STANDARDISATION AND CERTIFICATION DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BIOECONOMY

BIOPLASTICS: NEW APPROACHES AND NEW CERTIFICATIONS

PALM OIL: FINDING A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION

STANDARDISATION OF BIO-BASED MEDICAL MATERIALS

BIO MARKET INSIGHTS STANDARDISATION AND CERTIFICATION DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BIOECONOMY 1

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ContentsCLICK ON TITLE TO GO TO ARTICLE

02Editor’s Welcome

03Standardisation and certification of bio-based medical materials

05Bioplastics: New approaches and new certifications

07Palm oil: Finding a sustainable solution

11Sabic has unveiled polycarbonate based on certified renewable feedstock

12Quorn claims world first with carbon labelling pack debut

13Consumers give biodegradable packaging the thumbs up, but are confused over terminology

142020 editorial schedule

03

07

12

13

07

11

BIO MARKET INSIGHTS STANDARDISATION AND CERTIFICATION DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BIOECONOMY 2

Companies should be

able to substantiate claims made

on their packaging

to avoid any ambiguity

and vagueness

As 2020 gets underway, sustainability still remains a hot topic on the news agenda. It seems not a day goes by that we don’t hear about plastic pollution, climate change or plant-based products. And, this ties into the fact that more and more consumers are willing to change their daily habits in order to have a more positive effect on the environment. These consumers want guarantees that the products they buy are truly sustainable and certifying these purchases can help to provide this extra assurance.

Welcome

Liz Gyekye,liz@biomarketinsights.com Deputy Editor, Bio Market Insights

Bio-based content certification enables transparent and credible communication about the bio-based content of a product, by means of a certificate and label with the percentage bio-based content. More manufacturers are also using certification to show that their biomass is sustainably sourced. Some industry stakeholders maintain that the promotion of certification is important for the bioeconomy to grow.

As well as certification, standardisation is an important tool that specifies requirements for products, services or procedures, and is used to set benchmarks and criteria to harmonise behaviour in industry and society. The US is pushing ahead in this area. To date, the United States Department of Agriculture has certified around 3,000 bio-based products and identified ‘minimum’ bio-based content standards for more than 100 product categories.

However, standardisation in relation to bio-based products hasn’t fully happened yet in Europe. In relation to the continent, an important instrument for accelerating the development of standards in Europe is the allocation of mandates. Mandates are the mechanism by which the European Commission (EC) calls upon the European standardisation bodies (CEN) to develop and adopt European standards to support European policies and legislation. It has only four mandates at the moment, which include ones for biopolymers and bio-lubricants, biosurfactants and bio-solvents, bio-based products, and algae and algae-based products or intermediates.

Maybe in five years’ time we will be in a place where standardisation is fully formed and the value chains are being constructed.

Nevertheless, with respect to certification, in this report on page 5, sustainability consultant Melanie Williams highlights how the trend for sustainability certification of bioplastics picked up noticeably in 2019 and she expects this momentum to continue this year.

In fact, a bio-based industry expert recently told me that more and more brands are asking detailed questions to their packaging suppliers about certification claims - and rightly so. Companies should be able to substantiate claims made on their packaging to avoid any ambiguity and vagueness.

This can also help to ensure that brands can avoid being criticised and avoid any legal action from consumer organisations.

Globally, at the moment, most bio-based certification schemes are voluntary. The advantage of using these types of schemes is that they offer the opportunity to react immediately to market trends and can include criteria that go beyond the minimum legal requirements.

They can also facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogue concerning sustainability criteria. However, the voluntary method has come under fire as some critics have argued that some companies are failing to implement meaningful changes in their supply chains.

Nevertheless, from the pharmaceutical industry to the palm oil industry, certification is making inroads into these sectors, and we are delighted to bring you some perspectives from key industry stakeholders in this report. We would also like to keep the sustainability conversation going. If you would like to participate in the debate, feel free to contact me on the e-mail below.

Thanks for reading!

