The Natural Polymers Group (NPG) is a coalition of diverse stakeholders who share a common vision: to promote nature-based non-plastic substitutes for the global plastic pollution problem. The NPG represents materials which are made of natural polymers that have not been chemically modified.
We believe that natural materials that have existed for millions of years, are the answer to the next generation of sustainable packaging materials. Natural polymers have been traditionally used in material applications like cotton, beeswax and uncoated paper. In recent years, novel technologies have been developed, marking a new generation of nature-based non-plastic materials that can replace conventional plastics (e.g. synthetic fossil fuel-based polymers) and bioplastics.
We support the European Union’s Single-Use Plastics Directive, which recognises this distinction and exempts non-plastic polymers from its future bans, taxes, and restrictions that apply to plastics. We think this is a positive step towards acknowledging the potential of natural polymers as safe, environmentally sound, and sustainable non-plastic substitutes.
We believe that the current emphasis on recycling and reuse of plastics is not enough to address the plastic pollution crisis. While these strategies have some benefits, they also encourage the continuous production of plastics and ongoing risk of environmental leakage. Therefore, recycling and reuse approaches cannot and will not solve the problem by themselves.
We advocate for a holistic approach that combines the use of substitutes like natural polymers to drive the effort to reduce production of plastic, alongside policies on recycling and reuse. We think this is the most effective way to achieve a regenerative economy.
Our mission is to establish nature-based materials as credible, mainstream solutions to replace plastic products, contributing to a cleaner and healthier world.
The group supports natural polymers that have not undergone chemical modification. Natural polymers have been traditionally used in material applications like cotton, beeswax and uncoated paper. In recent years, novel technologies have been developed, marking a new generation of nature-based non-plastic materials that can replace conventional plastics (e.g. synthetic fossil fuel-based polymers) and bioplastics. Natural polymers that come from sustainable sources and processes are also a better choice for the environment than plastics.
This is consistent with the European Union's Single-Use Plastics Directive, which defines non-chemically modified natural polymers as non-plastic polymers and excludes these polymers from its future prohibitions, taxes, and limitations that apply to plastics.
Natural polymers have several environmental benefits compared to conventional plastics. They can reduce the amount of carbon and energy used in their production and disposal, protect the land and water resources from degradation and contamination, prevent harmful emissions and waste, and support the circular economy for being regenerative by design.
Natural polymers have promising applications in various sectors, such as packaging, food contact, paper coating, and areas where waste management is problematic. For example, coated food boxes are one of the many applications of natural polymers that are being adopted at scale in the food industry. Natural polymers are non-plastic substitutes to plastic applications, especially for short-term uses where reuse or recycling is not feasible. By replacing synthetic polymers with natural ones, existing infrastructure can be adapted to reduce environmental impact and waste generation.
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