Sustainable material innovation and plastic reduction policies

Developments in sustainable materials and environmental legislation are driving shifts in plastic consumption. In Spain, companies are utilizing potato starch to create innovative bioplastics. Barcelona-based Kompuestos produces resins from potato starch that can degrade in soil within four weeks, earning the ‘OK Compost’ certification from TÜV Austria. Similarly, Zaragoza-based Sphere España manufactures compostable bags using potato starch, noting that approximately 15 potatoes can produce up to 100 CO2-free bags.

In Chile, eight years after the implementation of Law 21.100, which banned single-use plastic bags, the Ministry of the Environment reports that over 13.6 billion plastic bags have been prevented from entering circulation. This measure has avoided 100,000 tons of plastic waste and reduced CO2 equivalent emissions by approximately 200,000 tons. While consumer habits have shifted, with over 80% of citizens now using reusable bags, experts from Universidad Andrés Bello suggest that further research into eco-design and sustainable materials is necessary to address the environmental impact of producing reusable non-woven bags.