BIO MARKET INSIGHTS STANDARDISATION AND CERTIFICATION DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BIOECONOMY 3

Biology and the use of biotechnology is embedded in the (bio) pharmaceutical industry and many of the most recent and effective medicines are made by living cells. Research, development and utilisation of biomaterials, for example, biodegradable (for example, absorbable sutures) materials for medical and pharmaceutical purposes are intensifying.

Pharma is a highly regulated industry, where standardisation and certification have important roles in supporting the introduction of new materials to usage.

Labels and certifications - Qualification and validation of systems Plastics are broadly used in the production of biotherapeutics. In the recent two decades, the industry moved towards higher utilisation of (oil origin) plastic-based single-

use (SU) equipment and systems, to replace the traditional stainless-steel usage. It’s estimated that by 2025, biomanufacturers will be producing 112,000 tons of plastic waste per year, globally.(1)

Some of the novel materials and systems are in direct contact with living cells. All additives — by-products or purposely added chemicals like antioxidants, UV stabilisers — are potential leachables that can have a negative effect on processes and products. Leachables and extractables need to be carefully tested and regulated.(2) Existing regulation can guide testing the materials for biocompatibility. Passing the biocompatibility tests is not sufficient for a complete risk assessment. Industry requires that the propensity for a material to leach unwanted and

unknown chemicals, through testing extractables, is evaluated. “Extractables” are chemical compounds that may migrate from product contact material under non-standard physical conditions (time, temperature). “Leachables” are compounds that may migrate into the actual drug product under normal processing conditions and may be found in the final drug product.

Recently, there has been increased collaboration between industry groups (manufacturers and end-user groups) such as the Bio-Process Systems Alliance (BPSA), BioPhorum Operations Group (BPOG), ASTM International, the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE), and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers-Bioprocessing Equipment (ASME-BPE) towards common standards of qualification and validation.(3)

Standardisation and certification of bio-based medical materialsMore and more medical and pharma institutions are setting ambitious targets for reducing their dependence on fossil fuels in their desire to limit GHG emissions and using new bio-based materials. Certification is set to play an important role in the development of these products in order for industry experts to make credible claims about them. Here, Sancha Salgueiro, CEO of Chart Biotech, unpicks this issue.

BIO MARKET INSIGHTS STANDARDISATION AND CERTIFICATION DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BIOECONOMY 4

The method for qualification and validation of single-use components had been a point of disagreement between the end-user and supplier groups. Collaboration between those industry bodies has allowed the industry to effectively police itself by providing best practice approaches, which may then be incorporated into regulatory guidance.(3)

For bioplastics, there are numerous standards and test methods available, providing a framework for explaining properties such as ‘biodegradable’, and well-defined standards for biosafety (food contact) in connection with plastic materials. Industrial composting (putting biodegradability to circular use) is well defined in the European Norm EN 13432.(4)

Impact of materials on waste disposalWelcoming the “European Green Deal” in the EU, François de Bie, EUBP Chairman, said: “In order to reach circularity and fossil-decarbonisation formulated in the concept, it is highly important to create a strong link between (the) bioeconomy and circular economy.”(5)

Oil-based plastics will continue to co-exist with bioplastics. Recycling and waste solutions will need to deal with both types of materials.

Biodegradable plastic contributes to directing waste away from landfills to

composting facilities. Karen Langhauser,(6) in “Less Space for Waste” wrote: “As SU technology becomes mainstream, biopharma companies need a better way to handle waste.” The 2018 Annual Report and Survey of Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Capacity and Production produced by the consulting company BioPlan reported almost 90% of respondents continue to use one or more SU device at some stage in bioproduction (R&D through commercial).

Waste-to-energy (WtE) incineration has been an acceptable practice, offering an efficient way to collect and dispose of the waste, converting the energy released to electricity and or steam used in municipal resources.(7) However, not every region has WtE facilities near the production site, and not every WtE facility will accept single-use materials if they have been classified as bio-hazardous. These have to be sterilised first.

Recycling this type of plastic waste has generated commercial interest. Recycling biohazardous waste requires specialised knowledge and ability to generate volumes that justify costs.

Triumvirate, a MA-USA specialised waste disposal corporation and MilliporeSigma, a manufacturer and supplier of SU systems for biomanufacturing, have partnered since 2015 to recycle and up-sale some of the 30,000 tons of biopharma single-use products landfilled or burned around the world each year.

