Press Release 12.16.2024 | For immediate release

Six years after implementing the Single-Use Plastics (SUP) Directive across the EU, the European Commission must evaluate its effectiveness. Today, the Rethink Plastic alliance publishes its own evaluation identifying the EU’s leaders and laggards on phasing out single-use plastics and showing that the directive can be an effective tool to fight plastic pollution but needs better implementation at the national level.

An evaluation process led by the European Commission will begin in 2025, engaging all relevant stakeholders to assess the need for a revision of the SUP Directive, possibly with adjusted and/or more measures or items included in its scope. The newly adopted EU packaging regulation (PPWR) also added new single-use plastics to the current list of market restrictions under the SUP Directive, such as foam packing peanuts, luggage wrap in airports, and multipack plastic rings.

Rethink Plastic’s 2024 evaluation of the directive, builds on the previous transposition and implementation assessments made since 2019, as well as recent assessments from its members on the state of play of the directive’s implementation in their respective countries.

The evaluation shows positive examples of how some Member States (Belgium, France, Greece, Portugal and Spain) have gone above and beyond the directive’s restrictions by banning more single-use plastics related to food and beverages. Other implementation leaders include Denmark, France, Romania and Spain who are already enforcing tethered plastic bottle caps, for example.

The report also reveals low ambition countries such as Romania and Hungary and enforcement laggards such as Cyprus and Greece, where banned items such as plastics straws and cutlery still widely sold or offered free of charge in takeaway restaurants.

This report published today highlights the positive impact that the SUP Directive has had, both in raising awareness about single-use plastic pollution and in promoting a preventative approach to the global plastic pollution crisis, rather than relying on clean-up and recycling-focused mitigation measures.

Main findings: An essential directive to reduce plastic pollution

A wide implementation of Single Use Bans

Among the measures of the SUP Directive that were very well implemented across the board are the bans on certain single-use plastic items, also called “market restrictions”, introduced by article 5. These market restrictions target largely unnecessary and replaceable items such as plastic straws, plates, cutlery, polystyrene cups, cotton buds, stirrers and balloon sticks.
some Member States have even exceeded the Directive’s ambitions and adopted additional bans.

However, the transposition and implementation of the SUP Directive faced delays.

One of the reasons used by Member States to explain this delay was the COVID-19 pandemic which hit Europe in February 2020.

Consequently, many EU Member States did not meet the official transposition deadline. In 2022, the European Commission initiated infringement procedures against 11 Member States (including France, Belgium and Poland). The European Commission also started conformity checks of the national measures, transposing the SUP Directive in the Member States in 2023.

Public awareness (article 10 of the SUP Directive): a mixed picture

The implementation of the Directive led to a widespread phase-out of unnecessary and replaceable items (straws, plates, cutlery…) significantly increasing public awareness about the pollution they cause and highlighting the importance of reducing the use and production of single-use plastics overall. However, there has been a significant lack of awareness raising efforts on the environmental impacts and alternatives to single-use plastics in some countries, and national awareness strategies could help supporting these.

SUP marking is well implemented but “reusable” labels mislead customers

A visible label on packaging to indicate it contains plastic and its associated environmental impact – for non-banned SUP items such as tobacco products, wet wipes, beverage cups and sanitary items (article 7) has generally been very well implemented across Europe.

In some countries such as France, Ireland, Portugal, Cyprus, Spain, the Netherlands, Bulgaria, Romania and Belgium, some distributors continued to sell single-use plastic plates and/or cutlery, with misleading claims presenting them as “reusable”. This leads to the encouragement of greenwashing practices with “reusable” labels being used on disposable containers, giving the misconception that single-use items are sustainable.

Awareness-raising provisions: important lacks

Since 2019, there has been a significant lack of awareness raising efforts on the environmental impacts and alternatives to single-use plastics in some countries, such as Lithuania, Belgium, France, Croatia, Germany, Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Cyprus and Slovakia. In these countries, efforts have been minimal or non-existent, with no visible campaigns to increase the public understanding of SUP-related environmental concerns.

