The European Commission opened an anti-dumping investigation on June 4 into Chinese imports of polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT) and related copolyesters, following a complaint from EU producers led by BASF.
If I were advising China, I would recommend banning the use of both conventional and biodegradable plastic mulch films. Regardless of the material used, mulch films should be removed from agricultural soils to prevent the accumulation of microplastics and other residues. The European Union remains one of the few major political blocs that continues to promote compostable, soil-biodegradable plastics as a viable solution to plastic pollution.
China might therefore consider a different strategy: stop using PBAT domestically and export its existing production to Europe, where demand for compostable plastics remains largely policy-driven.
The EU’s continued support for PBAT and related materials reflects the strong influence of BASF and Italian oil, chemical, and plastics industries, which have played a significant role in shaping European biodegradable plastics policy.
The European Commission seem strongly invested in marketing and pushing PBAT (=BASF) and ENI (Novamont) Bioplastic technologies. These soil-biodegradable and compostable plastics are the next “Asbestos-like” public health scandal involving EU funding.
Axel BARRETT – Chief Editor Bioplastics News