Nature-based biodegradable materials could become a cornerstone of Europe’s circular economy, helping cut pollution, reduce reliance on fossil resources and revitalize rural industries. To achieve this, the European Union must align its regulatory framework.
In its own-initiative opinion, “A comprehensive strategy for nature-based biodegradable materials to foster circularity and resource efficiency, strengthen the agri-food sector and scale-up the EU bioeconomy”, adopted on 29 April, the EESC stresses that the EU should seize the opportunity to advance circular economy and bioeconomy goals while reinforcing the agri-food, forestry and fisheries sectors.
“Europe has a real chance to lead the way in building a truly circular and sustainable economy and move away from fossil fuels. With the EU Bioeconomy Strategy and upcoming Circular Economy Act, we can turn ambition into action, using fewer resources, staying within planetary limits, and making smarter use of our resources, while keeping our industries competitive. Innovative nature-based biodegradable materials can help reduce pollution, including microplastics, and support healthier ecosystems. They can also strengthen rural and coastal communities, creating jobs, supporting farmers and fishers, while always putting food, feed, and soil first. To make this work, we need clear, coherent and enabling regulatory frameworks that actively support sustainable solutions. If we get this right, we can scale innovation, attract investment, and position Europe as a global leader,” said rapporteur Stoyan Tchoukanov.
The development of nature-based biodegradable materials, as the EESC stresses in its opinion, raises broader questions about EU circularity policy, including how biological and technical cycles can complement each other, how regulation can better support innovation while ensuring environmental benefits, and how agricultural, forestry and fishery residues can be more effectively valorized. Current regulatory approaches remain largely focused on technical recycling systems and should instead adopt a lifecycle-based, outcome-oriented framework that recognises both circular pathways.
The EESC stresses that efficient use of environmental resources requires strict application of the waste hierarchy under the Waste Framework Directive, based on lifecycle thinking and overall environmental outcomes. It supports a technology-neutral approach prioritising prevention, reuse and material efficiency, while recognising both technical and biological cycles. It also highlights the potential of chemically non-modified natural polymers (recognised as non-plastics under the Single-Use Plastics Directive and aligned with REACH) to reduce pollution, including microplastic leakage. (ks)