The issues that law and policy address constantly change and it is important to design law and policy not only for today’s concerns, but also (as far as possible) be still suitable for tomorrow’s. This “future proofing” of law and policy requires careful consideration of exactly how it is framed and worded.There are many new plastics emerging all the time – using different biological source materials, with different biodegradability properties. Further, new products using these materials are being developed.Also our understanding of how these new materials interact with the environment, consumer behaviour, etc., evolves rapidly. It is also important that law and policy reflect the precautionary principle, yet also support innovation. Framing them in the correct way can achieve this. Law and policy is best based on principles, objectives, aims, rather than based on specific materials. Doing this ensures they remain relevant. They can also be precautionary and stimulate innovation. Analyses exploring these issues should be included in the exploration of policy options within Impact Assessments.