EU passes ban on disposable plastic products

Source: China Chemical Industry News April 04, 2019

The plastic recycling industry welcomes Dongfeng

Sinochem.com.cn On March 27, the European Parliament voted to pass a ban on plastic products, which will ban all disposable plastic products from 2021 to control environmental pollution caused by plastic waste. This resolution will help the European Union reduce disposable plastic products and related consumption, while encouraging plastics production and processing companies to innovate recycling technologies and develop more complete products.

The European Parliament passed the bill with an overwhelming majority of 560 votes in favor, 35 against and 28 abstentions. The bill expressly prohibits the use of 10 items of disposable plastic products, such as disposable tableware, food bags, straws, beverage cups, and bottles (a plastic bottle). The European Union said that disposable tableware will not be banned, but Member States are encouraged to gradually reduce the use of plastic packaging and adopt stricter labeling rules.

In addition to the ban on disposable plastic products, according to the regulations, by 2029, the European Parliament member states will collect and recycle 90% of plastic bottles, and in 2030 will increase the proportion of recycled plastic bottles to recycled materials to 30%. It is estimated that by 2030, curbing plastic pollution can reduce the cost of environmental damage by nearly 25 billion US dollars, while halving the top ten most common wastes in the ocean.

European Commission Vice President Frans Timmermans (Frans Timmermans) said that Europe is not the most serious area of ​​plastic pollution, but the measure can become a model for the world. He said that Asian and Latin American countries are very interested in relevant practices, and this new European regulation will affect the world.

Currently, 85% of marine debris is plastic. Plastics are found in fish, shellfish and turtles. These animals are human food. The entry of waste plastics into the ocean has posed a great threat to the environment and animal and human health. . Among them, the European Union generates 25 million tons of plastic waste each year, but only 1/10 of it is recycled, and a large number of animals are eaten by mistake or entangled in plastic products to death. It is estimated that the one-time use of plastic products in the European Union has caused huge economic losses, about 70 billion to 105 billion euros per year.

The European Parliament said that plastic production is now 20 times higher than in the 1960s. China’s policy of restricting imports of some European wastes has helped prompt the European Union to formulate a plastic ban. The legislation is based on a draft agreement reached by the European Parliament negotiators and member states last December. It still needs to be formally approved by Member States, and it also needs to adopt implementing rules.

At present, various European chemical companies have begun to implement technological innovation strategies to adapt to increasingly stringent plastic recycling policy requirements. Previously, members of the European Plastics Manufacturers Association had promised to ensure high plastic recycling and recycling rates. The main goal is to achieve 60% reuse and recycling of all plastic packaging in the EU by 2030 and 100% reuse, recycling or recycling of all plastic packaging by 2040.