RUSSIAN DIVISION OF GREENPEACE PROPOSED TO RENOUNCE THE USE OF BIODEGRADABLE PACKAGING IN RUSSIA

The Russian branch of Greenpeace has called on Russian officials to abandon biodegradable packaging, pointing out that its production will not solve the problem of garbage in the country, but will only exacerbate it.

The organization applied to several government agencies, including the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, with a corresponding letter.

The appeal sent to the state bodies contains arguments that only the processing of packaging and goods will not solve the problem of the growing volume of waste, and its incineration does not restore the resources spent on its production.

Several ideas have been voiced as suggestions from the Greenpeace:

• maintaining the use of reusable packaging along with the introduction of restrictions on the circulation of disposable containers;

• avoiding false alternatives to plastic containers in the form of ‘biopolymers’, ‘biodegradable polymers’ and paper, as they are also difficult to recycle;

• the introduction of standards for the standardization of the appearance, methods of use and compositions of the manufactured packages for the purpose of their subsequent correct processing;

• leaving an open list of goods and packaging that are recommended for restriction, since ongoing research in this area may allow to include more and more new types over time.

Additionally, Greenpeace emphasized the need to introduce support measures for businesses that provide, collect and process reusable containers and packaging, as well as businesses that have abandoned disposable containers in favor of reusable ones.