The European Commission has adopted the first-ever Europe-wide strategy on plastics as part of the transition towards a more circular economy. Its aim is to protect the environment from plastic pollution whilst fostering growth and innovation.
Under the new plans, all plastic packaging on the EU market will be recyclable by 2030, the consumption of single-use plastic will be reduced and the intentional use of microplastics will be restricted.
The new plastic strategy will transform the way products are designed, produced, used, and recycled in the EU. Too often the way plastics are currently produced, used and discarded fail to capture the economic benefits of a more circular approach. The goal is to protect the environment whilst at the same time lay foundations to a new plastic economy, where the design and production fully respect reuse, repair and recycling needs and more sustainable materials are developed.
First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, responsible for sustainable development, said: “If we don’t change the way we produce and use plastics, there will be more plastics than fish in our oceans by 2050. We must stop plastics getting into our water, our food, and even our bodies. The only long-term solution is to reduce plastic waste by recycling and reusing more. This is a challenge that citizens, industry and governments must tackle together. We need to invest in innovative new technologies that keep our citizens and our environment safe whilst keeping our industry competitive.”
Source: European Commission’s press release