Definitional divergences

Plastics are indispensable materials, but they can cause significant environmental problems if not disposed of in the proper manner. With the social and political pressure to reduce plastic waste, the importance of clear definitions of terms is growing, because what is considered "plastic" can vary, depending on the context. In the UK, this fact has led to different regulations: the Single Use Plastic Ban (SUPB) aims to prevent littering, the Plastic Packaging Tax (PPT) is intended to encourage circularity. Both are based on the REACH regulations, but differ in their treatment of natural polymers. This discrepancy has created uncertainty, especially for manufacturers of bio-based and biodegradable materials. The article "Plastic definitions in UK regulation" by BB-REG-NET examines how such definitional differences influence the development of a circular economy and points out ways to achieve coherent, innovation-friendly regulation.