EU Plastic Strategy 2018

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In 2018, the European Commission launched ‘A European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy’ This was an extension of the Commission’s 2015 ‘EU Action Plan for a Circular Economy’, which aimed to create a circular economy to boost sustainable economic growth and create new jobs. This plan emphasised the importance of plastic pollution and waste management, labelling it as a key priority and committed to preparing a strategy to address the challenges posed by plastics and their life cycles.

The strategy takes into account the importance of plastic in food preservation, which is significant to the sustainability of the curricular economy. The strategy aims to target how plastics are designed, used and recycled in the European Union. The ultimate targets set by the strategy are to have all plastics in the EU be reusable or recyclable in a cost efficient manner by 2030.

Plastic waste

Plastics are a ‘category of synthetic polymers’, designed to be strong, lightweight and flexible for consumer products. Due to its flexibility, plastic is useful for a wide range of products. Depending on the item and environmental factors, plastic products can take from 20 years to decompose, such as plastic bags, up to 500 years for a plastic toothbrush. The long life of plastic makes it a critical area for responsible waste management and can decompose in the ocean into microplastics, adding to its harmful impacts to oceans and marine life.

The harmful effects of plastic are varied. For wildlife, nearly 700 species of animal are known to have been affected by plastics, with almost all species of seabird known to have eaten plastic. Most of the deaths of animals are related to entanglement or starvation, and tests have concluded that plastic interference with animals has contributed to disruptions in their reproductive systems. Humans are also at risk, due to eating animals which are rife with microplastics. The prominence of plastic pollution has led to vulnerable communities being disproportionately affected by plastic waste and proximity to plastic producing sites.

Plastic pollution is a worldwide issue. Every minute, the equivalent of a garbage truck of plastic waste is dumped into the ocean and from 1950 to 2017, of the 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic produced, 7 billion has become plastic waste. Plastic accounts for 85% of marine litter, and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) state that the amount of plastic in the ocean will triple by 2040, up to 37 million tonnes of waste a year.

Plastic in the EU

The total amount of plastic waste in the EU in 2019 was 53 million tonnes, with the production of plastic set to double by 2040, the amount of annual plastic waste is expected to be over 100 million by 2060. In the EU, 150,000 to 500,000 tonnes of plastic flow into the oceans every year and between 75,000 and 300,000 tonnes of microplastics are released into the environment.

Comparatively, the EU has a high recycling rate, with seven EU member states being represented in the top 10 globally for recycling, and many more represented in the top 25. However, under 50% of plastic is recycled in the EU, with significant variation in member states management programs, only 10 member states recycle more than 50%. Compared to these 10 states, six recycle less than 33%, bringing the average across the EU to 41%. In 2018, only 6% of the market for plastic demand was for recycled plastic products.

Individuals in the EU contribute 34.8kg of plastic annually, with 13kg recycled, at a recycling rate of 38%. 87% of Europeans are worried about the impacts of plastics on the environment and more than 80% believe it is important to have a globally binding treaty to combat plastic pollution. Due to the prevalence of recycling awareness, and existing waste management programs, the EU is strongly placed to lead the transition to the production and use of plastics in the future.

The plastics sector employed 1.5 million people across the EU, and generated a turnover of EUR 340 billion in 2015. Plastic production in the EU has been at a relatively high level for years, due to the increase in production in other parts of the world, the EU’s share of the global market is falling.

Policies up to the Plastic Strategy

Since 2000, the EU has had a port waste management policy (2000/59) which has aimed to manage waste from ports and ships. This policy places a cost on the polluter and preventive action should be taken, in order to reduce waste at the seas and coastlines. This policy is directed largely toward ship waste, however indicated a growing awareness of marine pollution which furthered future policies.

In 2004, the Fishing for Litter program was introduced. While not a EU or EC directive, it is supported by the EC and has participating states across the EU. The program is a volunteer based program, where fishermen are given bags to pick up plastic where they can unload the waste to be recycled or unloaded onto land.

In 2008, the EU Waste Framework Directive (2008/98) was published. It was set as a legal instrument to set the agenda for sustainable production and consumption, to extend responsibility to producers and introduce the principle of life cycle thinking. Across member states, waste management is varied. However, a number of member states have waste management programs or legislation, targeting various forms of waste including plastic.

In 2014, discourse and negotiation for microbead and microplastic bans began. This was initiated by a ban on cosmetics using microbeads to use the EU Ecolabel. Since then, the complete ban of microbeads and microplastics is yet to be finalised. The initial aim was to have the ban in place by 2022, however, in 2023 the European Commission is set to introduce legislation to target this, with exceptions that will allow many cosmetics producers to continue using microplastics.

