Page 34 - Plastics News December 2021

INTERNATIoNAL NEwS

United Nations Recommends Bioplastics UKRI To Combat

Over Using Conventional Plastics Plastic Pollution

K
UResearch
and Innovation
(UKRI) has
partnered with
sustainability
charity WRAP
to help combat
plastic pollution
in Asia, Africa
and Latin America.The two parties have
launched the International Circular
he Food and Ag riculture adoption of biodegradable solutions", Plastics Flagship Projects competition,
TOrganisation of the United stated the Chairman of EUBP. In the a fund that aims to reduce the impact of
Nations (FAO) recently published case of used products contaminated with plastics in India, Chile, Kenya and South
a report assessing the sustainability fish residues, e.g., fish boxes usually made Africa. The £1.7m ($2.2m) competition
of agricultural plastic products."The from conventional plastics, biopolymers, focuses on flexible film packs, reusable
report recommends replacing non- according to FAO, may ease the recycling packaging and new business models,
biodegradable conventional polymers process. The importance of an improved processing recyclable materials and
with biodegradable bio-based polymers. data situation regarding the life cycle end-market development. Proposals
We welcome this recognition of the assessment of bio-based agricultural that fulfil specific targets set out in
environmental benefits of these bioplastic plastic as well as the behaviour and the above countries’ plastic pacts will
products," commented François de Bie, rate of degradation of biodegradable be given funding of between £50,000
Chairman of European Bioplastics products is also underlined in the report. and £250,000. WRAP will deliver the
(EUBP). The FAO study focuses on "We strongly support all efforts that grants to winning competitors on
agricultural plastic products used in contribute to a further improvement of behalf of UKRI.WRAP international
a range of different value chains. An the current data situation. However, this programmes head David Rogers
included qualitative risk assessment can't be done by the bioplastics industry said: “This funding forms a key part
analyses 13 specific agricultural products. alone. In order to establish a proper of our ongoing work to reduce the
"Significantly, for six out of 13 assessed data pool, we need stronger political impact of plastic pollution across
products, biodegradable bio-based support. For the European market, the the globe. “It will address one of the
plastics are recommended as preferable European Commission should take world’s most urgent and escalating
substitutes for conventional plastic over a leadership role to facilitate and environmental challenges and show
material", said de Bie. The list of coordinate data pooling," stated Hasso how innovation and collaboration can
recommended products included mulch von Pogrell, Managing Director of contribute towards systematic change.
films, fishing gear, polymer coated EUBP. The report also highlights the “WRAP is proud to have worked on
fertilizers, tree guards and shelters, role of research and innovation grants each of the plastics pacts, which now
plant support twines, and pesticide as means of pump-priming new ideas means that there is now a plastics
impregnated fruit protection bags. The which lead to the development of pact in every populous continent on
FAO report also emphasises the need to new products. "However, the funding the planet.” UKRI smart sustainable
develop polymers that are biodegradable of research alone is not enough. An packaging challenge director Paul
in the marine environment. "Although appropriate policy framework for bio- Davison said: “Representatives from
any kind of littering, should be avoided, based, biodegradable and compostable dozens of nations gathered at COP26
a certain level of unintentional loss plastics is also needed, to capture the in Glasgow to try to find solutions for
of fishing gear will always take place. sustainable benefits of these products in environmental issues that affect the
Therefore, it is important to foster the Europe," concluded von Pogrell. entire planet.

34 PLASTICS NEWS DECEMBER 2021