The remaining challenge is achieving consumption reduction

Ambitious targets to reduce the consumption of SUP items by 2030 have been set in Portugal (90%), France (100% for packaging, 50% for bottles), Sweden (70%), Spain (70%), Slovenia and Greece (both 80%), yet it is difficult to assess if these countries have already sufficient measures put in place to achieve these targets.

The future of the Single-Use Plastic Directive

The Directive has been a pivotal policy tool in addressing the issue of single-use plastic pollution. Its implementation has driven long-term effort in reducing plastic waste, by setting clear targets for reduction, collection, and recycling. There is still room to expand the scope of items to address the toxicity of plastic and its impacts on both the environment and health and tackle the impacts of plastics all along the value chain.

Through this report (in its chapter 3) Rethink Plastic make a few proposals to strengthen the Directive in the perspective of its revision. Among them:

• Single-use cups and food containers deserve an EU-wide consumption reduction target. These items are widely consumed in the form of takeaways and represent a significant part of the municipal waste. It is important, however, that these items are addressed under a material neutral approach, including paper-based application
• Cigarette butts are also among the most widespread forms of litter in the European environment. We recommend the Commission to consider such a ban in future legislation.
• Sanitary towels, tampons and applicators also have potential to be further addressed, encouraging the widespread availability of toxic-free and reusable menstrual products, in particular in large retailer outlets and pharmacies across the EU (which should at least match the proportion of single-use items on sale), accompanied by awareness-raising measures on the benefits of reusable compared to single-use menstrual products.
• We question the added value of keeping multi-layered packaging on the market, such as beverage cartons and cans, and recommend banning these, as these materials prove difficult, if not impossible, to reuse or recycle.
• Fireworks with plastic pieces should be banned since there are now plastic-free fireworks widely available in Europe and beyond.
• Market restrictions or consumption reduction measures would be welcome for fishing and aquaculture gear for which more sustainable alternatives exist, such as buoys, floats and fish boxes.

The evaluation of the effectiveness of the Single-Use Plastic Directive across EU Member States reveals both remaining challenges and significant successes. However, the Directive’s continued success will depend on addressing gaps. To overcome these shortcomings, clear and detailed guidance is necessary, both coming from the EU and the national institutions involved in the implementation and enforcement of the Directive.

We remain at the disposal of journalists for any comment.

NOTE TO THE EDITOR:

Directive (EU) 2019/904 on single-use plastics, adopted on 5 June 2019, aims to reduce the impact of plastic products on the environment and human health, particularly in marine environments. It imposes restrictions on certain plastic products (banning items such as plastic straws, plates and cotton buds), collection and recycling targets for plastic bottles, and obligations on producers to finance clean-up and raise awareness. This directive is part of the European Union’s efforts to promote a circular economy and reduce plastic waste. The Commission shall carry out an evaluation of this Directive by 3 July 2027.

Link for the Single Use Plastic Directive: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32019L0904&qid=1733493095701

About Rethink Plastic Alliance

Rethink Plastic is an alliance of leading European NGOs, with thousands of active groups, supporters and citizens in every EU Member State. We bring together policy and technical expertise from a variety of relevant fields, and work with European policymakers to design and deliver policy solutions for a future that is free from plastic pollution. We are part of the global Break Free From Plastic movement, made up of 11,000 organizations and individual supporters from across the world who are demanding massive reductions in single-use plastics and to push for lasting solutions to the plastic pollution crisis.

Contacts

For Rethink Plastic alliance
Caroline Will | +49 1590 1425817 +32456560705 | [email protected]

For Surfrider Foundation Europe
Lionel Cheylus | +33 6 08 10 58 02 | [email protected]

For Seas At Risk
Adenieke Lewis-Gibbs | +33 7 49 82 25 99 | [email protected]

Brussels, December 17th | For immediate distribution

Today, December 17, the Council of the European Union adopted a general approach on the Proposal for a Regulation aimed at preventing pellet losses to reduce microplastic pollution.  

Positive developments:  

• The regulation’s scope is more comprehensive, with a stronger definition of plastic pellets, recognition of different facets of the supply chain, and inclusion of companies responsible for cleaning plastic pellet containers and tanks. 

• IMO’s recommendations on transportation of plastic pellets by sea, with continued EU leadership in their development, have now been included with a binding character that they did not have as an IMO circular. 

