Is there potential for the plastics industry to adopt eco-friendly practices?
The European Union is taking significant steps to address the environmental impact of plastic waste, with a focus on shifting production away from virgin fossil-based plastics and promoting recycling and bio-based alternatives.
According to a report by the European Commission, the packaging sector alone accounts for nearly half of the total waste generated, with the EU producing over 252 million tonnes of carbon emissions from plastic production and consumption in 2022. If the EU's plastic production and consumption were a country, it would be the 5th largest emitter in the EU.
To combat this, the EU Plastics Strategy aims to make all plastic packaging recyclable by 2030 and reduce plastic waste. The European Green Deal, a policy initiative to make Europe carbon neutral by 2050, also plays a crucial role in this endeavour.
In 2022, the European Union consumed 62.8 million tonnes of plastic, with an average of 140 kg per person. Unfortunately, only 1.5% of textile waste is sent for recycling, and 3.7 million tonnes of plastic were lost to the environment, primarily due to mismanaged waste and losses during disposal.
The report emphasizes the need for effective strategies to reduce plastic leakage. Improved plastic waste collection and sorting would reduce plastic losses to the environment and promote a more circular value chain. Enhancing separate collection and sorting of plastic waste at the source would also reduce incineration and landfilling, which accounted for 80% of plastic waste treatment.
Promoting the use of recycled plastics and bio-based plastics is another key point. While bio-based plastics currently represent a small fraction of the market, their use is increasing, especially in packaging, which is the largest plastics sector in the EU.
The report also highlights the importance of advanced recycling technologies. The combined use of mechanical recycling (traditional physical processes) and chemical recycling (which can treat complex or contaminated plastics not suitable for mechanical recycling) is necessary for maximizing material recovery and circular economy benefits.
The EU actively participates in global negotiations aiming for a legally binding treaty addressing plastics across their full life cycle, including restricting harmful polymers and supporting sustainable alternatives.
In conclusion, the European Commission advocates a life-cycle approach focusing on minimizing plastic production, promoting circularity via recycling and material substitution, improving waste management, and supporting innovation in plastic alternatives to mitigate climate and environmental impacts.
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