Triumvirate recycles used pharmaceutical plastics into general use plastic pellets, that can be further used for a variety of low-grade plastic applications.

Perhaps the biggest hesitation has to do with traceability. The traditional recycling infrastructure does not allow for traceability. “biopharma customers want to make sure that their waste is properly disposed”. The recycling collaboration allows for 100% traceability.(1)

Collaboration between stakeholders has an important role in establishing new products in pharmaceutical biomanufacturing, a very regulated space. In different constellations, it has advanced the harmonisation of testing and validating methods, and it has enabled recycling of what would otherwise be landfill, un-compostable waste. n

(Cont.) Standardisation and certification of bio-based medical materials.

1. YouTube, “Millipore Sigma Tech Talks: Biopharm Recycling Program.” April 20182. Erik Isberg (Entegris) https://www.pharmtech.com/considering-single-use-materials3. https://www.pharmtech.com/new-standards-define-single-use-materials-qualification4. https://www.european-bioplastics.org/bioplastics/standards/5. https://www.eppm.com/industry-news/bioplastics-to-play-a-crucial-role-in-making-european-green-/6. https://www.pharmamanufacturing.com/articles/2018/less-space-for-waste/7. https://www.biopharminternational.com/disposal-options-single-use-systems-0

MeriPopps / Shutterstock.com

It’s estimated that by 2025, biomanufacturers will be

producing 112,000 tons of plastic waste per year, globally”

BIO MARKET INSIGHTS STANDARDISATION AND CERTIFICATION DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BIOECONOMY 5

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has declared its support for bioplastics providing they are from sustainable production. The Foundation, a key driver for the circular economy, has endorsed renewable feedstock, when recycled material can’t be used. And there is certainly a lack of mechanically recycled plastic for high specification applications, opening the door to alternatives.

Producers are increasingly focusing on certifying the sustainability of the biomass going into their bioplastics. Consumers and brand owners are responding to the extra assurance that sustainability certification brings and the industry is

enjoying increased sales. Sustainability schemes have responded by promoting certification options that allow the volume of sustainable bioplastic on the market to be increased without a large capital outlay. These certification modules allow conventional polymer producers to coproduce bio and fossil plastics in their existing facilities. The new approach allows the naphtha cracker, the backbone of the petrochemicals industry, to be repurposed to serve both the bio and circular economies.

The certification of coprocessing relies on a mass balance approach and the allocation of bio-based carbon containing molecules to a particular customer. Some schemes also accept feedstock derived from waste plastic, allowing a variety of raw materials to be coprocessed in the same unit. So, chemically recycled and biobased polymers can both be produced together.

The quantities of coprocessed biomass have so far been limited and it has been physically distributed over many different products. So the resulting polymers have no little or no measureable biogenic carbon content.

Bioplastics: New approaches and new certifications

The trend for sustainability certification of bioplastics picked up noticeably in 2019 and there is every indication that it will continue in 2020. And it is not just the traditional schemes that are certifying bioplastics; there are newcomers too.

By Melanie Williams Director

Melanie Williams Consulting

Announcements in 2019 confirmed that more polymer manufacturers

are using certification to show that the biomass is sustainably sourced and that the mass balance accounting has been carried out correctly.”

BIO MARKET INSIGHTS STANDARDISATION AND CERTIFICATION DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BIOECONOMY 6

(Cont.) Bioplastics: New approaches and new certifications.

Companies have come up with different names to describe these products such as ‘bio-attributed’ and ‘biomass balanced’, to be clear to consumers that a coprocessing approach has been used. Sustainability schemes are strict about the claims that can be made on a mass balanced bioplastic. Explanations must be provided so that no accusations of greenwashing can be made.

Announcements in 2019 confirmed that more polymer manufacturers are using certification to show that the biomass is sustainably sourced and that the mass balance accounting has been carried out correctly. TRUCIRCLE from SABIC has ISCC PLUS certification. Borealis/Neste and Dow/UPM have also chosen ISCC PLUS for their bioplastics. Biovyn, the latest new product from Inovyn is certified by RSB, whereas BASF will be

opting for REDcert. These producers cover the majority of polymers in general use.

