On May 8, 2026, the European Commission published a research report entitled "Analysis of Bio-based Raw Materials for Plastic Packaging," authored by researchers from the German environmental consultancy nova-Institute. The report analyzes the role of bio-based raw materials in plastic packaging under the PPWR framework, focusing on technological development and environmental performance.
The report covers biopolymers that can directly replace existing materials, such as biopolyethylene (bioPE) and biopolyterephthalate (bioPET), which are already compatible with existing processing technologies. It also includes materials with special properties, such as polylactic acid (PLA) and polyethylene furanate (PEF), for example, PEF has superior barrier properties. Although bioplastics account for only about 1% of global plastic consumption, a relatively small market share, the study found no fundamental technological barriers to their application in packaging. Environmentally, compared to petrochemical-based alternatives, bioplastics can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30% to 70%, contributing to the EU's decarbonization and circular economy goals.
The report also points out potential negative impacts, including land use, eutrophication, soil acidification, and dependence on biomass resources.
The report also assesses the feasibility of setting mandatory minimum targets for the use of bio-based materials, the equivalence of bio-based materials with recycled materials, and how to align sustainability standards with the EU Renewable Energy Directive. Based on different scenarios, bio-based plastics are projected to account for 10% to 30% of plastic packaging by 2050.
The report also proposes phased targets for 2040:
24% bio-based materials in food-contact grade PET, 44% in other food-contact plastics, and 20% in single-use bottles and other plastic packaging. These figures currently exceed existing production capacity levels both in the EU and globally. However, several conditions must be met before mandatory targets can be implemented:
First, the bio-based content must be linked to sustainability standards. Specifically, biomass production must not cause significant damage to biodiversity, soil, water resources, carbon pools, or social interests. To this end, the report recommends adapting plastic materials to the standards of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED).
The second condition is the availability of a robust recycling infrastructure.
The third condition is increased production capacity, which requires sustained investment, stable market demand, and expansion of industrial scale.
Researchers believe that the complementary use of bio-based and recycled materials can accelerate the EU packaging industry's move towards climate neutrality. Both contribute to reducing dependence on fossil carbon and greenhouse gas emissions, but their roles are different: recycled materials are key to ensuring the recycling of already produced materials, while bio-based materials introduce new non-fossil carbon sources into the system.
