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. Maréchal. 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.