Bioplastics: A case study of Bioeconomy in Italy

tascabilidell ’ambiente

A smart chemistry for a smarter life in a smarter planet

Edited by Walter Ganapinibioplastics: a case study

of bioeconomy in italy

Foreword by Corrado CliniItalian Minister of the Environment

Introduction by Catia BastioliPresident of Kyoto Club

tascabili dell’ambiente

Edited by Walter Ganapinibioplastics: a case study of bioeconomy in italy

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A smart chemistry for a smarter life in a smarter planet

Edited by Walter Ganapinibioplastics: a case study

of bioeconomy in italy

Foreword by Corrado CliniItalian Minister of the Environment

Introduction by Catia BastioliPresident of Kyoto Club

contents

foreword 9Corrado Clini, Minister of the Environment

introduction 11Catia Bastioli, President of Kyoto Club

executive summary 21

part 1 bioplastics: a case study of bioeconomy in italy 29Walter Ganapini

1. the environmental context 31

2. italian measures on carrier bags, and their impact 39

3. the anti-crisis potential of biodegradable 57 bioplastics

acknowledgements 71

part 2 documents 73

1. abstract from “report on the italian packaging 75 industry: packaging statistics 2012”

2. abstract from “the structure of the bubble 83 film extrusion sector”

3. abstract from “urban waste report 2012” 91

4. abstract from “technical report 2012” 99

5. abstract from “green chemistry observatory 109 – attitude of the italian public to the new bio-carrier bags”

6. abstract from “final report of the working 117 group biodegradable packaging recovery project”

7. abstract of the results of “the gionha project 125 (governance and integrated observation of marine natural habitat)”

8. abstract from “plan of strategic development 133 of the italian green chemistry cluster”

9. abstract from “review on marine 145 biodegradation of compostable carrier bags”

10. abstract from “biobased and biodegradable 153 carrier bags. is competition between bioplastics and food a real issue?”

executive summary

In January 2011 a law was passed in Italy aimed at reducing the environmental contamination caused by traditional plastic carrier bags. As a consequence, thick, “long life” reusable carri-er bags and biodegradable, compostable single-use carrier bags (conforming to the harmonised CEN Standard 13432) are now the environmentally-friendly alternatives available to consum-ers and retailers.

This initiative builds on a series of legislative measures intro-duced in Italy since the late 90s, in order to address the man-agement of waste in compliance with the Waste Framework Di-rective and the Landfill Directive.

This strategy has limited the number of single-use carrier bags in circulation, reduced the risk of littering and its consequenc-es on the environment, improved the quality of organic recy-cling and the conditions for growth of the market for bio-based products, acting as a primer for new investments in the ‘Bioec-onomy’. The shift towards the bioeconomy was recently recog-nised by the European Commission through the adoption of a dedicated Strategy outlining the need for Europe to move to-wards a post-petroleum society in order to respond to the key societal challenges the world is set to face in the coming years.

22 bioplastics: a case study of bioeconomy in italy

The European Commission has also emphasised the pivotal role of bio-based products and market development in the context of the review of the EU Industrial Policy.

On 4 February 2013 France outlined the intention and willing-ness to follow the Italian model and favour as well biodegrada-ble and compostable bags given the potential that this measure would have in triggering the creation of local value chain dedi-cated to the production of bioplastics.

This book intends to illustrate how the strategy pursued by the Italian Government aims to protect the environment, trigger investment in the bioeconomy in line with EU guidelines, and to achieve several societal benefits in terms of waste prevention and consumption patterns among the general public.

Thin single-use carrier bags are considered a clear case of over-packaging all over the world. They are mostly used just once, which is a waste of resources and can lead to a litter problem. Carrier bags are airy, and tend to fly away and disperse into the environment, as shown by several studies. Bags are the high-est-ranking of the “top 10” marine litter items, as reported in the UNEP Report “Marine Litter: A Global Challenge”. They are strongly resistant to biodegradation and tend to build up in the marine environment if not properly disposed of. In the long term, plastic bags are fragmented by the mechanical ero-sion caused by waves and marine currents, leading to the for-mation of microscopic fragments (the so-called “plastic soup”). The toxic chemicals present in the sea tend to be adsorbed by the plastic fragments and concentrate on them. Because the mi-croscopic plastic fragments are swallowed by fish and marine

executive summary 23

mammals as if they were plankton, there is a real risk of tox-ic chemicals entering the food chain, carried by the plastics fragments themselves.

