Breaking News! Ireland Bans Oxo-degradable Plastics
Recently, the Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an official position statement regarding products made wholly or partially from oxo-degradable plastics: No manufacturer may place on the domestic market any product made wholly or partially from oxo-degradable plastics.
This announcement was made by ASOBIOCOM, the Spanish association representing the biodegradable and compostable plastics industry.
The Irish EPA evaluated these materials in accordance with European regulations on single-use plastics and Directive 2019/904 and concluded that products made wholly or partially from oxo-degradable plastics may not be placed on the EU market.
ASOBIOCOM stated that this decision is important for reducing the environmental impact of traditional plastics in specific applications and avoiding "greenwashing" that could mislead consumers and manufacturers.
The association noted that the "decomposition" process of such materials does not equate to true biodegradation; their long-term presence in the environment could exacerbate the problem of microplastic pollution.
