A reprieve for viscose as European Commission publishes new SUPD guidance

摘要

Viteose fibers are no longer classified as "plastic" under the European Commission's long-awaited guidelines on single-use plastic products, which were finally published on May 31 after several months of delay.Earlier drafts of the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD), which aims to combat environmental problems caused by single-use plastic products, had categorized some regenerated cellulosic fibers such as viscose as plastic, although lyocell had escaped this definition. It is now recognized that these fibers are natural polymers that have "not been chemically modified." Nonwovens manufacturers had beenconcerned that the use of biodegradable and renewable wood-based cellulose, such as viscose and lyocell, would come under the directive when used in single-use wet wipes and absorbent hygiene products, which are cited as major contributors to microplastic pollution of the marine environment.