The first step in preventing this major environmental problem is to identify the origin of littering. Several studies have indi-cated that waste found in the sea originates either from land, and is carried by rivers, or from navigation. Therefore, preven-tive measures must be applied not only along the shoreline but also in the inland areas.

Due to its peculiar hydrogeological structure (with more than 8,000 km of coastline), Italy, which lies in the middle of the Mediterranean sea, is strongly affected by marine litter caused by plastic bags, as demonstrated by several studies. Plastic carri-er bags contribute to the deterioration of the environment in a very fragile country in which tourism is also an important eco-nomic resource.

Plastic carrier bags are also a problem in the organic recycling of biowaste (kitchen and garden waste). Organic recycling is well established in Italy, thanks to clear legislation on compost qual-ity and separate waste collection (Italy is the second-largest com-post producer in Europe, with 4.2 million tonnes of municipal organic waste converted into high quality compost every year). The problem is that, whenever bio-waste separate collection is in place (and this is an unwavering trend in Europe), the use of plastic carrier bags is critical, because they are not biodegradable. The organic recycling of biowaste requires plastic-free streams in order to assure high recycling rates. Plastic carrier bags are not “multi-purpose” waste bags, but contaminants of biowaste.

24 bioplastics: a case study of bioeconomy in italy

Worldwide, all these factors have generated a series of initiatives intended to reduce the consumption of single-use carrier bags. Many retailers, committed to reducing their businesses’ envi-ronmental impacts, have tried to move towards more sustainable solutions. Specific legislation has also been introduced in some countries in order to speed up this shift in consumption habits, and various new laws have has been announced.

In Italy a strategy was launched in 2011 aimed at eliminating the use of thin, non-biodegradable single-use plastic bags, leav-ing on the market only durable thicker plastic and compostable single-use plastic bags conforming to the harmonised Europe-an standard on compostable packaging (EN 13432). The Ital-ian approach to single-use carrier bags can be considered an im-portant case study, the results and implications of which should be fully assessed.

The first lesson is that consumers are ready to change their hab-its quickly in order to adopt more sustainable behaviours, fol-lowing a law promoting packaging prevention. Italians have been encouraged to adopt behaviours that have a positive im-pact on waste management. A study has shown that the use of single-use carrier bags dropped significantly (by 50%) after the strategy was enforced. Second point is that the fewer single-use carrier bags in circula-tion, the lower the risk of littering. Therefore, the restriction of single-use carrier bags helps litter prevention. Fewer resourc-es are consumed, less waste needs to be recovered, and less pol-lution is produced.Third point is that only biodegradable, compostable carrier bags can still be sold by Italian retailers as single-use bags, as a com-

executive summary 25

plementary tool, together with the reusable bags. The use of compostable carrier bags is having very interesting consequences:

(I) There have been improvements in biowaste collection and recycling. After their first use, biodegradable compostable carrier bags can be re-used as “multi-purpose” waste bags and are suit-able for collecting residual waste (any waste that cannot be sep-arated before collection), and for biowaste (e.g. kitchen waste). This is usually well communicated to consumers, using catch-phrases such as: “use and re-use for the separate collection of waste” and similar slogans printed on the bags which become a vehicle of education. This approach is improving the quality and quantity of biowaste collection and recycling. Fewer non-biodegradable plastics are contaminating compost. The risk of a non-biodegradable bag being improperly used to collect bio-waste is eliminated if the householder only receives biodegrad-able compostable bags. This in turn improves the quality of organic recycling and brings important environmental bene-fits. Plastic-free, high quality compost maintains the fertility of the soil from which bioplastics originate, in a virtuous “cradle-to-cradle” (or, strictly speaking, soil-to-soil) loop. This effect has been demonstrated in specific studies: impurities have de-creased by 8% and as a result compost is less contaminated by plastic waste. From a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) viewpoint, this means substantial reductions of up to 30% in greenhouse gas emissions, mainly linked to the saving of the energy needed to recover and dispose of the plastic scraps.

