The first obstacle to the replacement of plastics with bioplastics is the worldwide production capacity of bioplastics, which covers less than 1% of plastic requirements.

A second problem is the characteristics that are not always suitable for the required applications. It is also important to point out that the sustainability of a product should be assessed by analysing the environmental impact of the entire life cycle using the LCA method. LCA analyses sometimes give surprising results that disprove the cliché that plastic is the worst of all materials.

Source: European Bioplastics Nova Institute

There are no products that do not have an impact on the environment, during the extraction, production, transport and of course the final disposal phase at the end of their life cycle.

When we think about plastic, we focus only on the final phase, that is, when it becomes waste, but it would be essential to analyse its sustainability by evaluating all life phases. One would discover interesting data that would disprove many beliefs. A small example: if we were to move from plastic to cardboard, we would have to have seven times as many lorries as we have now, with a corresponding increase in CO2 emissions into the environment.

Source: British Plastic Federation

Plastic is a revolutionary, cheap, versatile and lightweight material that has improved our lives by democratising consumption and replacing huge amounts of natural materials. Could we afford to go back to having very heavy cars that consume large amounts of fuel? Or to buy glasses with frames made from tortoise shells? Or even take home groceries with no packaging, no protection, no hygiene and no durability?

Plastic must be recycled and reused, fuelling a virtuous process that saves natural resources. The industry is working to make all plastic recyclable. Do your part, separate waste.

The National Consumers’ Union (UNC) has called for a ban on the distribution of steel and aluminium water bottles in schools. Massimiliano Dona, UNC president, writes in a press release: “Preserving the planet is sacrosanct, but we cannot make our children pay for it. We all know that if plastic is not recycled properly it can cause enormous damage to the environment, but we still do not know the consequences for our health of the prolonged use of bottles made of materials of dubious origin. It is therefore not with demagogic choices that the planet is saved, but by working to increase recycling, while simultaneously developing legislation on products like water bottles to safeguard public health…”

The Italian plastics processing industry, number two in Europe, is engaged in a process of development and reconversion that requires innovation, research and investment.

The plastic tax affects the sector and risks drying up funding sources. Italy is the only country in Europe to have introduced this measure, which, alongside the campaign to demonise plastic, damages the national industry instead of supporting it with investments. Plastic is irreplaceable in many applications and, instead of penalising companies, recycling should be encouraged by upgrading plants and promoting the use of recycled plastic.