Chemicals trade group issues principles to support biobased plastics development in the US

In Washington, DC, American Chemistry Council has released a set of principles and definitions to promote policies that support responsible growth of commercially available and viable biobased plastic production and bolster solutions that can help U.S. companies reach their sustainability goals more rapidly. 

The principles are as follows: biobased plastics refer to plastics that are partially or fully derived from materials of  biological origin and can be biodegradable, recyclable, or neither; fossil-based compostable/biodegradable plastics are out of scope for these principles; ACC’s biobased plastics principles are inclusive of segregated and mass balance chain of  custody processes; and that these principles apply to biobased plastics designed to be produced at industrial scale.

“Moving to more recycled and renewable materials for plastic production is gaining traction among product manufacturers, brands and retailers, and with policymakers on Capitol Hill,” says Ross Eisenberg, president of America’s Plastic Makers. “Our principles help demonstrate plastic makers’ support for bio-based production and use of renewable resources.”