• Inclusion of SMEs handling more than 1000 tons of plastic pellets per year (but this only applies 4 years after the entry into force of the Regulation),  

• Distinguishing responsibilities and obligations between EU and non-EU carriers can ensure consistent and comprehensive protection 

• A new article on evaluation and review ensures the regulation’s effectiveness is regularly assessed, enabling informed updates and adjustments based on real-world data and implementation 

Negative developments: 

• Accountability gaps:  

• The exemption for companies handling less than 5 tonnes of plastic pellets per year fails to account for the inherent spill risks associated with all pellet-handling activities.  

• The 1,000-ton threshold for reduced obligations is an arbitrary benchmark that disregards market conditions or the typical profiles of industry players 

• Proposed implementation timeline: extended delays for many operators, including SMEs and maritime transport   

• Only some prevention, mitigation and clean-up processes and equipment are made binding for all operators with the vast majority of preventative steps left optional for operators to pick, when all operators should be submitted to the same binding requirements. 

• Lack of comprehensive reporting and transparency:  

• Only requiring operators to keep internal records of estimated losses and to report spills when they pose a significant threat to human health or the environment, with no uniform reporting of spills and a complete exclusion for shippers and maritime spills  

• Excluding annual reporting of routine spills and the total quantities of plastic pellets handled, which means there is no baseline data, making it impossible to evaluate the regulations effectiveness  

• Exemptions in the public’s access to information appears to prioritize business confidentiality and administrative convenience over genuine transparency or accountability 

 
Lucie Padovani, Marine Litter Lobbying Officer at Surfrider Foundation Europe:

“ The Council ofthe EU appears to recognize the importance of a concrete and comprehensive supply chain approach, extending the scope of the regulation to include maritime transport and smaller companies. However, achieving the stated goal of reducing pellet losses by up to 74% requires concrete and mandatory minimum requirements for all pellet-handling companies. Without robust external and independent control, effective implementation is at serious risk. 

Another pressing concern is the extended implementation delays. Every postponed measure raises the risks of prolonging the damage to the EU environment and citizens livelihoods.”

Frédérique Mongodin, Senior Marine Litter Policy Officer at Seas At Risk:

“SMEs account for more than 90% of the plastics supply chain, and ensuring that all workers handling pellets know that they are microplastics with a significant environmental impact is the key to ending chronic spills. MEPs understood this and adopted amendments to label pellet containers and impose robust packaging requirements, but Council ministers have dismissed these essential labelling provisions and restricted staff training programmes to bigger businesses. Trilogue negotiations must address these gaps and empower all economic actors in the chain towards meaningful action with harmonised prevention tools.”

Amy Youngman, Legal and Policy Specialist at Environmental Investigation Agency:

“The Council’s position is fundamentally flawed due to its lack of willingness to meaningfully address how pervasive and frequent plastic pellet spills are in the supply chain. By exempting small operators and imposing only limited reporting obligations, the proposal effectively guarantees continued pollution rather than preventing it. A meaningful regulation must be rooted in an accurate assessment of the scale of spills, mandatory coverage for all operators, and immediate, enforceable spill-prevention standards. Otherwise, this policy risks becoming yet another missed opportunity in the fight against microplastic pollution.”

Notes to the Editor :  

• Plastic production pellets, around five millimeters in size, are the building blocks of all larger plastics and constitute the third largest source of microplastic pollution in the EU. These pellets are known to accumulate especially in the aquatic and marine environment, where they have significant negative impacts on wildlife and ecosystems. 

• Plastic pellet pollution occurs across all stages of the supply chain in the EU (Plastic Giants report & Plastic Pellet value chain visual). 

• It is estimated that as many as 184,290 tonnes of pellets are lost in Europe every year. (Impact assessment report from the European Commission). 

• The exponential expansion of the production of raw plastic materials since 2005 has resulted in increased waste generation and over 170 trillion plastic particles in the world’s oceans. (TINY PLASTIC, BIG PROBLEM. THE CASE FOR PREVENTING PELLET POLLUTION.) 

• On October, 2023, The European Commission presented its proposal for a or a Regulation on preventing pellet losses to reduce microplastic pollution. 

