Overview
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ABSTRACT
Bio-based plastics and recycled plastics are more and more often used in packaging in France and elsewhere. These materials are complementary to the virgin plastics of fossil origin. They bring new functionalities and added-value to plastic and flexible packaging. Studies all predict a growth of these plastics in the years to come, but the growth rate is still uncertain. This article describes the current situation, the determining factors of this growth and the principal initiatives taken in response to the challenge of developing bio-based and recycled plastics in packaging.
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Vincent COLARD: Environment" project manager - ELIPSO, plastic and flexible packaging companies
INTRODUCTION
Biosourced plastics and recycled plastics are developing in both plastic and flexible packaging, which can combine different plastics or plastics with other materials (hereafter included in the notion of plastic packaging for simplicity's sake). They represent a complementary source of supply to virgin plastics of fossil origin for packaging manufacturers, bringing new functionalities and creating added value for packaged products.
In this context, it seems appropriate to focus on post-consumer recycled plastics, since recycling production off-cuts is a better reflection of the processor's sound management of raw materials, and is standard practice for most manufacturers. What's more, recycling post-consumer plastic waste involves special collection, sorting and recycling constraints.
The term "biosourced" plastic is preferred to "bioplastic". Indeed, "bioplastic" is subject to different interpretations at international level, and refers more generally to biosourced and biodegradable plastics. Biosourced plastics, like all biosourced products, are partially or totally derived from biomass, in accordance with standard EN 16575. Thus, the ability of a plastic packaging to biodegrade under certain conditions is considered here as a functionality added to the packaging, and for which certain biosourced plastics may be of particular interest.
First, we need to present the current plastic packaging market, which is a key element in understanding the present and future development of recycled and bio-sourced plastics in packaging. Next, we'll take a closer look at the current market for recycled plastic packaging, and the obstacles and levers for developing these materials. Finally, an analysis based on the same model will be carried out on biosourced plastics.
A glossary of the main technical terms used in this article can be found in the last chapter.
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KEYWORDS
bio-based plastic | recycled plastic | plastics | Food packaging
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Biosourced and recycled plastics in packaging
Bibliography
Websites
• COTREP – Technical Committee for Plastic Packaging Recycling http://www.cotrep.fr/
• EFSA – European Food Safety Authority, plastics and plastics recycling http://www.efsa.europa.eu
• CORDIS – Community Research and Development Information...
Standards and norms
- CEN Biobased products – Vocabulary - EN 16575-2014 -
- CEN Packaging – Requirements for packaging recoverable by composting and biodegradation – Test program and assessment criteria for final acceptance of packaging - EN 13432-2000 -
Regulations
Commission Regulation (EU) No. 10/2011 of January 14, 2011 on plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs (consolidated version of March 3, 2014)
Commission Regulation (EC) No 282/2008 of March 27, 2008 on recycled plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foodstuffs and amending Regulation (EC) No 2023/2006 (consolidated version of March 27,...
Directory
Organizations – Federations – Associations (non-exhaustive list)
2ACR – Association alliance chimie recyclage http://www.2acr.eu
ADEME – French Environment and Energy Management Agency http://www.ademe.fr
ACDV – Association de la chimie...
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