"There is a lot of confusion about compostable packaging and biopolymers, both amongst consumers and in industry. Some of these new materials do have great potential, but it is vital that they are introduced carefully, with the correct infrastructure in place, so that they can be dealt with properly once they have been used. We believe the material producers and retailers using these new materials have a responsibility for introducing them in a responsible and coordinated manner"
Phillip Ward, WRAP Executive Director
Most consumers are confused about the wide range of new materials emerging with ‘biodegradable’, ‘home compostable’, ‘compostable’ and ‘degradable’ labels being introduced in the UK as bags, pots, trays, films or bottle formats, according to new consumer research.
This indicates that new ‘green’ biopolymer plastics need to be introduced with care if potential environmental benefits are to be maximised says WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme).
Apart from some home compostable materials, there is currently no appropriate infrastructure for the biopolymer materials to be collected and treated in the UK, according to WRAP.
The WRAP commissioned research involved over 400 respondents across the UK and was undertaken to establish better understanding of the public’s knowledge and perceptions of the new packaging materials and to try and determine what householders would do with the packaging on disposal. This latter important point on disposal is often seemingly not considered when biopolymers are put on the market.
Biopolymers
Biopolymers in essence are derived from biomass. An example of a natural polymer is cellulose, but there are also synthetic polymers made from biomass monomers such as Polylactic Acid. To complicate matters there are also synthetic polymers made from synthetic monomers derived from biomass, e.g. Polythene derived from bioethanol.
There are also oxy-degradable plastics, but these are not biopolymers.
Impacts of some biopolymers
If inappropriately discarded some biopolymers can have adverse impacts on plastics recycling as contaminants, in commercial composting where some biopolymers do not fully degrade within the cycle period of the process and in landfill sites where they are likely to break down anaerobically to produce the potent greenhouse gas methane.
Consumers initially rate biodegradable and compostable plastics very favourably as they believe they just ‘break down’ after disposal though when informed of potential impacts, the respondents were less clear of the overall benefits, and were left feeling confused says WRAP.
Statement on biopolymers
Following the consumer research, WRAP has decided to publish a ‘statement’ on biopolymers to help set out some of the considerations brands and retailers should review when considering the use of biodegradable or compostable packaging materials. This also clarifies some of the definitions used, and factors to consider regarding disposal and environmental impact.
WRAP considers that clear labelling and guidelines for products is vital along with a better understanding of the full environmental benefits of the new materials. The organization together with other stakeholders are working with the Composting Association to modify standard tests and provide a certification service for home compostable packaging. In addition they are to provide guidance on “compostable” claims that such items carry.
WRAP is also planning several areas of work with key groups in the sector to review the options and impacts for collecting biopolymers via the plastic recyclables and food waste collection routes.
Commenting on the issue WRAP executive director Phillip Ward said:
“There is a lot of confusion about compostable packaging and biopolymers, both amongst consumers and in industry. Some of these new materials do have great potential, but it is vital that they are introduced carefully, with the correct infrastructure in place, so that they can be dealt with properly once they have been used. We believe the material producers and retailers using these new materials have a responsibility for introducing them in a responsible and coordinated manner.”
Further information
The research and statement can be accessed from the WRAP website www.wrap.org.uk/retail or from retail@wrap.org.uk . The WRAP statement can be found this page. The research Consumer Attitudes to Biopolymers can be found here. The research was undertaken by Brook Lyndhurst, a research and strategy consultancy.
The MoreThanWaste Editor found the both the research report and the WRAP statement very informative and recommends readers to take a look at the documentation, which is presented at the normal high standard of WRAP publications