End-of-waste life: Inventory of alternative end-of-use recirculation routes of bio-based plastics in the European Union context

Abstract

The bio-based products market is currently limited resulting in relatively small quantities of waste streams, viewed as contaminants of conventional waste streams. The steady growth of bio-based products however, drives the need to investigate their End-of-Use (EoU)/End-of-Life (EoL) alternatives. A critical review of the inventory of targeted valorization options for bio-based plastic waste is presented with limitations and opportunities. Impacts on the conventional waste management routes and the environment are considered. The provisions of the circular economy package, the targets and objectives set by the relevant EU environmental legislation, are used as key drivers for developing the inventory of the alternative EoU/EoL routes. Optimal alternative EoU/EoL routes are defined for the bio-based products in such a way that they are turned into valuable resources for the circular economy. This is a prerequisite to promote recirculation of bio-based by-products and waste streams along the whole chain of their production and use. The expected impacts include reduction of public health and environmental pollution problems, preservation of natural resources, reduction of GHG emissions, avoidance of landscape deterioration and land and marine littering.