BRUSSELS - The latest news emerging from the European Commission suggests that viscose and lyocell based fibre products have been determined to not be chemically-modified and therefore will not be included in the coming European Union Single-Use Plastics Directive.

If confirmed, with the official pronouncement expected in May, the news will be well received by the nonwovens industry which is facing pressure to develop more sustainable products to help reduce plastic waste.

For single use products, the revised definition of ‘plastic’ in the European Commission’s new Directive on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment, is presenting a major challenge, and is already leading to product design changes. Only polymers made from natural polymers that have “not been chemically modified” fall outside the Commission’s definition.

For nonwovens products such as wipes and feminine hygiene products that fall under the directive, laws will come into force requiring such products to carry prominent warning labels, with extended producer responsibility for their clean-up, collection and disposal coming into place for some items.

More to follow...