Italy’s competition authority has fined energy giant Eni and its plastics subsidiary Novamont over €32 million for abusing their market dominance in the production of plastic bags.
The regulator said Novamont engaged in exclusionary practices between 2018 and 2023 that limited fair competition for raw materials used to make lightweight fruit and vegetable bags in the domestic market.
Eni, the parent company, received a fine of €1.7 million, while Novamont was hit with a much steeper penalty, €30.4 million, reflecting the central role it allegedly played in manipulating access to bioplastic materials. The Italian authority concluded that Novamont’s tactics hindered competitors’ market entry and unfairly influenced supplier relationships, particularly in the growing biodegradable bag segment.
The fines come amid growing scrutiny of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) compliance in the plastics and packaging industry. While Novamont maintains it “firmly disagrees” with the decision and plans to appeal, the case underscores rising enforcement in Europe to ensure innovation and sustainability do not come at the cost of market fairness.
The regulator’s decision is a broader signal to companies operating in green-tech spaces to uphold ethical competition alongside their environmental commitments.
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