•  On April 23 2024, the European Parliament adopted its position on the text which included binding minimum requirements for all carriers and operators, with an expanded scope that includes maritime shipping but the MEPs missed the opportunity to tighten the regulation by choosing to exempt businesses that handle more than 1,000 tonnes of pellets a year from mandatory certification, audits and staff training. Still, the text made a significant improvement from the European Commission’s initial voluntary prevention measures as well as any prior industry-led voluntary initiatives.  

• Last winter pellet spill on the Galician coast showed firsthand how poor pellet transportation at sea can have catastrophic consequences. This, combined with mounting research linking microplastic contamination to human health risks, and a petition supported by over 90,000 Europeans, activated parliamentarians who voted 538 to 32 in favour of adoption of binding rules, seizing a last opportunity to protect the planet and people from harmful and toxic pellet pollution. 

Media contacts:  

For Seas At Risk 
Adenieke Lewis-Gibbs | +33 7 49 82 25 99 | [email protected]  

For Environmental Investigation Agency 
Amy Youngman | [email protected]  

For Surfrider Foundation Europe 
Lionel Cheylus | +33 6 08 10 58 02 | [email protected] 

Dear President-elect von der Leyen, dear College of Commissioners,

The EU has long been a frontrunner when it comes to plastics policy – the Single-Use Plastics Directive, the plastic packaging restrictions under the Packaging and packaging waste regulation, as well as the EU’s signature of the Bridge to Busan – all of these efforts are a testimony to the recognised devastating impacts of plastics across its value chain.    

Unfortunately, plastic production and consumption are projected to triple globally by 2050 and could consume up to one-third of the remaining global carbon budget by 2050. Plastic production is one of the largest contributors (1) to global greenhouse gas emissions – nearly all plastics come from fossil fuels, and greenhouse gases are emitted at each stage of the plastic lifecycle (2).

The Commission has committed to continue pursuing climate neutrality by 2050 and zero pollution. This means that plastic, its chemical precursors and additives are as relevant as ever for EU policy priorities. To make matters worse, plastic and its many additives are a main carrier of toxic chemicals, such as PFAS, bisphenols and phtalates. These hazardous chemicals leach into food, our homes and the environment and pollute nature and our bodies. A recent Eurobarometer (3) survey confirms once again that European citizens deeply care about this issue: 84% of European citizens are worried about the impact of harmful chemicals present in everyday products on their health as well as on the environment. The same study shows that 84% citizens continue to be convinced that EU environmental legislation is necessary for protecting the environment. 

The Rethink Plastic alliance calls on the Commission President and the entire college of Commissioners to provide a credible policy framework for plastics and drives the EU’s strategic autonomy while protecting citizens and the planet. The Rethink Plastic alliance therefore urges decision-makers under this new mandate to:

Deliver on a safe and circular economy that fits with EU and global climate, biodiversity and pollution objectives:

• Enabling consumption reduction through sufficiency, reuse and repair while creating toxic-free material streams is the single most powerful lever in driving the EU’s strategic autonomy and should therefore be at the core of the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), its secondary legislation and the upcoming circular economy act. To serve an EU circular economy, the latter should recognise the waste hierarchy and introduce measures for reduction, reuse and repair to the same extent as for recycling.   

• Enforce circularity principles equally across the bioeconomy, including bio-based plastics, to avoid further encroaching on its first and foremost function: providing food and ecosystem services. The upcoming bioeconomy strategy update should mirror and expand on the principles already put forward in the 2022 Communication on an EU policy framework on bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics to hold up bio-plastics to the same environmental requirements as conventional ones by controlling their production scale, making them fully circular and toxic-free.
• Clean material and product streams from the onset by restricting the use of hazardous substances. The presence of hazardous substances in materials and products hampers safe reuse and accumulates in products using recycled content. This has a direct impact on the demand for such recyclate and continues tipping the scale towards virgin raw material. 

Keep the ambition in the plastics treaty process and following the INC-5 in Busan, work towards building even stronger support for a treaty that includes production reduction measures, phases out chemicals and polymers of concern, restricts problematic products and prevents microplastics emissions to be adopted at INC5-2. While the treaty process is ongoing, we encourage the EU to already adopt EU measures on production and chemicals of concern. 

