BPF gives guidance to firms making 'green' claims

The British Plastics Federation (BPF) has published guidance advising plastics companies who make environmental claims for their products.

The 16-page paper, produced in consultation with the BPF’s Bio-based & Degradable Plastics Group, headed by Wells Plastics' technical director Andrew Barclay, looks at the use of terms such as ‘bio-based’, ‘biodegradable’, ‘compostable’ and ‘oxo-biodegradation’.

According to the BPF it aimed “to provide clear, user-friendly advice for companies in the plastics sector who are or are considering making environmental claims about their products”.

The guidance was not designed to supersede existing legislation, said the BPF. Instead it outlined a series of principles covering both general and specific environmental claims made for certain materials.

“By providing accurate information about the environmental effects and qualities of products, environmental or ‘green’ claims can often help consumers to make informed buying choices.

“Conversely the use of misleading, false, meaningless or unclear information can result in a loss of consumer confidence and unfair business competition,” the trade body added.

Public spats between some plastics materials companies and research groups over environmental claims for ‘green’ plastics show how contentious the issue of marketing products in this way can be, something the BPF doubtless hopes will be laid to rest with its new document.

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