Bio-based plastics: insights from JRC and relevance for E-OilÉ

A recent policy brief from the Joint Research Centre provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of bio-based plastics — highlighting both their potential and the key barriers that still limit their widespread adoption.

A promising solution with limited scale

Bio-based plastics, produced from renewable biomass such as sugars, starch, and vegetable oils, are increasingly recognised in EU strategies as part of the transition toward more sustainable materials. However, their current impact remains modest.

Today, they represent around 0.5% of global plastics production, and projections suggest they will remain below 1% by 2030. This reflects a slow but steady growth, constrained by structural challenges.

Understanding the diversity of bio-based plastics

The JRC emphasises that bio-based plastics are not a single category. They include:

• Plastics partially derived from biomass through existing production systems
• “Drop-in” plastics that are chemically identical to conventional plastics and compatible with current recycling systems
• Dedicated bio-based plastics, which can offer new properties such as biodegradability

Importantly, the brief highlights that bio-based does not necessarily mean biodegradable, underlining the need for clearer communication and classification.

Key barriers: cost and technology readiness

Two major challenges stand out:

• Higher production costs, currently estimated at 1.5 to 2 times those of fossil-based plastics
• Technological maturity, with many solutions still in the process of scaling up to industrial levels

Additional factors such as feedstock availability, sustainability concerns, and market acceptance further slow down adoption.

Environmental performance depends on the full lifecycle

While bio-based plastics can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fossil resources, their overall sustainability depends on several variables, including:

• The type and sourcing of biomass
• Production processes
• End-of-life pathways

Trade-offs may arise, particularly regarding land use and environmental impacts, making holistic assessment essential.

Relevance for E-OilÉ

The challenges identified by the JRC closely align with the objectives of E-OilÉ.

The project contributes to addressing these barriers by:

• Developing bio-based and biodegradable materials for specific applications that are currently difficult to recycle
• Exploring alternative feedstocks, including by-products from the olive oil sector
• Advancing technology readiness through testing and validation
• Applying Safe-and-Sustainable-by-Design principles to ensure both environmental and human safety
• Evaluating end-of-life scenarios across multiple environments

Looking forward

The JRC concludes that scaling up bio-based plastics will require coordinated action across policy, industry, and research. Measures such as regulatory support, sustainability criteria, and improved consumer information will be key to accelerating adoption.

In this context, E-OilÉ contributes to bridging the gap between innovation and application, supporting the development of packaging solutions that are not only bio-based, but also safe, functional, and aligned with real-world conditions.

Read the original Policy Brief HERE