All of the schemes have strict rules for biomass sourcing which excludes deforestation and adverse impacts on the environment. However, differences in the approach to mass balancing allows operators more or less freedom to sell certified product from one site or country whilst producing it elsewhere. The reconciliation of input biomass, or waste plastic with output biobased or recycled content also differs between the schemes.

The industry is also continuing to build new standalone facilities making bioplastics with 100% bio-based content. A number of these products are compostable which makes

them eminently suitable for certain applications. Takeaway containers, tea bags and coffee capsules are all discarded with food waste still in the packaging, so it makes sense to compost the packaging with the food waste. These producers too are showing that their raw materials and production processes are sustainable. NatureWorks has committed to increase ISCC PLUS certified corn input into their PLA (polylactic acid) bioplastic from 50% to 100%. Total-Corbion has opted for Bonsucro certification for the sugar that goes into their PLA. While Braskem has both ISCC PLUS and Bonsucro for its completely biobased polyethylene.

Consumers concerned about the affect of farming on the environment are looking for products and certifications that put their concerns centre stage. Millennials who favour renewable, natural and plant-based materials are also attracted to compostable packaging including bioplastics. So brands offering organic and vegan options may be looking for GMO free certification for their bio-based packaging. Compostable bioplastics are also ‘plastic free’ and ‘the opposite of plastic’ according to A Plastic Planet, the organisation which campaigns for a plastic-free aisle in every supermarket. They have launched the first Plastic Free Trust Mark. Early adopters include UK supermarket Iceland, Dutch retailer Ekoplaza, the tea brand Teapigs and Curious Bacon.

So, as we enter the next decade with sustainability certification for bioplastics on the increase, it is definitely ‘in with the new’ while still keeping on with ‘the old’. n

To find out more about this topic, visitwww.melaniewilliamsconsulting.com

All of the schemes have strict rules for biomass sourcing which

excludes deforestation and adverse impacts on the environment.”

BIO MARKET INSIGHTS STANDARDISATION AND CERTIFICATION DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BIOECONOMY 7

Finding a sustainable solutionPalm oil: By Dr. Inke van der Sluijs, Head of Operations, Europe, at Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil.

Palm oil is in many of the products we use every day, from foods like margarine and chocolate, to soaps, cosmetics, and even biofuels for cars. In recent years, the negative impacts of oil palm cultivation such as deforestation and social issues have been well documented, leading consumers and companies to question whether a boycott of the world’s highest yielding vegetable oil crop is an ideal solution.

©RSPO

Forbes has reported that younger generations want the

companies they buy from to practice business sustainably and ethically.”

©RSPO

©RSPO

©RSPO

©RSPO

©RSPO

8BIO MARKET INSIGHTS STANDARDISATION AND CERTIFICATION DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BIOECONOMY

To combat the negative impacts however, the collaborative efforts of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), a non-profit, international membership organisation that unites stakeholders from all sectors of the palm oil industry was established in 2004 to develop and implement global standards for sustainable palm oil. Today, more than 4,400 RSPO members in 92 countries have committed to produce, source and/or use sustainable palm oil certified by RSPO, yet this still only represents approximately 19% of global palm oil production. More must be done by all, if RSPO is to achieve its vision of making sustainable palm oil the norm.

RSPO certification explainedWith the ever-urgent need and growing global concern that commodities are produced without causing harm to the environment or society, RSPO certification is an assurance to the customer that the standard of palm oil production is sustainable. The RSPO currently has two main certification systems that provide this assurance; one to ensure that oil palms are cultivated sustainably called the RSPO Principles and Criteria, and another system to ensure the integrity of the trade in sustainable palm oil, called RSPO Supply Chain Certification. Additionally, in order to promote greater inclusion of small farmers into the sustainable palm oil supply chain, whose production makes up roughly 40% in Malaysia and Indonesia alone, RSPO members recently voted to adopt a third standard; the RSPO Independent Smallholder Standard. All of these systems involve third-party certification bodies and are reviewed on a periodic basis so that RSPO standards remain relevant and credible for those involved in the palm oil industry, and for the consumer.

