Daniel Calleja Crespo, Director General of DG Environment, European Commission, discusses the new EU strategy to make plastics circular.
Plastics are everywhere – from the remote areas of the Antarctic to the heights of the Himalayas, plastic waste has penetrated even the most pristine corners of the world, offering us an ugly reminder of the devastating effect of our throw-away culture on the environment.
Every year, up to 13 million tons of plastic waste – most of it single-use plastic items – end up in the world’s oceans. It stays there, damaging nature and the ecosystems that support life on Earth. In the sea and the ocean, plastics disintegrate into tiny pieces, some of which can end up in our food. If we don’t change the way that we produce and use plastics – as the first Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans reminded us – by 2050 there will be more plastics in the ocean than fish.
Yet, we cannot live without this useful material. It is light, it is cheap, and it has enabled rapid technological advances in numerous fields. The plastics industry in Europe is an important economic actor, with a turnover of 340 billion euros and a workforce of 1.5 million people.
However, while plastic use has grown steadily in the EU, recycling lags far behind. Every year European consumers generate 25 million tonnes of plastic waste. Only 30% of it is currently recycled. 95% of the value of plastic packaging – worth some 105 billion euros – is lost to the economy every year. This is, quite literally, a wasted opportunity; an opportunity which we are determined to seize in Europe’s transition towards a circular economy.
A vision for plastics
It is time to rethink plastic and make it more circular. We need to:
- Get away from single-use plastics;
- Make recycling easier; and
- We must stop plastic from ending up where it does not belong.
The recently adopted, and first-ever, Europe-wide strategy on plastics tackles these issues head on, looking at the whole life-cycle of plastics.
Under the new plans, all plastic packaging on the EU market will be recyclable or reusable by 2030. In order to achieve that, there will be new rules on packaging to improve the recyclability of plastics. We also want to boost demand for recycled plastic. New standards for the quality of recycled plastics will give potential users assurance that materials are safe and reliable. As well as this, we have launched an EU-wide pledging campaign to increase the uptake of recycled plastics, addressed to both industry and public authorities.
To curb plastic waste and littering, we will soon propose new rules on single-use plastics and fishing gear. There will also be new measures to restrict the intentional use of microplastics in products such as cosmetics, and we will fix standards for biodegradable and compostable plastics. To stop littering at sea, the Commission is proposing new rules on port reception facilities, ensuring that this waste is delivered to adequate port reception facilities, instead of being discharged at sea.
The business case for this transition is strong. The strategy lays the foundations for a modern, low-carbon and resource-efficient plastics economy. By transforming the way we design, produce, use and recycle plastics, Europe can take the lead creating new investment opportunities and jobs.
We’re backing the strategy with a strong financial component, and increasing support for plastics innovation. By 2020 we will have invested 350 million euros to help:
- Develop smarter and more recyclable plastics materials;
- Make recycling processes more efficient; and
- Find solutions addressing the problem of microplastics.
A global problem creates global opportunities
Plastic pollution knows no borders. Marine litter devastates local economies around the world, kills the fish on which the poorest rely, and destroys tourism potential.
At the same time plastics use is growing rapidly in emerging economies, particularly Asia. Plastic waste is transported across continents – the EU sends about half of its collected plastic waste abroad. Collection and recycling are needed in many parts of the world.
Governments around the world are taking action. China’s recent ban on plastic imports comes as an opportunity for Europe’s recycling industry to grow and modernise. Today, the uptake of recycled plastics in new products in the EU is only around 6%. The new strategy sets the conditions for the development of a European market for recycled plastics, so that the plastic waste we used to send to China could be redirected into new products and materials here in Europe.
EU leading the way
By reshaping the plastics economy, Europe is also looking beyond its borders. We are using our international network to spur change across the world, including a mix of stronger engagement in international flora, as well as providing hands-on support to projects, as we did with the clean-up of the Ganges River in India, for example.
We are working with our partners in East and South-East Asia, in the Mediterranean region and in major world river basins to prevent plastic waste and marine litter. We will step up enforcement of the EU rules on waste shipments to ensure that exported plastic waste is adequately treated. The result should be more global solutions and higher international standards on sorted plastic waste and recycled plastics.
The recent Third Session of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi, Kenya, was an excellent example of a coordinated global action, and of Europe setting the pace on international environmental action. For the first time, we had formal political commitment to act on pollution. In particular, we agreed to act on the scourge of plastic waste, highlighting the importance of tackling pollution for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
UNEA adopted the EU’s flagship proposal for a resolution which addresses the close links between environment and health. The EU also announced 20 bold commitments to tackle pollution in all its forms, ranging from policy initiatives on plastics and waste, to funding programmes and research and innovation activities. With the EU Plastics Strategy we demonstrate that our commitment is being followed up with tangible actions, leading by example.
The way forward
But rethinking plastics is just one block in the transition to a more circular and resource-efficient economy. To date, the European Commission has made solid progress in the implementation of the EU Circular Economy Action Plan. The European Parliament, Council and European Commission reached a political agreement on the new ambitious EU recycling targets in December in our waste package. It will make a real difference and kick-start investments in circular economy solutions all across Europe.
We have already taken action to reduce the use of lightweight plastic bags and we are improving product design to address durability, repairability and recyclability of products through Eco-Design Working Plan. Member states committed to monitor and reduce their marine litter by developing measures to protect the marine environment. In the next months, the European Commission will also come forward with proposals on water re-use.
Specifically on plastics, one of the first deliverables will be action on single-use plastics to stop items such as bottles, cups and food packaging from littering and ending up in the sea. Work on this has already started – we have gathered evidence to determine the scope of a legislative initiative on single-use plastics at EU level, which is expected later this year.
All aboard
With the new vision for plastics in a circular economy we definitely have the wind in our sails. Many different stakeholders see the advantages. They help us promote the case for society, the case for industry, and the case for the environment.
Governments and regions across the EU are bringing in circular economy strategies. More and more companies are changing their strategies and investment decisions, as they are eager to show that they are part of the solution, and not the problem. In this sense, I welcome the important first step from business stakeholders who have come forward with a number of voluntary commitments.
Last, but not least, we have the support of our citizens. A recent Eurobarometer survey showed that citizens are extremely worried about the impact of plastic on the environment and on health. They are increasingly concerned with our throw-away approach to plastic, and they are acting on it with their choices and their behaviour.
If all actors at global, national, and local, levels join we can make the transition happen. Together we can make sure that plastic becomes truly fantastic.
Daniel Calleja Crespo
Director General
DG Environment
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/environment/index_en.htm
