The parliamentary secretary has backed the development of bioplastics

The parliamentary secretary has backed the development of bioplastics

The German government has hinted it may overturn the ban on biodegradable plastic packaging, imposed by the country’s “green dot” consumer packaging recycling legislation. At the international green week fair in Berlin last week, parliamentary secretary in the federal consumer ministry (BMVEL) Matthias Berninger backed the development of naturally biodegradable biopolymers.

“Bioplastics out of maize, potatoes or cellulose are standing at the beginning of a future full of hope. These materials can provide farming with an additional source of income in future. They also serve to save resources and demonstrate a positive carbon dioxide balance,” he said.

But Harald Kдb, president of biologically degradable materials association IBAW, said the idea of getting plastics from the fields and returning them there as compost is still facing contradictory regulation, since biodegradable materials are not accepted into the green dot system. Berninger responded: “The federal government supports the attempt to free bioplastics in future from the green dot.”

Kдb said bioplastics are today at the threshold of widespread market introduction throughout Europe. “Production capacity has multiplied by a factor of five in the last five years and with worldwide capacity of around 250,000 tonnes/year. European consumption has grown from around 8,000 tonnes in 1998 to 35,000 tonnes in 2002.”