Defra, India, Food Service Footprint Magazine and Waste 360 (FREE)

Defra

In its response in April 2021 to its Call for evidence for Standards for Biodegradable, Compostable and Bio-based Plastics, the UK Dept. of the Environment (DEFRA) said “We are minded to introduce a ban on oxo-degradable plastics, subject to further evidence and a public consultation.”

They now have the evidence from the 4-year Oxomar study sponsored by the French government proving that oxo-biodegradable plastics do biodegrade, even in the marine environment, much more efficiently than conventional plastics.  They are also aware that the European Chemicals Agency, after ten months’ study and hundreds of pages of scientific evidence, was not convinced that they create microplastics.

I was therefore pleased to see that on 20^th November 2021 DEFRA issued a public consultation on banning commonly littered and problematic plastic items, which did NOT list oxo-biodegradable plastic as a material for which a ban is proposed.   

A government cannot ban a material or technology and cause serious damage to a lawful business just because lobbyists are demanding a ban, especially if that lobby is so obviously engaged in anti-competitive behaviour.  Before legislating, a government has to be convinced that the product is damaging to human health or the environment and also that a ban would be a proportionate response.

I consider it to be a disgrace that the EU ignored their own scientific experts, conceded to pressure from lobbyists,  and imposed a ban.  As a result they are now charged in their own courts with misuse of legislative power. 

India

I see that Symphony Environmental Technologies have just announced a joint venture with strong Indian partners, which will open up a market of 17.7% of the world’s population for their d2w oxo-biodegradable and d2p antimicrobial plastic and rubber products. See attachment

Food Service Footprint Magazine

I have seen quite a balanced article in that magazine, saying “those promoting the benefits of oxo biodegradable plastics are about to find out whether UK regulators are on their side” and saying that “a recent report by ENDS suggested Scotland and Wales might be having second thoughts about banning oxo-biodegradables.”  The article points out that “in March, the Scottish government published the draft Environmental Protection Regulations 2021, but oxo-degradables are nowhere to be seen on the list of restricted items.” – and now we see that they are not in the list of items proposed for restriction in yesterday’s DEFRA consultation.

The article also says that WRAP is “against the use of these plastics.”  However, on 8^th July 2021 their CEO wrote to me “To clarify our position, WRAP is opposed to the use of oxo-degradables that break down to create microplastics.”   I replied that we were also opposed to plastics which create microplastics, and offered a meeting with scientists to clarify the difference between oxo-degradable and oxo-biodegradable plastic, and to explain why oxo-biodegradables do not create microplastics.  WRAP made no adverse comments on oxo-biodegradable plastic in its response to the government’s Call for Evidence.

Waste 360 com

My attention has been drawn to an article in “Waste 360 .com” about biodegradable plastics.

It says, ““Biodegradable” is a controversial marketing term among environmental advocates and even some brands and manufacturers of plastic packaging and products, who see it as confusing and sometimes misleading.”

I don’t see it as confusing or misleading at all.  If the commercial buyer or retail consumer wants a plastic product which will biodegrade in an industrial compost facility, he will want to see that it has been made with technology which has been successfully tested according to ASTM D6400 or EN13432 or equivalent – otherwise don’t buy it.

However, as readers of this column will know, I don’t understand why anyone would want to buy “compostable” plastic, because 1. It converts into CO₂ gas, not into compost, and should not therefore be marketed as “compostable” at all   2. Industrial composters and local authorities do not want it Composting and   3. It is tested to biodegrade in the special conditions found in an industrial composting facility, not in the open environment – so it does not address the problem of plastic litter, which is the principal reason for concern about plastic.

If the commercial buyer or retail consumer wants a plastic product which will biodegrade if it becomes litter in the open environment, he will want to see that it has been made with technology tested successfully according to ASTM D6954 or British Standard 8472 or equivalent. Otherwise don’t buy the product.

The FTC in America is quite right to ban the use of the word “biodegradable” unless more information is given.  If a supplier claims to have tested according to any of the standards I have mentioned, he must be able to produce an independent laboratory report to prove it.  If he cannot do so he would be liable to prosecution and would also be in breach of contract. 

Michael Stephen

Michael Stephen is a lawyer and was a member of the United Kingdom Parliament, where he served on the Environment Select Committee. When he left Parliament Symphony Environmental Technologies Plc. attracted his attention because of his interest in the environment. He is now Deputy Chairman of Symphony, which is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange, and is the founder and Chairman of the Oxo-biodegradable Plastics Association.