Divest from fossil projects and unsustainable production:

• As it becomes increasingly evident that recycling alone cannot solve the plastic pollution crisis, a set of economic incentives to cut the production of new plastics while promoting reuse and high-quality recycling is urgently needed to stop pollution at source and accelerate the circular economy transition.

• Subsidies into fossil projects need to be suspended – including those that rely on fossil fuels as a raw material such as for the production of plastics and petrochemicals, many of which are toxic chemicals and are currently under scrutiny in the EU (PFAS, PVC, Bisphenols… ). The IEA projects oil use for energy purposes will peak in 2027 to benefit fossil fuel use for petrochemicals and plastics production. A recent modelling exercise (4) confirms that removing such subsidies would have a negligible economic impact on the consumers of final products. 
• Reform and strengthen the Plastics Own Resource as part of the preparatory work for the next Multiannual Financial Framework, turning the current levy on non-recycled plastic packaging waste into a more effective incentive for genuine circularity of this high-impact sector by e.g. broadening the scope of the levy to target plastic prevention all along the value chain, widening its scope to also include other throw-away packaging materials and increasing the levy to provide a clearer economic signal to the market.

Deliver on tackling microplastic pollution to protect ecosystems, including the Ocean ,and safeguard health: the EU must meet its target of a 30% reduction in microplastic pollution by 2030, as set in the Zero Pollution Action Plan. Microplastics, whether intentionally added to products or unintentionally released into the environment, contaminate water, soil, and air, ultimately also threatening biodiversity and human health. While some sources of microplastic pollution are being addressed through targeted legislation (e.g., the plastic pellet regulation proposal, the REACH restriction, product design measures considered under the ESPR), a comprehensive set of binding measures is needed to address all major sectors including textiles, geotextiles, agriplastics, tyres, paints, detergents, and more. 

Drive a just transition for the chemicals industry: the profitability of the EU chemicals industry should be assessed taking all societal and environmental costs into account. The valuation of impacts on human life, associated healthcare and insurance costs, as well as environmental remediation costs need to be considered to provide a full picture. Evidence suggests that environmental chemical exposures lead to costs that may exceed 10% of the global domestic product (5). Certain material compositions themselves – such as PVC, polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyurethane – are not conducive for circularity due to their inherent toxic properties. A clear and just pathway for the EU industry under the chemicals industry package needs to be developed to transition out of the production and use of hazardous substances and polymers – starting with PVC, PFAS, phthalates and Bisphenols. 

We thank you for your consideration and remain at your disposal for any questions you may have.

Rethink Plastic alliance

---

1. Report by CIEL published in May 2019 available at:  https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Plastic-and-Climate-FINAL-2019.pdf 
2. For more information see https://rethinkplasticalliance.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Plastics-and-EU_02_Plastics-And-Climate.pdf 
3.  Eurobarometer, 2024: Attitudes of Europeans towards the environment
4.  Report by Eunomia and QUNO published in November 2024 available at https://media.licdn.com/dms/document/media/v2/D4E1FAQEhH8tkIOOCFQ/feedshare-document-pdf-analyzed/feedshare-document-pdf-analyzed/0/1732489820893?e=1733356800&v=beta&t=u7ngfp8cIqyj0IDG8pmzX3_QBqjhCCvcEZY43-T8sgU 
5. Report by Planet Tracker published in October 2024 available at https://planet-tracker.org/investors-face-growing-toxicity-debt-and-increasing-litigation-from-novel-entities-such-as-artificial-chemicals-and-plastics/
   
   

Image Credits: European Union, 2024. EC Audiovisual Services

Press Contact:

Caroline Will, Communications Coordinator of the Rethink Plastic Alliance
caroline@rethinkplasticalliance.eu
T: +32456560705

Today, Plastics Europe published new data on EU plastics production: it shows that EU plastics production reduced by 8.3% between 2022 and 2023, and that the 2023 production of recycled content also fell by 7.8% compared to 2022. The decline in European plastics production and recycling highlights systemic issues in the plastics sector, whereby the industry has clung to unsustainable production, prioritising profit and expansion over resilience and long-term planning.