Ensuring a sustainable supply chainRSPO has four key supply chain models: Identity Preserved (IP), Segregated (SG), Mass Balance (MB) and Book and Claim (for RSPO Credits). The certified volume of mills and independent smallholder groups is the starting point for all sales under the RSPO supply chain models. Certified members between the mill and the refineries who make use of the supply chain models need to register their sales and processing activities through RSPO’s traceability system; PalmTrace.

(Cont.) Palm oil: Finding a sustainable solution.

©RSPO

©RSPO

BIO MARKET INSIGHTS STANDARDISATION AND CERTIFICATION DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BIOECONOMY 9

Then, from the mill to the refineries, certified members of RSPO register their physical sales and processing activities of palm oil, palm kernel and its (double) fractions under the RSPO supply chain models. The use of RSPO PalmTrace is part of the RSPO certification programme and serves to track certified volumes, so they can only be sold once – either as physical or as RSPO Credits.

The four supply chain models can be understood in the following way; Identity Preserved (IP) means that sustainable palm oil, from a single identifiable certified source is kept separately from uncertified palm oil throughout the supply chain; Segregated (SG) means that sustainable palm oil from different certified sources is kept separate from uncertified palm oil throughout the supply chain; and, Mass Balance (MB) means that sustainable palm oil from certified sources is mixed with uncertified palm oil in the supply chain. For the Book and Claim supply chain model, manufacturers and retailers can buy RSPO Credits from RSPO-certified growers, crushers and independent smallholders. An RSPO Credit is proof that one tonne of certified palm oil was produced by an RSPO-certified company or independent producer, and has entered the global palm oil supply chain. By purchasing RSPO Credits, buyers encourage the production of certified sustainable

What role can the bio market play?We recognise the palm oil industry has a challenging history of negative social and environmental impacts, and that it is vital palm oil is sustainably sourced. Using other vegetable oils may seem like a practical move, but it would actually create similar - if not even larger - environmental and social problems in different production areas. There is a misconception that these concerns can be addressed when companies simply stop using palm oil in their products. However, research shows that replacing palm oil with other types of vegetable oil (such as sunflower, coconut or rapeseed oil) would mean that more land is needed, as well

palm oil and support growers directly for their efforts in sustainable production.

Companies can of course choose the supply chain model they prefer. Most often the decision is made based on market availability of the necessary ingredients and the company’s commitment to implement sustainable sourcing policies. Yet other incentives can play a role, such as which on-product claims are allowed and supported by each of the model and ultimately meeting the consumer expectations.

stands to reason that as this proportion of our population expands, we can expect consumer spending to be increasingly driven by views on a company’s social, ethical, and environmental values. For these consumers, it is imperative that the link between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ palm oil is broken, and work is done to ensure that the industry operates responsibly, so that all palm oil is ‘good’ palm oil that has been sourced sustainably. Companies that plan ahead and prioritise corporate responsibility will be in the best position to thrive in this changing market. The RSPO is a necessary tool to achieve this. n

To learn more, visit www.rspo.org

as other grave repercussions on society and industry. Conscious consumers and industry stakeholders agree, increasingly pushing for positive changes and calling on companies to improve their business practices. Unfortunately, a common refrain among business leaders is that consumers don’t care or that conscious consumers remain a small part of the overall market. That may be true to a certain extent, but research shows that’s changing. Forbes has reported that younger generations want the companies they buy from to practice business sustainably and ethically. It

(Cont.) Palm oil: Finding a sustainable solution.

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BIO MARKET INSIGHTS STANDARDISATION AND CERTIFICATION DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BIOECONOMY 11

Sabic has unveiled polycarbonate based on certified renewable feedstock

Polycarbonates are a group of thermoplastic polymers containing carbonate groups in their chemical structures.

According to Sabic, its certified polycar-bonate reduces CO2 emissions and the use of fossil feedstock during production.

“Sabic’s market-leading move into the arena of polycarbonate based on certified renewable feedstock, part of our Trucircle initiative of circular solutions, is linked to the commitments of our customers, who increasingly require sustainable solutions in response to both consumer and regulatory demands,” said Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh, Executive Vice President Petrochemicals at Sabic.

