The attitudes and policies towards biodegradable products vary among countries due to environmental awareness, technological development level, and economic factors, but the overall trend is to actively promote their research and application, while regulating them through regulations and standards. The following is an overview of the attitudes and policies of major countries and regions:
Attitude: The EU is a leader in environmental policies and vigorously promotes biodegradable products to reduce plastic pollution.
EU: The EU has taken multiple measures in plastic management, including the "European Plastic Strategy in a Circular Economy" and the "Directive on Disposable Plastic Products", which explicitly prohibit the use of disposable plastic products that can be replaced by non plastic materials and set targets for plastic packaging recycling rates. In addition, the EU has also issued the "Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations", requiring all packaging to be reusable, recyclable or compostable.
France, Germany, Thailand, Australia and other countries are gradually banning disposable plastic packaging and tableware. British supermarkets have also introduced a deposit system for plastic bottles and cans to promote effective recycling of plastic bottles.
Disposable Plastic Directive (SUP, 2019): Prohibit certain disposable plastic products and encourage the use of biodegradable alternatives.
Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulations (PPWR): Require packaging materials to be recyclable or biodegradable.
Strict certification standards: Biodegradable products are required to pass certifications such as EN 13432 (Industrial Composting Standard).
Challenge: Emphasize that "biodegradable" does not mean "disposable", and it is necessary to provide classification and recycling facilities.
-Attitude: There is currently no unified regulation at the federal level, but some states and cities are actively promoting it.
State level actions: California and New York ban disposable plastic bags and encourage biodegradable alternatives.
Federal Promotion: The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) promotes biobased products through the "BioPriority Program".
ASTM standard: ASTM D6400 (standard for compostable plastics) is used as an industry reference.
Controversy: The degradation effect of biodegradable products in natural environments is questionable, and it is necessary to distinguish between "compostable" and "biodegradable".
Attitude: Policy driven, listing biodegradable materials as a strategic emerging industry.
China is also actively promoting the use of biodegradable plastics and has issued multiple policies. For example, in January 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment issued the "Opinions on Further Strengthening Plastic Pollution Control", which explicitly prohibited the production and sale of ultra-thin plastic shopping bags with a thickness less than 0.025 millimeters, and gradually banned the use of non degradable plastic bags and disposable plastic tableware by 2025.
The "Plastic Ban Order": Starting from 2020, non degradable plastic bags, tableware, etc. will be phased out, and materials such as PLA (polylactic acid) and PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoates) will be promoted.
Financial support: Provide subsidies and tax incentives to biodegradable material production enterprises.
National standard: GB/T 38082-2019 (Standard for Biodegradable Plastic Shopping Bags).
Challenge: Capacity and cost issues, some small and medium-sized enterprises are facing transformation pressure.
Attitude: Leading technology, focusing on circular economy and biodegradable materials.
Bioplastic Roadmap: The goal is to achieve a usage of 2 million tons of bio based plastics by 2030.
Green Procurement Law: The government prioritizes the procurement of biodegradable products.
Classification and recycling: Biodegradable products need to be clearly labeled and treated separately from ordinary plastics.
Characteristics: Enterprises actively participate (such as Toyota developing plant-based plastics).
Attitude: Quickly follow up, but difficult to execute.
Policy:
2022 Plastic Ban: Ban disposable plastic products and promote biodegradable alternatives.
Localized production: Encourage low-cost solutions such as sugarcane bagasse and starch based materials.
Challenge: Lack of comprehensive recycling facilities, and harsh actual degradation conditions for some "degradable" products.
Attitude: Gradually emphasizing, but facing the issue of balancing economy and environmental protection.
Thailand: Starting from 2025, plastic straws, plastic bags, etc. will be completely banned, and biodegradable packaging will be promoted.
Vietnam: Impose taxes on non degradable plastic bags and encourage research and development of biodegradable materials.
Challenge: Relying on imported biodegradable raw materials with high costs.
Attitude: Some countries strictly ban plastic, but the popularity of biodegradable alternatives is low.
Rwanda: Since 2008, it has completely banned plastic and is known as the "cleanest country in Africa".
Kenya: Plastic ban in 2017, but unclear definition of biodegradable products and chaotic implementation.
1. Inconsistent standards: Different countries have different definitions of "biodegradable" (such as industrial compost vs. household compost vs. natural degradation).
2. Green washing risk: Some products claim to be "biodegradable" but the actual degradation conditions are harsh.
3. Supporting circular economy: It is necessary to improve the facilities for classified recycling and composting.
4. Technological innovation: Develop low-cost, high-performance biodegradable materials (such as seaweed based and cellulose based).
Summary: Developed countries such as the European Union and Japan promote biodegradable products through strict regulations and certification systems; Emerging economies (such as China and India) have strong policy efforts but face challenges in implementation; Developing countries are limited by technology and infrastructure. In the future, international cooperation to unify standards, reduce costs, and enhance public awareness will be key.