These new data come as negotiators from across the world are about to meet in Korea for the last planned round of negotiations on an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution, also known as the plastics treaty. 

Below are reflections from members of the Rethink Plastic alliance and Break Free From Plastic movement on the new data: 

Delphine Lévi Alvarès, Global Petrochemicals Campaign Manager at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) said:

“The decline in plastic production in Europe exposes the unsustainable nature of market forces that prioritize short-term gains over long-term resilience. Expanding plastic production in already oversupplied markets with low-profit margins creates significant financial risks. This unmanaged decline is harming workers and communities while undermining global and EU targets to combat climate change and pollution.”

She added: “We need a managed decline—a deliberate, equitable strategy supported by global regulations under the plastics treaty to stop production capacity expansion and set mandatory reduction targets to address market imbalances responsibly.”

Jacob Kean Hammerson, Ocean Campaigner at the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) said: 

“European plastics manufacturing decline is set against a global rise in production. Yet, many of the same companies who are blaming European environmental regulations have ramped up their production in other continents and are contributing to the global overproduction of primary plastic polymers. As we approach the final round of negotiations, the Global Plastic Treaty offers the opportunity to raise environmental standards across the plastics lifecycle and across geographies. It is therefore essential we finalise an ambitious treaty in order to halt the plastic industry’s global race to the bottom we are currently witnessing.“

Joan Marc Simon, Founder of Zero Waste Europe said: 

“Plastic production in Europe is declining due to uncompetitive energy and virgin feedstock prices and a dysfunctional policy framework, which has been partly promoted by plastic producers themselves. The EU faces a critical decision: prioritize a circular economy by aligning trade policies with environmental and industrial policies, or continue catering to plastic producers -European or not- who are relocating to regions with lower costs. Pursuing both objectives simultaneously will lead to both de-industrialisation and failure to deliver a circular economy”.

Today, a large group of European NGO representatives, members of the Break Free From Plastic movement and Zero Waste Europe network, displayed a large Pinocchio figure in front of the European Commission building in Brussels. The action illustrates how big consumer brands and supermarkets, with Member states’ leniency, are holding back the deployment of EU green legislation to reduce single-use plastic packaging by reporting false data on the true performance of reuse, separate collection and recycling systems in many European countries.

The success of EU waste directives and regulations relies on its proper implementation by Member states. A cornerstone of legislation is waste reduction and recycling rate targets. However, a recent report by Eunomia, ZWE and Spanish Zero Waste Alliance, reveals that the packaging industry, represented by the PRO Ecoembes, has been falsely reporting the real performance of recycling systems for decades in order to block the implementation of waste legislation, such as a ban on certain packaging, the obligation to use reusable packaging or the implementation of deposit and return systems.

#BreakFreeFromPlastic members were in Brussels with a powerful demonstration in front of the European Commission. 🚨 They brought along a Pinocchio figure to symbolize the false claims and misleading data about recycling from big consumer brands and EU Member States. ✊ pic.twitter.com/5F1Aagqsmc

— #BreakFreeFromPlastic (@brkfreeplastic) September 26, 2024

Larissa Copello, Packaging & Reuse Policy Officer at Zero Waste Europe states:

“The new Commission must force Member states not to accept false data from industry, otherwise all the efforts to implement strong progressive legislation – which is absolutely necessary – will be in vain. Data reporting plays a key role in ensuring a sturdy implementation of laws. For instance, reporting of recycling, waste prevention and separate collection targets could lead to an exemption from the obligation to meet reuse targets or from the obligation to implement deposit return schemes by Member States according to the final agreed text of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation. Therefore, the Commission needs to make sure the reporting of the data is transparent and done properly, otherwise such measures would be pointless and not enforceable.”

Miquel Roset, Director and Spokesperson at Retorna, states: 

“The case of Spain, the home country of Vice-President designate Teresa Ribeira, is emblematic of the problem with falsified reporting on recycling results in Europe. Four months ago, we presented a report, together with Zero Waste Europe and Eunomia, to inform the Spanish government that the real figure for separated collection of plastic beverage bottles under three litters was 36%, almost half of the 71% claimed by the PRO Ecoembes. By the end of October, Spain must report whether this figure has reached 70% and, if that is not the case, the Spanish Waste Law dictates the implementation of a deposit and return system.”