Al-Fageeh added: “This major milestone in SABIC’s strategic sustainability pathway now extends our offering beyond polyolefins, where we already have our existing certified circular and certified renewable portfolios.

“This major milestone in Sabic’s strategic sustainability pathway now extends our offering beyond polyolefins, where we already have our existing certified circular and certified renewable portfolios.”

Polycarbonate – more specifically Lexan resin – forms part of Sabic’s extensive

engineering thermoplastics (ETP) portfolio. In a statement, Sabic said that its customers can use the polycarbonate resins that are based on certified, renewable feedstock on their existing equipment, under identical process conditions. Therefore, potentially contributing to a reduction of the carbon footprint of their products.

“At Sabic we have engaged our value chain and unique position in Europe to produce polycarbonate using second-generation renewable feedstocks that are not in competition with the food chain, to make a resin with equal performance to that produced from fossil naphtha,” said Lennard Markestein, Director ETP BU Petrochemicals at Sabic.

Value chain partnerSabic worked closely with the ISCC to provide proof of the incorporation of renewable feedstock for its polycarbonate production and the resulting sustainability claims, verified by independent third-party auditors. In addition, CEPSA – the Spanish multinational oil and gas company – is a strategic value chain partner in this project, supporting Sabic through the production of renewable intermediates.

Sabic’s polycarbonate based on ISCC PLUS-certified feedstock will be produced initially at its manufacturing facilities in

Netherlands-based Bergen op Zoom, with global availability in the future. The certified polycarbonate resin may be used for applications in all market segments, such as automotive, consumer, electronics and electrical, building and construction and healthcare, currently served by the company’s existing polycarbonate portfolio.

According to Sabic, it has completed a detailed LCA study that is currently in the process of a third-party ISO Critical Review. However, the study has passed Sabic’s internal review that relies on the company’s protocols for LCA quality control. As is typically the case with the use of bio-based feedstock, the LCA study results show environmental trade-offs with respect to eutrophication and water consumption.

These environmental impacts may be mitigated through sustainable management practices in the upstream value chain, Sabic said. Only a part of the feedstock used in polycarbonate production is from renewable feedstock, the company maintained. The LCA study has assessed the environmental performance of the renewable route in comparison to the fossil-based route at ‘Cradle to Gate’ as well as ‘Cradle to Gate + End of Life’ scope levels and relies on PAS 2050 methodology for biogenic carbon accounting. n

Petrochemical manufacturer Sabic has launched polycarbonate based on International Sustainability and Carbon Certification PLUS-certified feedstock.

BIO MARKET INSIGHTS STANDARDISATION AND CERTIFICATION DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BIOECONOMY 12

Quorn claims world first with carbon labelling pack debut

The ‘farm to shop’ carbon footprint data, certified by the Carbon Trust, a collaboration between government and businesses in the UK, will be made available online for Quorn’s 30 best-selling products.

In a statement, Quorn claimed to be the first meat-free food manufacturer to achieve third-party certification of its carbon footprint figures, which is to be integrated into its food labelling.

Quorn has also reportedly claimed that, in 2018, its products enabled savings of 200,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent compared with meat. The greenhouse gas impact of mycoprotein – the fungi-based protein used in Quorn products – is said to be 90% lower than beef.

“This is about giving people the information needed to make informed decisions about the food they eat and the effect it has on our planet’s climate – in the same way that nutrition information is clearly labelled to help inform decisions on health,” said Peter Harrison, Chief Commercial Officer of Quorn Foods.

Manufacturers are boosting their efforts to give consumers more information about the environmental impact of their products, despite previous attempts ending in failure. The UK retail giant Tesco, for example, dropped its plan to label all its products with their carbon footprint, after promising “a revolution in green consumption”, blaming the work involved and other supermarkets for failing to follow its lead.

Commenting on Quorn’s carbon label launch, Hugh Jones, Manager Director of the Carbon Trust, said: “This is about giving people the information needed to make informed decisions about the food they eat and the effect it has on our planet’s climate – in the same way that nutrition information is clearly labelled to help inform decisions on health – and we’re asking other brands to get on board with us.”

