EU intends to strengthen regulations against microplastic contamination
Get ready, EU companies! Prepare for tougher regulations on managing plastic pellets. After a sleepless night of negotiations, the European Parliament and the Council of the 27 EU countries concurred on a new law intending to combat microplastic pollution. Companies from all sizes and ships are set to feel the heat.
The law focuses on resilient plastic particles smaller than five millimeters and virtually indestructible in nature. These particles can wreak havoc in the environment. If they somehow find their way out, companies need to notify the responsible authorities pronto and take immediate steps to minimize any adverse effects.
Bigwigs must have their pollution reduction plans audited by an independent body annually if they process over 1,500 tons of plastic pellets yearly. Meanwhile, small fries will need only a one-time certification. Those dealing with under 1,500 tons annually will only need to make a self-declaration.
Sail the Seas, Sail Clean
The European Commission ventured to exempt small and medium enterprises from certification requirements. Insider sources told us that the Commission even held a hissy fit, threatening to abort negotiations if the other parties failed to agree. Except for Germany, which side-eyed the Commission, France and Spain championed stricter rules.
These rules don't exempt ships. Some 40% of the plastic pellets transported within the EU sail the seas. Brace yourself for compulsory dense transport packaging. The negotiations saw Greece and Cyprus vehemently opposing the marine regulations.
According to the Commission, as much as 184,000 tons of plastic pellets pollute the environment due to production blunders each year. Aside from the new corporate measures, Brussels has already nixed intentionally added microplastics like pellets in artificial turf and cosmetic loosies. By 2030, the EU intends to cut microplastic discharge by a whopping 30%.
Sources: ntv.de, raf/AFP
- EU
- Microplastics
- Environmental Pollution
- Plastic Waste
Enrichment:
- The new EU regulations aim to decrease microplastic pollution by up to 74%, safeguarding ecosystems and biodiversity [1][2][3].
- Certification requirements vary based on the volume of plastic pellets handled by companies – large companies will need annual third-party certification, while smaller ones will need a one-time self-declaration [1][3][5].
- Maritime transport of plastic pellets is now regulated with mandatory measures based on guidelines from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) [4][5].
- The regulations prioritize prevention, followed by spill containment and cleanup, emphasizing the use of non-leaky packing, spill containment tools, and high-capacity vacuum cleaners for cleanups [3][4].
- The legislation targets pollution across all stages of the supply chain (production to conversion, transport, storage, cleaning, and reprocessing) [4].
- The regulations must be formally adopted by the European Parliament and the Council before they can officially take effect [1][5].
- The measures are part of the EU's 2030 goal to reduce microplastic pollution by 30%, set out in the Zero Pollution Action Plan [1][3]. The intention is to protect biodiversity, ecosystems, and affected sectors such as agriculture, aquaculture, and tourism [1][3]. The EU's initiatives serve as a precedent for eco-friendly industrial practice worldwide [3][4].
- In response to the new law aimed at combating microplastic pollution, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the EU have been granted an exemption from certification requirements after a contentious negotiation, with France and Spain advocating for stricter rules.
- The EU regulations also cover the maritime transport of plastic pellets, mandating compulsory dense transport packaging, a measure opposed by Greece and Cyprus during the negotiations.
- Under the new rules, any companies that process over 1,500 tons of plastic pellets yearly must submit their pollution reduction plans for annual audits by an independent body, while smaller enterprises will need only a one-time self-declaration. This step is part of the EU's efforts to cut microplastic discharge by 30% by 2030 as outlined in the Zero Pollution Action Plan.
