Chemicals

2.2. Justification The current project aims to accomplish the first steps of the incorporation of biodegradable polymers in the manufacturing of packaging materials in Bulgaria. The necessity for such a project stems from the unsatisfactory current state of domestic waste management in Bulgaria, where landfilling is the only established option for plastic waste, and littering of the environment with such wastes is widespread. Sorting and recycling of domestic waste is not a very practicable option at the moment, especially where soiled plastic packaging materials from small food items, such as one-time-use honey packages is concerned. Producing such items from biodegradable plastics such as the Ecoflex biopolymer would reduce the volume of non-degradable plastic wastes and also help combat global warming, as biopolymers are not produced from fossil fuels. 2.3. Location The project will be accomplished on the premises of Bard 90 EOOD installation for honey goods packaging, which is situated in the industrial zone of the city of Dobrich in Dobrich district, located in the Bulgarian North-eastern planning region 2.4. Project Target Groups The two main target groups for this project are the consumers of the honey goods to be packaged using Ecoflex and business organizations, such as the companies concerned with the production, importation and distribution of packaging materials. 2.5. Goal and expected impacts The main goal of the project will be the lasting incorporation of alternative (biogegradable) packaging in Bulgaria, in order to help the country s efforts in the field of environmental protection. The expected impacts will include an - increase in the sales of the packaged honey goods; - improved public awareness of biodegradable materials; - opportunities for wider application of biodegradable polymers in Bulgaria 2.6. Objectives and expected results The specific objectives and expected results of the project include: - successful incorporation of a sustainable product, which would lead to increased sales of the honey goods products packaged using biodegradable polymers. - increased discussion of biodegradable plastics in the media and Internet, resulting in improved public awareness of biodegradable materials. - creating opportunities for wider application of biodegradable polymers, leading to their incorporation in more types of production in Bulgaria. 2.7. Major activities The major activities, related to the project include: - holding meetings with waste experts from the Ministry of the Environment and Water (MoEW) to elaborate the need and opportunities for biodegradable polymers; - Importation of Ecoflex biodegradable packaging material from Germany; - Purchase of production machines and equipment for the Bard 90 company for the processing of the Ecoflex biodegradable polymer.; - Preparation of a detail business plan for the company to ensure sustainable development of the product on the market; - Executing an active advertising and informational campaign to accompany the introduction of the product on the market. Approach of other companies potential users of biopolymers in Bulgaria 2.8 Partnership with GEF SGP proposals/projects n.a. 2.9. Sustainability The product development will be sustainable in the long run, despite the slight increase in the price of the honey product due to the incorporation of biodegradable packaging. The Ecoflex material is 49% more expensive than conventional polymers used for the production of packaging, but packaging accounts to only 2.6% of the cost of the product. It is expected that the resulting increase will impact the bulk sales of the product, however, the current favorable trends in the honey market will compensate the all short term losses by the manufacturer. Also, in the longer term sustainable benefits will be realized from the training and know-how advantage of the company personnel in the field of biodegradable polymers.

Bulgaria