He added: “Currently no RDAs (Recommended Dietary Allowances) exist for carbon emissions, but we hope that if other food brands follow suit, we will be able to make better comparisons in our shopping baskets.

“We are really excited to be working with Quorn to certify their product carbon footprint data and help improve communication to its customers. It’s really important that consumers have robust information to help inform their purchases and we’re pleased to be able to work with Quorn on this.”

In 2019, research by Carbon Trust found that two-thirds of consumers support the idea of a recognisable carbon label to demonstrate that products have been made with a commitment to measuring and reducing their carbon footprint.

The study surveyed 9,000 consumers across seven countries, including Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, US, and the UK. Italy and Spain saw the highest levels of desire for carbon labelling, with more than 80% of respondents from both countries thinking it was a good idea. Sweden had the lowest proportion, where less than half – 49% - thought it would work. n

Meat-free food specialist Quorn is to become the first major brand to introduce carbon labelling on its products in a bid to provoke better understanding of the carbon footprint of food supply chains.

BIO MARKET INSIGHTS STANDARDISATION AND CERTIFICATION DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BIOECONOMY 13

Consumers give biodegradable packaging the thumbs up, but are confused over terminology

The study called Plastic promises -What the grocery sector is really doing about packaging was unveiled at the start of January.

The report states: “Over 80% of consumers think biodegradable or compostable plastic is environmentally friendly, but there is little understanding of what the terms mean and how the material should be dealt with.

“Our interviewees wanted a clearer approach to where it should be used and how it should be marked to avoid confusing consumers and potentially causing more problems.”

The retailers and brands who were interviewed for the report, but gave anonymous responses, said that they were wary about replacing conventional plastic with these novel plastics in their packaging in the light of public anxiety about plastic polluting the oceans.

Some were worried that confusion could potentially harm the environment if people either put “compostable” plastic in with conventional plastic, or littered it, wrongly assuming it would biodegrade like an apple core.

Some retailers were worried about cost, with one supermarket representative suggesting: “It’s difficult to see how that can get to a realistic cost position.”

One noted: “We trialled doing a fully

biodegradable bottle… and it was just a disaster and we had to pull it and no one knew where to put it. It didn’t really biodegrade very well.”

Another firm was quoted as saying: “Consumers are hugely confused about what bio-based, compostable and biodegradable mean. We are aware that (by switching from plastic to other materials) we may, in some cases, be increasing our carbon footprint.”

The report’s spokeswoman Libby Peake told Bio Market Insights (BMI): “There is also confusion around the term biodegradable in general because people are confused about what this means. Some people think these materials can degrade in the open environment, and that is not the case.”

Commenting on the future of sustainable packaging, Peake said: “We need more leadership from government to see the problems we are developing with single-

use and throwaway culture, rather than focusing specifically on the plastic element of it. The plastic element is important, but needs to considered with climate change and other environmental impacts.”

Although there has been criticism directed towards the terminology of biodegradable packaging, the bio-based industry is likely to maintain that this material still benefits the environment more than fossil fuel-based packaging.

Commenting in BMI’s WBM Outlook 2020, Lucy Frankel, environmental and communications director at plant-based compostable foodservice firm Vegware, said: “All in all, one has to remember that it is a great thing to use renewable resources and move away from using finite materials. No matter what happens to the material at the end of use, you have to remember that there are sustainability benefits for not using something finite to create a product.”

Elsewhere, the Green Alliance report also reveals that several supermarkets are selling more drinks in coated cartons under the assumption that they can be recycled. In fact, the Green Alliance says, the UK only has the facilities to recycle a third of the coated containers in circulation.

The think tank also says that the replacement of plastic with glass is more polluting to transport because it is heavier and can create more carbon emissions. n

UK consumers think that bio-based, compostable and biodegradable packaging are environmentally friendly but are confused about how to define them, according to a new study by UK think tank Green Alliance.

#12 WINTER 2018 / 19 / WWW.BIOBASEDWORLDNEWS.COM

RECYCLED, REUSED OR COMPOSTED - DANONE ANNOUNCE TRIO OF ACTIONS TO BE FULLY CIRCULAR BY 2025.

