New findings reinforce the role bio-based materials could play in helping businesses align with PPWR requirements while reducing their environmental impact
As packaging legislation evolves, businesses are increasingly asking the same question: which materials are best positioned to meet future sustainability and compliance requirements?
While much of the conversation has focused on recyclability and circularity, growing attention is now being given to the role of bio-based materials in reducing dependency on virgin fossil resources and supporting long-term climate goals.
A major new European report has added significant momentum to that discussion, concluding that bio-based plastics will play an important role in the future of packaging. The findings support what many in the industry have long believed: achieving climate-neutral packaging goals will require a combination of material innovation, infrastructure investment and smarter packaging design.
Published by the Publications Office of the European Union in collaboration with the German Nova Institute, the report highlights the potential for bio-based plastics to help replace virgin fossil carbon in packaging applications, reinforcing their role in the industry’s transition towards a more sustainable future.
What is bio-based packaging?
Bio-based packaging refers to packaging materials manufactured wholly or partly from renewable biological resources, such as sugarcane, corn, cellulose or other plant-derived feedstocks, rather than virgin fossil-based raw materials.
Importantly, bio-based does not automatically mean biodegradable or compostable. The term refers to the source of the material rather than its end-of-life characteristics. Many bio-based plastics offer similar performance properties to conventional plastics while reducing reliance on finite fossil resources.
This distinction is becoming increasingly important as businesses evaluate how different packaging materials can support their environmental targets while maintaining product protection, operational efficiency and regulatory compliance.
Why bio-based materials matter
Bio-based plastics offer an alternative approach by replacing fossil-based feedstocks with renewable resources. The findings align with a broader industry conversation around how organisations can create more sustainable packaging systems without compromising functionality, product protection or supply chain performance. However, the discussion should not solely focus on material substitution.
In our experience, businesses often begin their sustainability journey by looking at alternative materials, but some of the most significant environmental gains can come from a combination of material selection, packaging optimisation and reducing unnecessary packaging altogether. The most effective sustainability strategies consider the full packaging lifecycle rather than any single intervention in isolation.
How can bio-based packaging contribute to PPWR objectives?
Bio-based packaging can support PPWR goals by:
- Reducing dependence on virgin fossil resources
- Lowering the carbon impact associated with raw material production
- Supporting wider climate-neutrality ambitions
- Providing renewable feedstock alternatives for packaging applications
- Complementing broader sustainability and circular economy initiatives
According to the recent Nova Institute report, bio-based plastics have an important role to play in replacing virgin fossil carbon within packaging applications.
However, bio-based materials are not a standalone solution.
To deliver their full environmental benefit, they must be considered alongside other PPWR priorities, including:
- Recyclability
- Resource efficiency
- Waste reduction
- Circular design principles
- End-of-life recovery systems
Businesses evaluating future packaging strategies should therefore view bio-based materials as one component of a broader sustainability approach rather than a standalone answer.
Key considerations when evaluating bio-based packaging
As interest in bio-based materials continues to grow, organisations should consider several factors before implementation:
1. Material suitability
Not every packaging application is suitable for bio-based alternatives. Performance requirements such as durability, barrier protection and shipping conditions should always be assessed.
2. Verified environmental impact
Businesses should look for independently verified Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data to understand the environmental impact of a material across its entire lifecycle.
3. Recycling compatibility
Understanding how materials interact with existing recycling infrastructure is essential to supporting circularity objectives.
4. Alignment with wider sustainability goals
The most effective packaging strategies evaluate carbon reduction, recyclability, resource efficiency and operational performance together rather than prioritising a single metric.
A growing industry discussion
This report has generated considerable discussion across the packaging and sustainability sectors, particularly around how bio-based materials fit within wider circular economy objectives.
Separately, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s recent Circular by Nature report argues that bio-based materials have often been overlooked despite their potential contribution to a more circular economy. The report highlights the need for greater infrastructure investment, collaboration and innovation to maximise the benefits of bio-based solutions and ensure they can be effectively recovered and utilised at end of life.
Together, these reports signal a growing recognition that no single material or solution will address sustainability challenges alone.
Instead, businesses must consider the full lifecycle impact of packaging and identify where different materials can deliver the greatest environmental benefit within their specific operations.
From industry discussion to practical application
At Duo, we’ve long recognised the potential of bio-based materials within the packaging sector.
In 2015, we became the first UK manufacturer to produce mailing bags using I’m green™ bio-based resin, a thermoplastic material derived from sugarcane.
Supported by Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) data, I’m green™ bio-based resin helps reduce reliance on virgin fossil resources while providing a lower-carbon alternative to conventional polythene. This aligns closely with the growing emphasis within PPWR on reducing environmental impact and supporting the transition towards climate-neutral packaging solutions.
Over recent years, we’ve seen increasing interest from retailers and brand owners looking to balance sustainability objectives with practical business requirements. While carbon reduction is often the starting point, successful adoption typically depends on ensuring materials also meet operational expectations around durability, fulfilment efficiency and customer experience.
The solution has already been adopted by a number of forward-thinking retailers, including SportPursuit, which was the first online retailer to implement I’m green™ bio-based mailing bags as part of its sustainability strategy.
These examples reinforce an important point: for many businesses, the future of sustainable packaging will not be defined by a single material innovation, but by selecting the right materials for the right applications while supporting broader circular economy goals.
If you’re evaluating packaging solutions that could help reduce reliance on virgin fossil resources while supporting your sustainability objectives, speak to Duo about whether I’m green™ bio-based mailing bags could support your packaging strategy.
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +44 (0)161 203 5767