Inconsistent SUP Directive guidelines to hurt high-tech, natural, and renewable materials industry

The European Commission has published the Final Guidelines to Directive (EU) 2019/904 or the Single Use Plastics Directive (SUPD). GO!PHA has issued a press release in response to these latest guidelines to the SUP Directive. GO!PHA notes with great disappointment the inclusion of Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) in this Directive, which is inconsistent with the law itself and the science.

In the context of the SUP applications, PHA biopolymers have the potential to upcycle low value waste organic carbon generated in Europe. The European Commission did not consider appropriately the loss to limited seating and small restaurants that do a sizable business in take-out meals. PHA single-use packaging articles such as takeout containers, cups, plates, straws, and cutlery can be composted in home and industrial composters and they can be recycled, just like cellulose/paper products, and should therefore be excluded from this ban.

In addition, it is disappointing to see that the 2019 impact assessment that the EU carried out prior to enacting Directive (EU) 2019/904 did not even consider Polyhydroxyalkanoates and the benefits it can bring to the above-mentioned stakeholders.