Earlier Postings in this Column

• 1/ 1/ 20 – Plastiphobia, Microplastics and A Throw-Away Society
• 7/ 1/ 20 – Recycling, Lab Testing, Bangladesh and the Right Bioplastic
• 14/1/20 – Plastiphobia and Bioplastics Definitions
• 21/1/20 – Composting, the European Union and Unemployment
• 30/1/20 – Plastiphobia, Malaysia and a Case Against Compostables and Paper
• 7/02/20 – Coronavirus, MPs Letter, Montreal, Australia and the Dominican Republic
• 14/02/20 – Oman, MacArthur Foundation, Stifling Innovation, South Africa and Compostable Plastics
• 24/02/20 – Serbia, India, Pakistan and European Bioplastics
• 03/03/20 – Plastic To Protect Health and Common Sense on Plastic
• 10/03/20 – Plastiphobia, Singapore, Compostable Plastics, Doorknobs and Carbios
• 17/03/20 – Greening our Way to Infection, Defra Warns Against Bioplastics and Montreal
• 24/03/20 – Ditch the Plastic Bag Ban and Inn-Probio
• 01/04/20 – The Come Back of Plastic Bags, Compostable Plastic Not Wanted and EASAC
• 16/04/20 – Coronavirus and Agricultural Plastics
• 11/05/20 – Coronavirus, Peru, Barbados and Recycling
• 18/05/20 – Say No to Plastiphobia, False Descriptions and the Recycling Myth
• 02/06/20 – Definitions and More Setbacks for Plastiphobia
• 11/06/20 – BBIA, Food Waste and Testing of OXO-Biodegradable Plastic
• 19/06/20 – Oxo Biodegradation, Independent Reports and Precautionary Principle
• 29/06/20 – Banana Republic, Why Turn Plastic into CO2 and Plastic Waste from Ships
• 13/07/20 – Running Scared, The Daily Telegraph and Market Report
• 20/07/202 – Tipa, Plastics Today and The American Genius
• 27/07/20 – Coronavirus, Plastic Litter, Bahrain and Polymateria
• 17/08/20 – Plastics Europe, Confusing Issues and Paper
• 25/08/20 – Professor Emo Chiellini, Plastics Today, Greenwashing and Coronavirus
• 28/09/20 – Kill the Virus, Marine Degradation, Airports, Brazil Retail, Plastic Growth and Face Mask
• 08/10/20 – Compostable vs Biodegradable, Covid 19 and New British Bioplastic Standard
• 27/10/20 – Power of Lobbying, Paper and Cotton Worse than Plastic
• 02/11/20 – Covid 19 and Five Myths About Plastic
• 09/11/20 – Support for OXO BIO, Westminster Forum, Euractiv and Covid
• 23/11/20 – Toxicity of Bio-based and Biodegradable Plastics, and Covid Scaremongering
• 15/12/20 – Recycling and An Article from Austria
• 21/12/20 – EU Scientific Advisers, China Chose Wrong Bioplastics and Covid Nonsense
• 05/01/20 – EU, Covid Lockdowns, WRAP, British Standards Institution and Polymateria
• 12/01/21 – Intertek and Composting
• 19/01/21 – Recycling and Exporting Plastic Waste
• 22/02/21 – Seaweed Plastic, Orange Peel and Xampla
• 02/03/31 – OXO Biodegradable Plastic
• 08/03/21 – EU Scientific Reports and Paper vs Plastic
• 15/03/21 – India, Australia and Dow Chemicals
• 14/04/21 – Oxomar, UK Government and Microplastics
• 26/04/21 – Plastic to the Rescue of Covid and More News from Brazil
• 04/05/21 – Packaging Digest
• 07/06/21 – Minderoo Report and Korea Herald
• 30/06/21 – Recycling, Is the Use of Biobased Plastics Increasing, Confused Australians and Biodegradable Future
• 12/07/21 – EU Flawed Directive, Thailand and Pakistan
• 21/07/21 – Directors Talk, Confusion, Stir Magazine and Dumping Plastic Waste
• 02/08/21 – Angry Farmers, DEFRA and Substitutes for Plastic
• 06/09/21 – Microplastics
• 13/09/21 – UK Government, Defra and David Newman
• 20/09/21 – Michael Stephen Video Interview on Antimicrobial and Biodegradable Packaging
• 05/10/21 – Freedom of Information and Plastic Waste Solutions
• 14/10/21 – Michael Stephen at Pack4Change Summit
• 22/10/21 – Plastic from Algae and Carbon Dioxide

Interview with Michael Stephen

• Questions and Answers on OXO-Biodegradability

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed here by Michael Stephen and other columnists are their own, not those of Bioplasticsnews.com.