How Can Eco-Friendly Materials Contribute To Urban Planning And Boost Local Economies
Earlier this month, the European Commission launched a public consultation regarding organic, biodegradable and compostable plastics. This consultation aims to elaborate a political frame around these materials: an essential part of the European Green Deal. Through this mission, Europe strives to become the first climate-neutral continent.
Today, these eco-friendly plastic materials occupy just 1% of the European and global markets, with an expected growth of up to 8% by 2025. Through this consultation, the European Commission will be able to learn whether these biodegradable materials really deliver on their promise, and the extent of their advantages over the traditional plastic sector.
As sustainability has become a hugely important pillar of urban planning, especially in the structure of smart cities, this public consultation will become a vehicle towards putting into place a new series of recommendations for city officials. I’m confident that if this biodegradable segment of the plastic market is given the tools to not just grow, but also be made more widely available to European investors, it has genuine potential to help in the fight against climate change. Let’s think about it; these eco-friendly materials can reduce pollution throughout cities, keep the air cleaner and better preserve the urban ecosystem. But for that to be put into a fully functional system, it needs a simplified process of information, production, and distribution throughout the continent.
I’ve recently talked about the New European Bauhaus and its introduction to Romania, in bringing local art communities to the discussion table. The topic of sustainable plastic materials can become a challenge for a multitude of designers, innovators, and others to create new technology that can simplify the production and distribution processes. The right implementation can help officials sustain these ideas, where relevant and useful, through city projects that help to increase the own production of biodegradable materials locally, bringing an added opportunity of economic growth where this industry can create a real boost.
I see more and more initiatives coming from the EU Commission regarding sustainability, almost on a monthly basis, which just proves more than ever that this is a real path towards sustainability and resilience for urban communities. I’m excited to see this commitment moving ahead, and I look forward to seeing what conclusions this public consultation will bring along.
