Italy has become the first EU member state to use the PPWR option allowing certain single-use packaging to remain on the market when made from certified compostable plastics. The measure covers fresh produce packs, condiment portions and some HORECA and hotel packaging. So far, no other EU member state appears to have adopted an equivalent measure, although all 27 can.
Personal Remarks
Novamont is one of Europe’s largest compostable-plastics producers and is owned by Eni, in which the Italian state is a major shareholder.
The European Commission questioned whether Italy could demonstrate sufficient composting capacity. To my knowledge, no transparent list of commercial composters accepting these plastics has been published.
Even the Italian Composters Consortium says certification does not oblige plants to accept them. So is this really what the PPWR was designed for?
If plastic contamination later damages confidence in Italian food, competing Mediterranean producers such as Greece could benefit.