Degradable plastics are also banned in the European Union

In the global ban on plastic production, biodegradable plastics are now also banned in the European Union.

In the context of global plastic bans, it was originally the company's idea to replace disposable plastics with biodegradable plastics. Completely biodegradable plant fiber (pulp) molded products seem to hold a small share in the face of the vast amount of biodegradable plastics.

However, the degradation of biodegradable plastics is conditional. Firstly, biodegradable plastics need to be recycled and then composted to fully degrade. However, only valuable things can be effectively recycled. Generally, biodegradable plastics will become brittle after 6 months and lose their value for reuse, thus losing their recycling value. If it cannot be recycled for composting treatment, biodegradable plastics cannot degrade naturally.

Due to the fact that biodegradable plastics cannot completely degrade naturally, they have actually become one of the culprits of white pollution. Starting from July 3rd, biodegradable plastics have also been banned from use in the European Union.

Plant fiber (pulp) molded products are truly environmentally friendly products that can be naturally degraded and are currently the only viable alternative to some plastic products. For example, in the field of pulp molded tableware packaging and pulp molded industrial packaging, it is a good substitute for many plastic products.

Starting from July 3rd, EU member states will have to bid farewell to the use of disposable and biodegradable plastics, and only allow the use of recyclable plastics. The European Commission has ruled that they cannot be put on the EU market because it believes that plastics are harmful to marine life, biodiversity, and our health. Reducing the use of disposable plastic products can help protect the health of humans and the planet. This policy may have a significant impact on the lives and work of our Chinese and street friends.

Let's see what items will be gradually replaced by sustainable alternatives after July 3: for example, balloons, bottle caps with a capacity of no more than 3 liters, polystyrene foam cups, disposable tableware, straws, and plates. The only items allowed to be used are reusable products.

The food packaging industry will also be forced to transform, and food packaging will no longer use biodegradable plastics and can only use paper (using pulp to mold products is more ideal).

There are also sanitary pads, tampons, wet wipes, bags, and cotton swabs. The filter tips of cigarettes will also change, and the fishing industry will ban the use of plastic tools. (According to Greenpeace, 640000 tons of fishing nets and tool plastic are discarded in the ocean every year, and in fact, they are the main culprits of ocean destruction.) These products will be controlled through different measures, such as reducing their consumption and producers paying "pollution fees".

Of course, such measures have also attracted criticism and controversy from many countries, as this move will also have a great impact on 160000 jobs and the entire plastic industry in Italy. And Italy is also making a final resistance. In the past few hours, Roberto Cingolani, the Minister of Ecology and Transformation, has attacked: "The EU's definition of plastic ban is very strange. You can only use recyclable plastics, not biodegradable plastics. Our country is leading in biodegradable plastics, but we cannot use them because there is a ridiculous directive that says' only recyclable plastics can be used '.".

This may also affect the export of small commodities from China. In the future, exporting plastic products to EU countries may be subject to restrictions and material requirements. The EU does attach great importance to environmental protection, which is why there are so many famous beaches, beautiful and clear oceans, and lush forests. I don't know if street friends have noticed, for example, fast food like McDonald's has quietly replaced plastic straws and cup lids with paper lids and paper straws. Perhaps in the early stages of the implementation of the measures, people may not be accustomed to them, but they will gradually be accepted as the norm.