Europe Says STOP to Plastics: Switch to Compostable Bags
New European Regulations: What's Changing for Packaging
The European Union is stepping up its fight against plastic pollution with the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) . This text, adopted in 2023 , imposes strict measures to reduce single-use plastics and promote compostable alternatives .
📌 What the law says:
✅ 2030 Goal : All packaging must be reusable, recyclable or compostable .
✅ Gradual ban on single-use plastics , particularly in catering and retail.
✅ Obligation for supermarkets and businesses to integrate compostable packaging for certain products.
💡 67% of European consumers say they want more environmentally friendly packaging. European Commission, 2023).
Why Compostable Bags Are the Future of the European Market
Several countries already require compostable bags:
🇫🇷 France : Since 2017 , thin plastic bags have been banned and must be compostable in home compost . (Source: Energy Transition Law)
🇮🇹 Italy : First in Europe to impose the use of biodegradable and compostable bags in large-scale distribution from 2018. (Source: Consorzio Italiano Compostatori, 2023)
🇪🇸 Spain : Since 2023 , the use of compostable packaging has been mandatory in several food sectors, particularly for fruits and vegetables. (Source: Ministry of Ecological Transition, Spain)
🇩🇪 Germany : Since 2022 , a ban on thin plastic bags in supermarkets and stricter rules on biodegradable packaging have been implemented. The country is aiming for a rapid transition to compostable bags that comply with European standards . (Source: Umweltbundesamt - German Federal Environment Agency, 2023)
🇨🇭 Switzerland :
- Many municipalities and cantons encourage compostable bags for sorting biowaste .
- Coop and Migros now only offer compostable bags for fruit and vegetables .
- BioApply is a major player in the development of compostable bags in Switzerland, in partnership with Biomasse Suisse . (Source: Biomasse Suisse, 2024)
🇦🇹 Austria :
- Since 2020, lightweight plastic bags have been banned nationwide. (Source: Federal Ministry for Climate Change, Austria)
- Austria has one of the best composting infrastructures in Europe : more than 400 industrial composting facilities process biowaste, including certified compostable bags. (Source: Austrian Compost & Biogas Association, 2023)
- Strong promotion of compostable packaging to reduce dependence on plastic and improve the sorting of organic waste.
Why Switch to BioApply Compostable Bags?
Compostable bags are the best alternative to banned plastic bags and offer many advantages:
✔ 100% compliant with European standards (EN 13432, OK Compost).
✔ Decompose naturally into compost without leaving microplastics.
✔ Facilitates the sorting of organic waste , a key issue for communities and businesses.
✔ Support a circular economy by transforming waste into resources.
A plastic bag takes up to 500 years to degrade , while a certified compostable bag disappears in less than 6 months .