(II) The new Italian law has turned out to be an interesting ex-ample of positive action supporting the bio-economy. In-novation needs a proper “landscape”, namely framework con-

26 bioplastics: a case study of bioeconomy in italy

ditions that favour the development of the industrial/commer-cial process, and the market uptake of innovative, sustainable niche products. There is a need for smart, sustainable, inclu-sive legislation that provides comprehensive solutions for dif-ferent problems. The market pull created for biodegradable and compostable carrier bags has resulted in an opportunity for a newly developed industrial chain, and has fostered inno-vation and development of the bioeconomy (the replacement rate of traditional carrier bags with compostable ones was 8% in 2010 and 28% in 2011). The EU capacity for biodegrada-ble polymers has reached more than 200,000 tonnes, and new upstream integration initiatives are now in progress, with the aim of building up a range of demonstrators and flagships for building blocks. Three privately financed flagship plants for bi-odegradable monomers, are under construction, while two pol-ymer synthesis sites have been converted in Italy. The obsolete ENI petrochemical site at Porto Torres (Sardinia) is current-ly being redeveloped into a biorefinery for the production of bioplastics, biolubricants, biofillers and additives with the de-velopment of local pluriannual crops grown on marginal and contaminated land. All these industrial ventures represent a case study on how specific legislation in a highly critical niche market can support solutions that are highly innovative from an economic, environmental and social viewpoint. Moreover, with a view to maximizing the interaction of coherent policies with a cross cutting approach, in September 2012 the Italian government sponsored the creation of a Public Private Green Chemistry Cluster.

(III) The law has encouraged the Italian public to adopt views and behaviours that are more attentive to the environment

executive summary 27

and waste management. Recent surveys show that most Ital-ians (94%) believe that the law is an important milestone for the environment, while 88% recognise that biodegradable com-postable plastics are an important innovation capable of trigger-ing multiple positive effects (i.e. green attitudes, new green jobs, etc.). A negative flag of pollution has been turned into a precious tool for separate collection, available to communities, with less public money required to start up or maintain the separate col-lection of organic waste.

(IV) Compostable bags are biodegradable in the natural envi-ronment. The new law has in fact reduced the risk of littering, because consumers are encouraged to prefer durable bags. Few-er single-use carrier bags are placed on the market; those that are marketed are compostable and after first use can still be used as multi-purpose waste bags. There is no reason to drop a use-ful item as litter. In the event that the carrier bags reach the sea anyway, they are effectively susceptible to biodegradation, as recent studies are showing.

The data in the book demonstrate that prevention, the top pri-ority in the European waste policy, can be easily achieved for carrier bags, with several positive effects for society and consum-ers. Plastic bags can still circulate freely in Italy, on condition that they are thick enough to make them durable, i.e. reus-able. Thin single-use carrier bags can potentially contaminate the natural environment by disintegrating into plastic fragments and disrupting biowaste recycling; however, they can be substi-tuted by a more sustainable solution: durable, reusable carrier bags, and the single-use biodegradable compostable carrier bags. This is an attempt to mitigate a major environmental problem,

28 bioplastics: a case study of bioeconomy in italy

by improving waste management and recovery and supporting the growth of a solid European based bioeconomy.

This objective can be obtained without placing any stress at all on food production, since the land use for the 100 billion car-rier bags consumed in one year in Europe is only 0.05% of to-tal arable land in Europe. Moreover, the development of in-tegrated local biorefineries in Italy is showing how the use of local crops grown on marginal and contaminated land in com-bination with local byproducts is a key tool to establish syner-gies with the agricultural world with a view to revitalising and restarting production in certain areas, while respecting the eco-system and the local biodiversity.

Italy is building on a strong bioplastics sector, which thanks to the new law has managed to reach a market of significant size, triggering private investments in new plants and demonstrators, leading to new jobs and local growth in areas critically affected by the current crisis.

tascabilidell ’ambiente

“The biodiversity of Nature, together with the multiplicity and diversity of human enterprise, is a guarantee for an harmonious growth: a growth model based on integrated systems, the con-cept of cascading, local integrated biorefineries, and a quest for technical solutions that imitate Nature by integrating physics, chemistry and biology”. Catia Bastioli, President of Kyoto Club

walter ganapini, chemist, a pupil of Vincenzo Balzani, Assistant of Umberto Colombo at ENEA, he was President of the National Agency for the Protection of the Environment and Member of the Scientific Committee of the European Environment Agency, where is now an Honorary Member. In the course of his career he covered with passion environmental policies, soil protection and waste management.