This month, the European Union began to ban plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters (mm) from being added to consumer products, with cosmetics containing glitter and soft beads bearing the brunt. On the 16th of this month, the European Union further proposed new goals and drafts, setting out source control specifications for plastic pellets for the first time, hoping to reduce 74% plastic particle pollution by 2030.
In the EU, between 52,000 and 184,000 metric tons of plastic pellets are released into the environment every year due to improper handling in the supply chain. In order to solve this problem, the European Union proposed a series of measures to emphasize the corporate responsibility of industry players.
This is the first EU specification designed to trace the source of microplastic pollution. According to the EU report, loose plastic particles can be found in water, soil and even farmland. They do not break down easily in nature, move around and are difficult to remove. Its ecological harm is well known. The tiny particles are easily eaten by marine life such as turtles, seabirds and shellfish. Once ingested, it may cause injury or death.
The EU points out that plastic particles are one of the sources of microplastic pollution and are the largest cause of unintentional pollution. In this regard, the EU requires operators to take the following actions: prevent particles from flying and falling; block leaked particles to ensure that they do not further pollute the environment; and finally clean up when leaks or damage occur.
More guidelines include: First, operators must adopt specific disposal methods. Second, large companies must apply for certification from an independent third party, while small companies do not need to issue certification but must self-declare that they comply with regulations. Third, to assist with loss monitoring and data gaps, consistent EU standards will be developed. Fourth, special care should be given to small enterprises. In view of the high proportion of small and micro enterprises in the plastic granular supply chain, standards can be relaxed.
The proposals are still before the European Parliament and Council for discussion, and once the regulations come into effect, all operators (whether based in the EU or not) will have 18 months to comply.
According to the Guardian, Dana Kühnel of the Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research in Germany said that directly preventing plastic emissions is more effective than managing microplastics.
EU Environment Commissioner Virginijus Sinkevičius said in an interview with the Guardian that the most important thing is to reduce pollution from the source. Basically, what the EU has to do is to ensure that microplastic pollution is significantly reduced from the source.
References:
*The Guardian (17 October 2023), EU to crack down further on microplastics after glitter ban
*The Guardian (9 October 2023), Glitter sales surge in Germany before EU microplastics ban this week
*EU (16 October 2023), The Commission proposes measures to reduce microplastic pollution from plastic pellets
Source:
Environmental Information Center
