News
The updated poster on Biodegradable Polymers in Various Environments has been released
nova-Institute has updated its popular poster on the biodegradability of polymers in different environments.
The updated version reflects current standards, certifications and the latest scientific findings.
The poster can be used to assess biodegradable alternatives for use in agriculture and forestry, and it is now available in German for the first time.
Please note that biodegradability must always be subject to a specific and detailed assessment by an independent third-party body like TUV AUSTRIA OKcert.
Bio-based feedstock in plastic packaging analysis - Support for PPWR (EU) 2025/40
Brussels, April 2026 - This report assesses the role of bio-based feedstocks in plastic packaging under the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), with a focus on technological development and environmental performance. Although seventeen bio-based polymers are commercially available, they represent only ~1% of the global plastics market and account for just 4–5% of biogenic carbon in the EU chemical sector. Production capacity is concentrated in Asia (55%), followed by North America (17%) and the EU27+3 (14%). Despite their limited market share, there are no fundamental technical barriers to using them in packaging. Bio-based plastics offer a 30–70% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to fossil-based alternatives, which supports the EU's decarbonisation and circular economy goals. The report also evaluates the feasibility of setting targets for the use of bio-based materials, their equivalence with recycled materials and how sustainability criteria can be aligned with the Renewable Energy Directive (RED). Key recommendations include setting binding targets for bio-based content, establishing harmonised sustainability criteria, and adapting recycling infrastructure. Leveraging the complementarity of bio -based and recycled content could help to accelerate the EU’s transition to a climate-neutral packaging sector
Research project investigates continued biodegradation of compostable plastics in soil
Berlin / Vienna, 21 April 2026 - A new research project aims to study the biodegradation of particles from compostable plastic films under realistic conditions in soil. The recently launched German Austrian joint project “Continued biodegradation of fragments from certified compostable plastic films in soil under real conditions” seeks to gain scientifically sound insights into how fast fragments of such films, which may enter the soil via compost, biodegrade in that environment. The project marks another important step towards a deeper understanding of the biodegradability of compostable plastic films and their behavior in the environment.
TÜV AUSTRIA updates its OK biobased logo scheme
Rotselaar, 26 February 2026 - TÜV AUSTRIA announces the launch of its updated OK biobased certification and logo scheme, designed to better reflect today’s sustainability expectations and provide clearer, more transparent communication regarding the biobased content of certified products.
The OK biobased scheme was first introduced 15 years ago and has now been revised to reflect today’s market requirements.
The update improves transparency of claims in line with the European Directive 2024/825 on empowering consumer for the green transition, provides clearer differentiation between end-of-life options and material origins, and responds to market demand for greater visibility of products with high biobased content.