"New pathways, strategies, business and communication models for bioplastics as a building block of a sustainable economy"

SP 5: Political guidelines

In cooperation with the European bioplastic association (EuropeanBioplastic e.V.) the (funding) political framework for bioplastics in Germany compared to other European countries is determined.  The subproject is analysing which political guidelines and concepts according to the use of bioplastics are currently available and evaluates them via an opportunity and obstacle analysis. The aim is to link the obtained findings back to the politics via a recommendation of action and thereby to establish the fundament for the path to a more sustainable economic activity with bioplastics on the level of decision making. The activity of the EU Commission as superior and impulse giving institution forms the basis for the examination.

Following project partners are involved in SP 5.

  • IfBB - Institute for bioplastics and biocomposites, Hochschule Hannover (lead)

Legal regulation with a direct focus on bio-based plastics respectively the material use of renewable resources, like known for the energy recovery by the Renewable Energey Direktive (RED) or the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG)  does not (yet) exist in Germany and Europe. Nevertheless on European and National level the use of biomass for the material utilization with all neighbouring topics is currently increasingly focused on. Underlying is here the leading market initiative of the EU Commision from 2008, which has the aim to expand the market situation for bio-based materials. Beside the development of guidelines for bio-based products is the sustainable raw material supply for the material use of biomass a key aspect.

In an analysis of the current state, which is mainly based on a literature search, SP 5 is showing the current framework for bioplastics within the European trading room. An examination is especially done for the comparison of energy recovery and material utilization of renewable raw materials. Furthermore a comparison between bioplastics and conventional plastic is conducted.

Based on the search’s results the influence of the political and legal frameworks of the different EU countries on the market development of bioplastics will be evaluated. From a methodical point of view obstacles and opportunities will be compiled and evaluated by a SWOT analysis as well as a competition field analysis.

The results lead into a recommendation of action for the politics, which is developed based on an actions and instrument catalogue.

SP 5 is a closed work package with few overlaps to the content of the other research areas. The work is accompanied by the European bioplastic association (EuropeanBioplastic e.V.)

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