Politics and Policies of Bioplastic Regulations

The politics of plastics is an ever-increasing field of interest, with marine pollution and microplastics experiencing the most rapid growth. Plastics have become increasingly ubiquitous, playing an essential role in almost every aspect of our society’s infrastructure. Although they possess numerous attendant benefits, the global plastic system has become a source of dire environmental issues. Thus, this chapter explores the relationship between regulatory frameworks and the bioplastic industry. The historical context of bioplastic regulations is elaborated with emphasis on the early bioplastic policies such as tax breaks and subsidies, important legislative milestones such as the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), and the Single-Use Plastics Directive. Other important aspects of the politics and policies of bioplastic additives include global regulatory frameworks governing bioplastics, the roles of various stakeholders in these regulations, conflict of interest among stakeholders, politics of the plastic lifecycle, incentives for bioplastic development, certification, and labeling standards and challenges faced in bioplastic regulation are extensively discussed with the aim of reforming and revalidating industrial bioplastic regulations. The chapter concludes with prospective regulatory changes in the bioplastic sector.