About: plastics
Europe’s bathing waters may not be as good as EU assessment suggests
With just a few weeks to go before the summer holidays, the EU's environment agency (EEA) and the European Commission have presented quite satisfactory results for the bloc's bathing areas in 2020. However, some environmentalists have warned that this does not reflect "the true reality of our waters"
EU should review approval of plastics with toxic softener DEHP – top court adviser
The European Commission should review a decision to let companies use recycled plastics containing DEHP, a toxic additive, since it failed to properly consider associated health risks, an adviser to the EU's top court said on Thursday (25 February).
Jan Huitema MEP: EU must tackle price gap between secondary and virgin plastics
Jan Huitema, who is in charge of guiding the circular economy strategy through the European Parliament, says his report will include requirements for products to contain a minimum amount of recycled material.
Plastic waste management
The European Commission launched a circular plastics alliance in 2018, with an initial pledge of reaching 10 million tonnes of recycled plastics used in products by 2025. Can the industry rise to the challenge?
End of life Recycling of WEEE Plastics containing Brominated Flame Retardants
Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are used in plastics materials in electrical and electronic products to aid fire safety by reducing their propensity for ignition. This not only means a contribution to saving lives, but also products and property, thus preventing...
Environment must be considered in moves to end period poverty
Scotland passed a law to make menstrual products free and end period poverty on Tuesday (24 November), but more needs to be done to discuss the environmental and health impacts of disposable products, according to environmental campaigners.
Oil hits highest since March, but still drastically down from last year
The oil price has reached its highest point since it plummeted in March due to COVID-19 lockdowns, as market confidence grows in coronavirus vaccines.
EU unveils circular economy plan 2.0, drawing mixed reactions
The European Commission unveiled its new circular economy action plan on Wednesday (11 March), confirming the EU’s intention of halving municipal waste by 2030, and suggesting to offer consumers a new “right to repair” for computers and smartphones.
EU Waste Regulation – Blazing a trail for circular consumer packaging?
Consumers appreciate recyclates in packaging as long as it doesn’t affect the quality, functionality and price of the product. But how do companies remain competitive in view of added costs for high-quality recycling and the low price of virgin plastics? Michael Laermann tries to find the answer.
Italy’s plastic tax proposal angers ‘packaging valley’ before crucial regional vote
The government is open to rediscuss a proposed tax on single-use plastics, out of concern for the country's world-leading packaging sector based in Emilia-Romagna where regional elections are scheduled in January.
Three ways in which football is helping to recycle plastic
Sports events organisers are becoming more aware of the environmental impact they have and therefore are trying to be more sustainable, including by reducing and reusing plastics.
Nepal to ban single-use plastics from Everest by 2020
The Nepalese government has introduced a ban on single-use plastic on Mount Everest from January 2020 in an attempt to cut down on the trash left by mountaineers in what has turned into the world's highest landfill.
Circling round
The European Commission should impose more stringent measures on producers to protect the environment and consumers. Making producers responsible for their products throughout their whole life cycle benefits us all, writes Oliver Loebel.
France dumps 11,200 tonnes of plastic in the Mediterranean every year
600,000 tonnes of plastic are being dumped by 22 countries in the Mediterranean Sea every year, of which 11,200 tonnes come from France. EURACTIV's partner La Tribune reports.
Plastic production on the rise worldwide but slowing in Europe
While the global production of plastics is increasing, it is slowing down in Europe, according to PlasticsEurope, the leading pan-European association of plastics manufacturers. EURACTIV's partner le Journal de l'environnement reports.
France orders fast food chains to quickly sort their waste
Fifteen fast food chains are being ordered by France's Ecological Transition ministry to sort their waste in at least 70% of their restaurants by the end of 2019. This has been a legal obligation since 1 July 2016. EURACTIV's partner le Journal de l'environnement reports.
New Caledonia bans disposable plastics
On 27 December, the Congress of New Caledonia voted to do away with most single-use plastic objects by 2020. EURACTIV France’s media partner the Journal de l’environnement reports.
Tackling food waste: turning nemesis into a saviour
The function of food packaging has traditionally been limited to passive protection from external influences, but innovations are quickly changing its role. Packaging is getting active and intelligent, able to monitor and interact with food and environment and maintain food freshness for longer, writes Dr Milka Sokolović.
EU’s proposed tax on burning plastic waste is counter-productive
The CO2 emissions reductions achieved by plastic recycling is very costly when compared to alternatives like wind energy and solar PV, while much energy can be extracted from burning plastic waste, argue Raymond Gradus and Henriëtte Prast.
Europeans will have to recycle half of their waste by 2025
European households and businesses will have to recycle at least 55% of their municipal waste by 2025, according to stricter new rules passed by the European Parliament on Wednesday (18 April).
Karmenu Vella: ‘We were encouraged by EU ban on plastic bags’
Single-use plastics like cutlery could be banned under new EU proposals due out in May, said Karmenu Vella, the EU’s Environment Commissioner, in an interview with EURACTIV.com.
Packaging and the environment
European countries are preparing to implement a brand new set of waste and recycling laws, following the conclusion of negotiations on the circular economy package in December. But there is more ahead, with the Plastics Strategy unveiled by the European Commission only one month later.
Plastics: The invisible oil spill
Plastic is everywhere, polluting our waters, choking marine wildlife, and even in our food and water. It is a problem of global proportions but an ambitious EU Plastics Strategy can create vital momentum, writes Pierre-Yves Cousteau.