Italy launches campaigns for responsible plastic and bioplastic bag use

In Italy, new initiatives are being launched to promote the responsible use and disposal of plastic and bioplastic bags.

Confcommercio, in collaboration with the National Packaging Consortium (CONAI), has renewed its awareness campaign for the sixth consecutive year. The program aims to educate consumers on the environmental consequences of plastic bag use, emphasizing the importance of reuse and correct recycling to prevent environmental dispersion. The campaign provides businesses in food distribution, electronics, clothing, and hardware sectors with informational kits, including audio clips, posters, and leaflets.

Simultaneously, Biorepack has launched a communication campaign to clarify the correct use of compostable bioplastic bags. The campaign stresses that these bags should be used exclusively for organic waste and disposed of within the organic waste collection stream. According to Biorepack, approximately 9 billion bioplastic bags—including 63,500 tons of bio-shoppers and 15,000 tons of fruit and vegetable bags—are used annually in Italy. Correct disposal is essential to prevent contamination of the recycling stream and to ensure that compostable materials can be successfully processed into compost.