Materials

The bioplastics tool was developed by the Assoziation ökologischer Lebensmittelhersteller e. V. (Association of Organic Food Manufacturers, AöL) as part of the project “Options for action for the use of sustainable bio-based plastics as packaging for food” funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). In a subsequent project funded by the BMEL, “Updating of and necessary further development of the bioplastics tool for packaging materials of significance on the market in order to increase the spread and acceptance of the use of sustainable bio-based plastics as packaging materials for foodstuffs” – (BioVP2), it was extensively revised. Packaging and food manufacturers as well as experts from the scientific community collaborated on its development.

This online tool provides information on the six most important material groups currently available on the market. The four criteria of ecology, social aspects, safety & technology and quality are recorded and evaluated via sub-criteria such as land use, life cycle assessments, social standards and migration. The assessment is based on the quantity (number) and type (interview, website, study, etc.) of the available information sources and the suitability of the information for making assessments (positive assessment / assessment in individual cases / predominantly critical assessment). As an aid to decision-making, the material groups can be compared with each other in terms of their assessment, as shown below. In addition to the assessment information, a checklist is also available as a decision-making aid. Further information on how to use the tool can be found in the manual.