Part 1: Standards and Policies: 1: Science and Standards G. Scott. 1. Why Are Standards Necessary. 2. Life Cycle Assessment of Biodegradable Polymers. 3. Degradation of Carbon-Chain Polymers. 4. Hydroperoxides and the Peroxidation Chain Mechanism. 5. Microbial Degradation of Carbon-Chain Polymers. 6. Characterisation of Biodegradable Polymers. 7. Applications of Degradable Plastics in Agriculture and Horticulture. 8. Applications of Degradable Plastics in Waste Management. 9. Oxo-Biodegradable Polymers in the Soil. 10. Science-Based Standards for Degradable Polymers. 11. Conclusions. 2. Biodegradability And Compostability F. Degli Innocenti. 1. Everything is Biodegradable. Can Everything be Bio-Recycled. 2. Role of Standardization. 3. Compostability of Packaging: the EN 13432. 4. Other Notable Standards on Compostability. 5. Other Notable Standards on Compostability. 6. New Frontiers in Standardisation. 3: Study of The Aerobic Biodegradability of Plastic Materials Under Controlled Compost A. Hoshino, M. Tsuji, M. Ito, M. Momochi, A. Mizutani, K. Takakuwa, S. Higo, H. Sawada, S. Uematsu. 1. Introduction. 2. Materials and Methods. 3. Results and Discussion. 4. Conclusions. 4: Environmentally Degradable Plastics And ICS-UNIDO Global Program S. Miertus, Xin Ren. 1. Introduction. 2. EDPS and Waste Management. 3. EDPS and Renewable Resources. 4. Life Cycle Consideration. 5. Situation and Needs in Developing Countries. 6. ICS-UNIDO Activities on EDPS. 7. Conclusions. 5: Biodegradable Plastics: Views of APME (Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe) F. Marechal. 1. Introduction. 2. APME Position. 3. Background. 4. Conclusions. 6: Market Introduction of Compostable Packaging: Consumers’ Acceptance and Disposal Habits in the Kassel Project J. Reske. 1. Introduction. 2. Background: The Situation before the Kassel Project. 3. The Project: Issues and Participants. 4. Results. Part 2: Biobased Systems:- 7: Do Biopolymers Fulfill Our Expectations Concerning Environmental Benefits M. Patel. 1. Biopolymers – A Relevant Topic? 2. Environmental Superiority? – Having a Closer Look at Starch Polymers. 3. Environmental Comparison – A Bird’s View. 4. Are We Critical Enough? 5. What Can We Conclude? 8: Biobased Polymeric Materials H. Hatakeyama, Y. Asano, T. Hatakeyam. 1. Introduction. 2. Methods of Characterisation. 3. Saccharide- and Lignin-Based PU Derivatives. 4. Saccharide and Lignin-Based PCL Derivatives. 5. Polyurethanes from Saccharide and Lignin Based PCLs. 6. Conclusions. 9: Biodegradable Kraft Lignin-Based Thermoplastics Yan Li, S. Sarkanen. 1. Introduction. 2. Towards the first Thermoplastics with High Lignin.