THE GREEN REVOLUTION WILL BE BLUE: HARVESTING ALGAE FOR THE BIO-ECONOMY.

BRANDS: A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO BIO-BASED CHEMICALS.

IT’S OFFICIAL! BRASKEM’S CARBON-NEGATIVE CLAIMS FOR ITS BIO-BASED PLASTIC ARE APPROVED.

AND MUCH, MUCH MORE….

MEET THE TEAM SOURCING VALUABLE NEW HARVESTS FROM OUR FORESTS.

“WE BELIEVE THIS PROJECT WILL

CHANGE THE WAY THE WOOD

INDUSTRY IS PERCEIVED”

ENTER

GO TO ARTICLE

“IT’S A HUGE AMBITION,

BUT WE BELIEVE IT’S

THE RIGHT THING TO DO.”

GO TO ARTICLE

#14 SUMMER 19 / WWW.BIOMARKETINSIGHTS.COM

AVANTIUM TARGETS 2023 OPENING FOR PLANNED BIOPLASTICS PLANT AND REBRANDS SYNVINA BUSINESS

EUROPEAN BIO-BASED SECTOR SETS OUT 2050 VISION FOR A CIRCULAR BIO-SOCIETY

DEINOVE TEAMS UP WITH DOW TO DEVELOP BACTERIA-BASED COSMETIC INGREDIENT

VIVOBAREFOOT LAUNCHES NEW SHOE MADE FROM 30% PLUS BIO-BASED MATERIALS

AND MUCH MORE!

HOW CORONA ARE RAISING THE BAR WHEN IT COMES TO CIRCULAR PACKAGING

#15 AUTUMN / FALL 19 / WWW.BIOMARKETINSIGHTS.COM

COCA-COLA PRESSES AHEAD WITH THEIR SUSTAINABILITY JOURNEY

BRINGING THE HUMBLE POTATO INTO THE NEW PLASTICS ECONOMY

HOW BBI JU HAS BUILT THE MODEL FOR THE SUCCESSFUL EXPANSION OF EUROPE’S GROWING BIOECONOMY

BIOENGINEERS EXTEND FUNCTIONAL LIFE OF CANCER-FIGHTING CIRCULATION MICROBES

THE LAST WORD WITH ALEXANDER LORESTANI, CO-FOUNDER AND CEO AT GELTOR

AND MUCH MORE!

ENTER

HOW A UNIQUE SET OF BUILDING BLOCKS HAVE CREATED A VIBRANT AND GROWING BIO-ECONOMY IN CANADA.

GUEST VIEW: BREXIT AND THE BIO-BASED INDUSTRIES

PERFORMANCE IS KEY AS CHECKERSPOT PREPARES TO LAUNCH A PRODUCT FOR THE WINTER SPORTS MARKET

INSIDE THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN REG, EXXONMOBIL AND CLARIANT THAT IS REVOLUTIONISING CELLULOSIC BIOFUELS

THE PORT OF AMSTERDAM AS A CIRCULAR HOTSPOT: HOW A PORT SPEEDS UP THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY

HOW ALLBIRDS ARE PUTTING THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD FOR BIO-BASED FOOTWEAR

ENTER

#13 SPRING 19 / WWW.BIOMARKETINSIGHTS.COM

14

NOVEMBER 2020SEPTEMBER 2020

JUNE 2020

BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY ISSUE #19

Deadline for content / adverts: Friday 4th September

Publication date: Week commencing

14th September

MARCH 2020

BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY ISSUE #20

Deadline for content / adverts: Friday 20th November

Publication date: Week commencing

7th December

BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY ISSUE #18

Deadline for content / adverts: Friday 12th June

Publication date: Week commencing

21st June

2020 EDITORIAL SCHEDULEDIGITAL MAGAZINE

BIO-BASED WORLD QUARTERLY ISSUE #17

Deadline for content / adverts: Friday 21st February

Publication date: Week commencing Monday 16th March.

Special printed edition distributed at World Bio Markets 2020

BIO MARKET INSIGHTS STANDARDISATION AND CERTIFICATION DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BIOECONOMY