News
Stricter Control Values for Organic Waste Collection from May 1, 2025
From May 1, 2025, stricter limits for contaminants, particularly plastics, in organic waste will come into effect. The use of certified industrially compostable organic waste collection bags will remain permitted, as they significantly contribute to increasing the amount of properly separated organic waste and reducing contamination from conventional, non-biodegradable plastic bags in organic waste bins.…
Biodegradable plastics for agriculture and forestry
Katrin Schwede writes in Plastverarbeiter about biodegradable plastics for agriculture and forestry: "Microplastics are a cross-cutting issue that affects many areas of life but still needs to be much more consciously acknowledged by the public. The best place to start is where good alternatives already exist. In agriculture, forestry, horticulture, and organic waste collection, this…
Carmen Michels Takes Over INAK Chairmanship from Peter Brunk
Berlin, October 16, 2024 – Carmen Michels (FKuR Kunststoffe GmbH) took over as chairperson of the Initiative for Natural Circular Economy e.V. (INAK) on October 11, 2024. She succeeds Peter Brunk (BIOTEC Biologische Naturverpackungen GmbH & Co. KG.), who had successfully led and significantly shaped the initiative (formerly the Verbund kompostierbare Produkte e.V.) since 2018.…
“Shaping the Future through Innovation” – Successful INAK Launch Event
The debut was a success: On October 10, the inaugural event of the Initiative for Natural Circular Economy (INAK) took place at BASF's headquarters in Berlin. Under the motto "Shaping the Future through Innovation," around 50 representatives from business, politics, and science gathered to discuss the key role of the biological circular economy and the…
Launch of the “Initiative natürliche Kreislaufwirtschaft e.V. (INAK)” – Biodegradable Products to Prevent Microplastics
Berlin, 7 Oktober 2024 –The Initiative natürliche Kreislaufwirtschaft e.V. (INAK, engl: Initiative for Natural Circular Economy) is an association of companies, certifiers, and waste management organisations, originating from the former association for compostable products, Verbund kompostierbare Produkte e.V. The aim of INAK is to develop sustainable and circular product solutions while reducing environmental pollution caused…
National Circular Economy Strategy: Placing Greater Focus on the Key Role of the Biological Cycle
Berlin, 08.07.2024 – In its statement on the draft of the National Circular Economy Strategy (NKWS), the Association for Compostable Products e.V. (Verbund) highlights the key role of the biological circular economy and calls for concrete measures to reduce microplastic pollution in the environment. “We welcome the fact that the federal government is committed in…
Bio-Waste Collection Bags Help to Properly Separate Organic Waste
In Germany, a third of organic waste still ends up in general waste bins, where it is simply incinerated. Although the use of organic waste bins has been mandatory across the EU since early 2024, many households in Germany are still not connected to a dedicated organic waste bin or similar system. As a result,…
Avoiding Microplastics: The Contribution of Biodegradable Plastics
Microplastics and their potential environmental and health impacts have become increasingly concerning in recent years. Everything in nature, including natural materials, will eventually wear down or decompose. This applies to plants that become humus as much as to mountains and rocks, which gradually break down into grains of sand over centuries. The same is true…
What Actually Happens During Composting?
Composting is a controlled decomposition – a process that has been occurring in nature for millions of years on both small and large scales. In nature, this process is called decay or decomposition, during which microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, etc. first break down dead plant matter. Later, small organisms like worms, woodlice, and others…