The increasing use of bio-based and/or biodegradable plastics reflects a global push towards more sustainable materials. In the context of food packaging, where plastic waste and contamination risks are acute, these materials offer promising alternatives. However, the transition is complex, requiring coordinated regulatory interventions and lifecycle assessments (LCA) to avoid unintended environmental and health consequences. This paper outlines the pressing need for policies that guide the development and deployment of bio-based plastics in food-related applications. It provides a policy-oriented synthesis focused on Europe and discusses recent concerns such as toxicity, end-of-life impacts, and food safety. The study draws from the literature review and regulatory analysis to suggest policy mechanisms that can accelerate safe, circular solutions in food packaging. Methodologically, this communication uses qualitative synthesis of scientific and regulatory data to assess gaps and align innovations with sustainability targets.

The role of plastics is well-documented in the literature reflecting on its impact on a global economy, planetary and human health. However, there is an urgent need for additional studies analysing their carbon emissions and ways to handle them. This short communication discusses the measures needed to understand and mitigate plastics' carbon footprint while paving a path toward cleaner, sustainable and circular plastic industry. It advances the field by synthesising critical data on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across plastic production stages-from fossil fuel extraction to end-of-life waste. It highlights the industry's outsised climate impact and identifies key leverage points for mitigation, such as transitioning to renewable energy in cracking processes and scaling circular economy models. By mapping emissions hotspots and proposing actionable policy and technological interventions, the study bridges gaps between academic research, industry practices, and climate policy, accelerating the push toward a low-carbon plastic economy.

The composition of plastic and multilayer packaging waste was assessed in the mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) streams of the Kaunas (Lithuania), Daugavpils (Latvia) and Tallinn (Estonia) municipalities. For the analysis of samples in the mixed MSW streams, the authors used manual sorting and a visual recognition method. Composition analysis of plastic and multilayer packaging waste from separately collected waste of multi-family and single-family households was performed in the Kaunas and Tallinn municipalities. For the analysis of samples in the separately collected waste streams, the research group combined manual sorting and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy methods. The findings reveal that the percentage distribution of plastic and multilayer packaging waste within the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream is relatively consistent across the municipalities of Kaunas, Daugavpils and Tallinn, comprising 40.16%, 36.83% and 35.09%, respectively. However, a notable variation emerges when examining separately collected plastic and multilayer packaging waste streams. In this category, the proportion of plastic and multilayer packaging within the total separately collected packaging waste stream ranges from 62.05% to 74.7% for multi-family residential buildings and from 44.66% to 56.89% for single-family residential buildings. The authors provided further insights for the enhanced recycling potential of different plastic materials through improved sorting.