Chloé Schwizgebel, Project Coordinator at Fair Resource Foundation, states: 

“For years now, the recycling figures reported by Belgium are incredibly high. So high that recycling of glass officially reached 120% in 2023, which is not technically possible. Looking at all the packaging littering the streets in Brussels, how can that be possible? Yet, Belgium – and other Member states – are not held accountable for such fanciful results. Adding new targets without ensuring more enforcement won’t improve the situation.”

ENDS

Press Contacts

For further information, please contact:

• Bethany Spendlove, Europe Communications Officer.  T: +49 176 59 58 79 41 [email protected]
• Sean Flynn, Media Outreach and Communications Officer. T: +32 471 96 55 93 [email protected]
• César Sánchez, Communications Director of Retorna (Spain). T: +34 644 165 965 [email protected]

 About Break Free From Plastic (BFFP)

#BreakFreeFromPlastic is the global movement working to achieve a future free from plastic pollution. More than 13,000 organizations and individuals around the world have come together to demand reductions in single-use plastics and to advocate for lasting solutions to the plastic pollution crisis. BFFP members work together to bring about systemic change by tackling plastic pollution across the whole value chain – from extraction to disposal – focusing on prevention rather than cure.

https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org

About Zero Waste Europe

Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) is the European network of communities, local leaders, experts, and change agents working towards a better use of resources and the elimination of waste in our society. We advocate for sustainable systems; for the redesign of our relationship with resources; and for a global shift towards environmental justice, accelerating a just transition towards zero waste for the benefit of people and the planet. 

www.zerowasteeurope.eu

Chemical experts have told the EU that it must ban polyvinyl chloride (PVC) if it wants to comply with its own laws.

The move by ClientEarth, European Environmental Bureau (EEB) and Zero Waste Europe, comes after the three NGOs analysed a 2023 report by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) concerning PVC and the danger this plastic and its additives pose.

Used in everything from flooring and pipes to packaging and toys, PVC is one of the world’s most produced and widely used types of plastic. But it is associated with a variety of environmental and health problems, including cancer, reproductive impairment and birth defects. Like PFAS, tiny particles of PVC end up in the environment and remain present for long periods of time.

The ECHA report had been commissioned after PVC and its additives featured in the ‘Restriction Roadmap’ – an EU list of the most harmful chemicals that will likely need restriction.

But despite ECHA’s findings that PVC poses a risk that lacks adequate control, and that alternatives are available to replace most uses, the EU has made no move to ban it, or its dangerous additives. The NGOs say a broad restriction is inescapable according to EU law.

In fact, PVC’s characteristics fall exactly within the scope of what should be restricted under the EU’s flagship chemical law REACH.

Under this legal framework, the restriction of chemicals is not only justified but necessary when they are proven to pose an unacceptable risk that lacks adequate control. PVC ticks all the boxes.

Hélène Duguy, legal expert at ClientEarth states:

“When there’s sufficiently serious evidence that damages to the environment or people’s health may occur, the EU is legally bound to act. That’s the essence of the precautionary principle, which is a principle underpinned in EU law. The harms of PVC to the environment and health have now been too well-documented, including by the EU authorities. There’s no reason to stall any further.”

Christine Hermann, Policy Officer for Chemicals at the European Environmental Bureau states: 

“Intense lobbying from the PVC industry has managed to derail plans for a much-needed regulation. The industry has always insisted its alleged societal benefits outweigh the overall drawbacks. PVC may be versatile and relatively inexpensive, but the price we pay as a society is much steeper than a low-cost piece of PVC pipe.”

Dorota Napierska, Toxic-Free Circular Economy Policy Officer at Zero Waste Europe states: 

“We need to get real about PVC’s impact on our health and environment.The red tape and costs involved in the vicious circle of simply evaluating and restricting its many additives and their substitutes is through the roof. So why are we still doing this when there is a golden opportunity to ditch PVC for alternatives that make more sense? We have more than enough evidence to act now – that’s why we’re calling on EU policymakers to restrict the use of PVC where it can be replaced by safer and more circular alternatives.” 

