Biodegradable Plastics: Views of APME (Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe)

摘要

Biodegradability can bring benefits in specific applications, particularly at the end of life of some plastics products; but it is not an end by itself and it should be highlighted that end-of-life is generally not the main source of environmental impact in a product life. Fitness for use is the main driver for plastic type selection for any application and, in the perspective of an optimised use of existing resources, eco-efficiency over the whole life cycle should be the main criterion against which the combined environmental and economic impacts of any product have to be assessed. Plastics are very versatile and innovative materials. New developments, including in the field of biodegradable polymers, deserve financial support and enabling legislation, but legal measures should never create undue market distortions in favour or at the expense of any material type. Molecular design, compounding, inter-plastics or multi-material combination as well as product designers' creativity continuously extend the field of plastics' applications. And biodegradable plastics have their own role to play in such developments. Plastics are really the material of choice for the 21st century.