new BIOPLAST resins which fulfill the French requirements in terms of biobased content, biodegradability and home- compostability; thus, offering a sustainable solution as contribution to the European circular economy.