In many circumstances, reusable products are a more environmentally and climate-friendly alternative and are, in some cases, already stipulated by law. For some areas of application where a reusable solution is difficult to implement, there is, however, a lack of functional, environmentally friendly single-use solutions.
Many single-use plastic products have been banned in the EU since 3 July 2021: single-use tableware items such as snack-bar bowls, plates, soup bowls, cutlery, ice-cream spoons, drinking straws and stirrers, as well as other single-use items such as cotton buds and air-balloon sticks. The ban encompasses not only products made from petroleum-based plastics, but also from “bioplastics”, i.e. bio-based or biodegradable plastics such as polylactic acid (PLA). Single-use products made from unmodified natural polymers are, however, still allowed, as these polymers occur naturally in the environment.
Legally compliant single-use products are available on the market; these are made, for example, from paper and cardboard or from the natural fibers of palm leaves or bamboo. The performance capabilities of these materials in terms of water resistance, fat resistance and mechanical stability are, however, limited. Furthermore, the raw materials are sometimes transported over long distances to Germany.
During beet harvesting and processing, the major German sugar manufacturers alone produce beet pulp in the seven-digit tonne range. The beet chippings could be processed into compounds directly on site, thereby exploiting the economically advantageous production conditions - through, for example, saved transportation, joint warehousing and integrated energy concepts. This would not only save CO2 but also strengthen regional markets, and could provide a contribution towards the safeguarding of existing jobs in Germany and the creation of new ones.
Single-use tableware made from (bio) plastic that is heavily soiled with food residues often ends up in the incineration plant because consumers throw it in the residual-waste garbage can, or because it is rejected during sorting of the recyclable waste due to the high level of contamination. Compostable single-use tableware made from native polymers could, together with food residues, be converted into valuable compost or possibly even be materially recycled.
Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research 
