Wood is good
At the moment, the European Commission is defining and delimiting the term “plastic”. It is not yet completely clear for the EU what should actually be defined as plastic and what should not be. It is, however, not enough just to highlight the problem – there is a need for alternatives to give consumers a choice.
According to Global2000, every year 130 million tonnes of fossile plastic end up in our waterways and soil. Last year the European Commission passed the „Single Use Plastics Directive“ (SUPD) as a countermeasure – with the intention of restricting the use of fossil raw materials, at least with regard to single-use products. On the one hand, this will be accomplished by disallowing the use of fossil-based synthetic materials in products like disposable cutlery or straws as of 2021. For others, there will be labelling requirements as of 2021, for example with feminine hygiene products and wet wipes.
At the moment, the Commission is working together with the member states to define and delimit the term “plastic”. It is not yet completely clear for the EU what should actually be defined as plastic and what should not be. It is, however, not enough just to highlight the problem – there is a need for alternatives to give consumers a choice.
Wood’s got what it takes
Wood from sustainable forest plantations is a raw material source which does just that, the more so as it has a myriad range of possible applications. Among other things, VEOCELTM fibers are made from it. The fibers are extracted from controlled and certified forest plantations. Due to their natural components, the wood-based cellulosic fibers are completely compostable and completely biodegradable in soil and water within only a few weeks. So single-use products of cellulosic fibers are good for us and are also gentle on our environment. The blogger, „diekleinebotin“, addresses this issue in her latest video.
There is, however, a possibility that these sustainable fibers of wood-based cellulose will be classified as plastic by the EU. But that cannot be: environmentally friendly materials from the raw material, wood, constitute a clever alternative to fossil-based plastic and should definitely not be put on an equal footing with it. The blogger „littlepaperplane“ has therefore launched a petition directed at the EU Commission, to make people aware of this important differentiation. Anything made from the renewable raw material of wood and verifiably bio-degradable, should most certainly not be lumped together with fossil-based raw materials in a „plastic category“. This is the way to the petition – sign it now!
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