Compostable Bioplastics Explained: Gennaro Agrimi Writes for GreenPlanner Magazine
In his “Transizione plastica” column for GreenPlanner Magazine, Gennaro Agrimi (UNIBA, TwInn4MicroUp) sets out to clarify three terms often confused with one another: “bio-based” (derived from natural sources, with no guarantee of how the material behaves once discarded), “biodegradable” (breakable down by microorganisms, without defined timeframes) and “compostable”, governed in Europe by the EN 13432 standard, which requires at least 90% degradation within six months under industrial composting conditions.
The article highlights Italy as a positive outlier in Europe thanks to Biorepack, the Italian national consortium within the CONAI system, dedicated to compostable bioplastic packaging (founded 2018; operational since 2020), crediting it with recycling rates above 55% in 2022–2024, ahead of statutory targets, at a time when much of the rest of Europe still lacks structured organic-waste collection systems.
It sets out three open issues for the sector:
- An EU-wide composting capacity gap – around 300,000 tonnes/year of certified treatment capacity against bioplastic production projected to exceed 1.2 million tonnes/year by 2027
- A communication risk, flagged by Greenpeace, that bioplastics may be used to legitimise single-use consumption
- Chemical-safety concerns, citing a 2022 University of Bayreuth study finding plastic microparticles in German industrial compost, and a 2020 Goethe University Frankfurt study reporting toxic in-vitro effects in 75% of 43 tested bioplastic/bio-based products
G. Agrimi concludes that compostable bioplastics remain a credible, sustainable alternative to fossil-based plastics and should not be a source of alarm, but argues their growth must go hand in hand with expanded composting infrastructure, clearer labelling and continued attention to chemical safety – since changing material alone does not resolve the need to reduce single-use consumption.
Extra media: Read the article – https://www.greenplanner.it/2026/05/15/bioplastiche-compostabili-soluzione-reale/