Italy to ban non biodegradable carrier bags

25-Oct-06

Italy plans to ban biodegradable carrier bags. The new government is set to ban both production and use of carriers in plastics derived from petroleum as of 1 January 2010. This ban gives rise to several questions regarding the cost to the processors of switching production to biopolymer films as well as the cost of the bags estimated to be around twice as much as PE bags. Also under questioning is the suitability for purpose of such materials and the isssue of material availability, as current bioplolymer production capacity in Italy is only 8,000 tpa. An estimated 200,000 hectares of land would be required under cultivation to grow crops to meet the demand for carrier bags pegged between 200,000 to 300,000 tons. Italy is following in the steps of France, which several months ago voted in similar legislation to take effect in 2009.