It covers terms including 'bio-based', 'biodegradable', 'compostable' and 'renewable' for UK companies that produce plastics materials and additives and/or sell plastic products.
For biodegradable the document states: “Claims that a product or package is ‘biodegradable’ shall be verifiable and substantiated by competent and reliable scientific evidence as required by the UK Green Claims Code and ISO 14021.”
Under renewable, the guidance says: “Claims that a product or package is ‘renewable’ should be used with great care as there is currently no internationally agreed definition for the term.”
The BPF said the guidance is not intended to supersede existing UK/EU legislation, mandatory advertising codes and/or government guidance which will still be the key sources for ensuring that advertising and marketing are fully compliant in respect of environmental claims.