A reduction in plastic bag use was introduced in 2015. The European Parliament voted to reduce the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags by 50% in 2017, and 80% by 2019 compared to 2010 levels. The issue was targeted due to 100 billion plastic bags used annually in the EU, and the fact that 70% of plastic waste in European waters are plastic bags. Ireland's success in this policy was a precursor to the EU applying it region wide. 5 months after applying a plastic bag levy, Ireland was able to reduce their consumption by 91%.

In 2017, the EU decided against penalising single use plastics. Rather, the EU focused on raising awareness of the damage consumer plastics are doing to the environment. Vice president of the European Commission stated that taxing single use plastics was not sustainable, and that changing the way plastic was used and produced to a more sustainable and recyclable system would work better.

The precursor to the Plastic Strategy in 2018 was the 2015 Circular Economy Plan. The plan extended to include all sectors of the life cycle from production and consumption to waste management programs. In 2019, a review of the 54 directives set by the first plan were achieved, under which, the 2018 Plastic Strategy was implemented as one of these directives (2018/852 and 2018/851).

Plastic Strategy 2018

Part of the Action Plan for a Circular Economy, the ‘Plastic Strategy’ is embedded in a larger set of targets and directives within the EU. These targets and directives are not laws, but aims within a larger direction the EU wishes to achieve. The strategy emphasises that a multitude of actors are needed to comprehensively address the issues. Beyond member states at the national level, the private sector, citizens, regional and city authorities need to mobilise. The strategy also notes that to achieve success at a global level, international cooperation is required. This also presents opportunities for the EU to take leadership at the international level, and set the standards for global practices.

By 2030, all plastic packaging in the EU market must be either reusable or easily recyclable in a cost efficient manner. The targets also set that by 2025, 50% of plastic packaging will be recycled and by 2030, 55% of plastic will be recycled.

These targets have been outlined to be achieved by a set of directives, aims and policies.

Europe’s Vision for a New Plastic Economy

This vision seeks to have a smart, innovative and sustainable plastics industry. This is in the aim of design and production respecting the needs of reusing, recycling and bringing jobs to the EU. This is also in the aim of reducing the EU’s dependency on fossil fuels.

This aims to be achieved by extending and modernising the EU’s recycling capacity and systems, integrating the plastic production value chain, establishing a market for recycled and innovative products, new and alternative materials and feedstocks being developed in plastic production and creating 200,000 new jobs in the EU in the recycling sector by 2030.

The governments, citizens and industry will support safer and sustainable practices for consumption and production of plastics. Citizens are aware and more mindful of their plastic consumption, encouraging business opportunities in plastic waste prevention, reducing the leakage of plastic into the environment, innovation in development of preventing microplastic from reaching the seas and the EU taking a global leadership position to halt the flow of plastics into the oceans internationally.

Turning the Vision into Reality

To improve Design for Recyclability, The European Commission will work to revise the requirements to place packaging on the EU market. This is in the aim of having all plastic products recyclable by 2030 and supporting the economic incentives of more sustainable packaging.

To Boost Demand for Recycled Plastics, the EU will finance research on bettering the identification of contaminants in plastics. The Commission will launch an EU wide pledge to ensure that 10s of millions of recycled plastics are in new products by 2025 and explore more targeted interventions between sectors of plasti production and consumption.

To Prevent Plastic Waste in the Environment, the EU has already placed measures to reduce the consumption of plastic bags and marine litter. Additional measures can be taken at regional and national level to reduce unnecessary production of plastic and over-packaging. The strategy also stresses the importance of Extended Producer Responsibility schemes, which can be used at the national level to finance curbing plastic pollution. These schemes have proven to be effective in a number of EU nations.

To Establish a Clear Regulatory Framework for Plastics with Biodegradable Properties, the Commission will explore innovative ways to clarify which products can be labelled compostable or biodegradable for consumers. The Commission has also started work to restrict the use of oxo-plastics in the EU.

To address the Problem of Microplastics, a Cross-Industry Agreement for the prevention of microplastics into the oceans has been started. The Commission will also consider labelling specific requirements for tyres and release of microfibres from textiles and measures to reduce losses from plastic pellets. These can be financed in part from Extended Producer Responsibility schemes.

Innovation and Investment

An assessment by Deloitte found that a further EUR 8.4 to 16.6 billion is needed to achieve the aims of plastic recycling alone. In regard to alternative feedstocks, Horizon 2020 has provided EUR 250 million in financing R&D as alternatives to fossil fuels in plastic production. The EU also pledged a further EUR 100 million to finance priority measures by 2020. These include developing more recyclable plastic materials, making recycling more efficient and removing hazardous substances from recycled plastics. Between 2014 and 2020, EUR 5.5 billion has been allocated to improve waste management by European Structural and Investment Funds.

Extended Producer Responsibility schemes need to be explored as well, to aid public authorities to extend and improve separate collection. These schemes can also financially incentivise businesses to develop more sustainable products. The strategy also notes that the design and implementation of these schemes across Europe will dictate the efficacy of the programs they set out to achieve.

References

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