The European Union is Scrutinizing Plastic Pollution. Will Other Nations Take Part Too?

The initiative seeks to promote a global culture of responsible resource management and decrease the amount of plastic waste released into the environment.

FREMONT, CA: As per the Global Plastics Policy Centre, domestic legislation is a way to add weight and leadership to international negotiations, I see the European Union's (EU) motivation as being a bit more positive, centred on leading by example and demonstrating that if you have the political commitment, you can implement quite strong reforms to the plastics economy. It is possible that other governing bodies and global organisations could follow suit in cracking down on plastic. The recent announcement by the World Economic Forum, the United Nations Environment Programme, and other global institutions have pointed to the urgency of tackling plastic pollution, and the Europeans commission new plastic regulations could serve to further catalyse this movement.

The European Union will present proof that it lives up to its ideals when the UN's plastic waste discussions assemble for a second session this spring. The EU proposed broad packaging laws in November, mandating that businesses selling goods in EU nations make it easy to reuse, recycle, and in some circumstances compost their packaging. By 2030, takeaway food, hot and cold beverages, wine, and other alcoholic beverages must be given at least partially in reusable packaging, and the regulations will reduce packaging's needless space.

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The European Union is taking the lead in supporting a high-ambition, lawful worldwide agreement under the UN process to reduce plastic pollution. The current proposals are consistent with the large goals they hope to achieve through the peace agreement process. It's only the beginning. Via policy and talks, the EU has been working for a world less reliant on single-use and virgin plastics for the past four years. Its objectives revolve around stronger plastic production rules, increased recycled content and reusability, and a global set of regulations covering the most harmful chemicals used in plastic.

The plastics sector is incredibly complex worldwide. Plastic is often extracted as fossil fuels in one nation, then transformed into nurdles or pellets and delivered to another, where it is transformed into a consumer product, shipped again, and finally sold. Most plastic is disposed of in a landfill or incinerator after use, and what is recycled frequently pollutes rivers and oceans. Each kilo of plastic that enters the market has already produced nearly three kg of greenhouse gas emissions, depending on how it is disposed of.

The EU is not the only government taking action on plastic, and the new world it seeks to create is not unique. Coca-Cola, for example, sells more than 60 per cent of its products in South American countries in reusable packaging. Many other countries were ahead of the curve in terms of limiting single-use plastic bags. Similarly, many states in the United States have deposit-return schemes known as bottle bills that encourage consumers to return containers in exchange for a small refund.

Cracking down on plastic can include initiatives like implementing plastic bag bans, encouraging businesses to reduce the use of disposable plastic packaging, and introducing incentives to promote the development and use of plastic alternatives. It also encompasses initiatives to increase recycling and reduce littering. In some cases, it also involves regulatory measures such as enforcing minimum standards for plastics, or additional taxes on plastics products.