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The Spanish Association for Standardisation, UNE, in line with its commitment to innovation, publishes its second Foresight Study, focused on bioplastics.
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These studies analyse information from various sources and cross-reference it with key partners from the relevant sectors. It aims to establish new standardisation activities led by Spanish organisations to support the development and implementation of innovative technologies and solutions.
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Standardisation is a strategic tool for introducing and consolidating the use of bioplastics in the market.
Madrid, 13 March 2025 – The Spanish Association for Standardisation, UNE, has published the second document of its series of Foresight Studies, focused on innovation in bioplastics. These studies aim to support the industrial implementation of new technologies and innovative solutions by drawing up technical standards, which Spanish companies lead at the European and international levels.
Fernando Utreilla, Head of UNE's R&D&I, states: “With this new type of foresight studies, we invite you to reflect on the role that standardisation can play in facilitating innovation in strategic sectors. At UNE, we constantly innovate, as we understand standardisation as a strategic tool to serve the innovative capacity of companies, speeding up access to the market for their products or services."
In recent years, the European Commission has developed policies and initiatives to promote biodegradable plastics and bioplastics, both in its bioeconomy strategy and in its Strategy and Plan for a Circular Economy in Europe and the Green Deal. It also makes a significant effort to finance R&D&I in this sector through the Horizon Europe programme, in which UNE plays an active role as a standardisation partner in numerous projects.
Bioplastics are derived from vegetable products such as soy oil, corn, potato starch or the wastewater treatment process, unlike conventional petroleum plastics. Its development aims to reproduce the intrinsic beneficial characteristics of plastics and reduce their impact on the environment.
To prepare this new Foresight Study, UNE analysed information gathered from various sources, including European R&D&I projects in which it has participated and continues to participate as a standardisation partner, several of which concern bioplastics.
Key Findings of the Study
Standardisation is a strategic tool for introducing and consolidating the use of bioplastics in the market. Subjects subject to standardisation include defining concepts, parameters and specifications of products for their characterisation, correlation of testing with the final product, specific use according to applications, traceability of materials and their production, as well as the production conditions of the operation.
Another conclusion highlighted by the Study is the need to involve public administrations, research centres, product manufacturers, industry associations, and related stakeholders, as well as waste managers, for sector development and the creation of standards.
Bioplastics have a promising future and a transformation in the plastics industry.
The “Bioplastics" Foresight Study has sought the opinion and knowledge of agents representative of the value chain of the plastics sector: CEISLAB, Asociación Española de Industriales de Plásticos (ANAIP), Instituto Tecnológico del Plástico (AIMPLAS), Centro Tecnológico del Calzado y del Plástico (CETEC), Instituto Tecnológico del Embalaje, Transporte y Logística (ITENE), Asociación Nacional de Recicladores de Plásticos (ANARPLA) and Asociación Española de Plásticos Biodegradables Compostables (ASOBIOCOM).
More information:
https://www.en.une.org/normalizacion/estudios-prospectivos-une/
