Plastic waste has to go!

European Parliament adopts new rules to reduce plastic pollution in Europe

"We are at the eleventh hour in dealing with plastic litter in Europe. If we put all the plastic waste that floats in our seas together, we would have enough to fill an area as big as Central Europe", said Karl-Heinz Florenz MEP, EPP Group Spokesman, welcoming the vote in the European Parliament which sets up new rules to reduce plastic pollution in Europe.

There is a broad consensus within the European Parliament on discontinuing plastic items such as cotton buds, straws, drink stirrers, balloon sticks, oxo-degradable plastics, food and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene but also plastic cutlery and plates once the two-year transition or phasing out period has been reached. However, the EPP Group does not want to go to extremes, like the Left, by proposing a ban on chewing gum or releasing balloons into the air.

"Our aim is to change the way we produce and consume plastic. We have to push for more innovation in the industry so that new materials will become available. Look at the airline industry for instance: there are no alternatives for airplane parts, which are made of plastic. Simply demonising plastic as such is not a solution", stressed Florenz. He explained that currently, 95% of the value of plastic packaging is lost, and this amounts to €105 billion a year.

The European Commission's proposal addresses 10 plastic disposable products and fishing nets. These eleven single-use plastic products are designed to prevent 70% of all marine litter. The Commission proposes different measures, ranging from a complete ban of some products to information and awareness campaigns, collection and reduction targets, as well as extended producer responsibility.