The NGOs are now calling on the European Commission to act now to phase out PVC by 2030. 

ENDS

Notes to the editor

Read ‘PVC – Problem Very Clear: Why the ECHA report supports phasing out PVC as the most effective and future-proof risk management measure’

Background

• PVC has been under the scrutiny of authorities for decades. As far back as 2000, the European Commission recognised that PVC causes a wide range of serious problems for the environment and human health. 
• More recently, in 2022, the EU has included PVC and its additives in its list of hazardous chemicals that should be restricted – known as the Restriction Roadmap. As a follow-up, the European Chemicals Agency was asked to provide a detailed report on the risks linked to PVC and consider recommendations for action. The report, published last November, shows that PVC poses a risk that currently lacks adequate control and that alternatives are available to replace most uses. 
• Yet since the publication of that long-awaited report, the European Commission has failed to take concrete steps towards banning PVC and its dangerous additives. In fact PVC remains  one of the world’s most widely produced types of plastic.
• ClientEarth, EEB and Zero Waste Europe have reviewed the ECHA report and produced a new analysis [LINK], concluding that a broad restriction is in order.
• The NGOs argue that the evidence provided by ECHA more than warrants regulatory action by EU decision-makers, in the form of a restriction on PVC, in addition to the regulation of its most dangerous additives. 

Media Contacts

• Anaïs Rivalier, Senior Communications Officer, [email protected], +44 (0)7851 926887
• Seán Flynn, Media Outreach and Communications Officer, [email protected] or [email protected] / +32 471 96 55 93
• Beatriz Ortiz Martinez, Senior Communications & Press Officer for Chemicals, [email protected]

About ClientEarth

ClientEarth is a non-profit organisation that uses the law to create systemic change that protects the Earth for – and with – its inhabitants. We are tackling climate change, protecting nature and stopping pollution, with partners and citizens around the globe. We hold industry and governments to account, and defend everyone’s right to a healthy world. From our offices in Europe, Asia and the USA we shape, implement and enforce the law, to build a future for our planet in which people and nature can thrive together.

About Zero Waste Europe

Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) is the European network of communities, local leaders, experts, and change agents working towards a better use of resources and the elimination of waste in our society. We advocate for sustainable systems; for the redesign of our relationship with resources; and for a global shift towards environmental justice, accelerating a just transition towards zero waste for the benefit of people and the planet. www.zerowasteeurope.eu

About European Environmental Bureau (EEB)

The EEB is the largest network of environmental citizens’ organisations in Europe. We bring together over 180 civil society organisations from 40 countries, including a growing number of networks, and representing some 30 million individual members and supporters. Our vision is a better future where people and nature thrive together. The next generation deserves a healthy planet. We believe in a world where equal, just, peaceful, and democratic societies can prosper. A world with rich biodiversity and a safe climate. A world where laws and policies promote health and wellbeing while respecting nature. We believe that Europe has a crucial role to play in building this future. We advocate for progressive policies to create a better environment in the European Union and beyond.

In a decisive move, the European Parliament rejected a crucial resolution on the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2683 which aims to establish a clear methodology for calculating recycled plastic content in single-use plastics.

In this resolution, the European Parliament invites the Commission to adopt a recycled content calculation methodology ensuring priority for mechanical over chemical recycling. Zero Waste Europe, ECOS, and the Rethink Plastic alliance are baffled by the European Parliament’s failure to back the ENVI committee’s call for robust sustainability safeguards for defining recycled content. The environmental groups highlight that such short-sightedness undermines the provisions on recycled content accounting that were approved in the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) the same day in the plenary. 

The European Parliament rejected a much-needed proposal to clarify the recycling technology hierarchy, failing to introduce rigorous safeguards in the definition of recycled content and not protecting the recycling industry from unfair imports of recycled plastics in the EU. 

“The European Parliament today may as well have voted blindfolded. They have ignored the loud and clear concerns of environmentalist voices. By rejecting this resolution, MEPs are essentially handing European consumers an umbrella full of holes in a rainstorm of greenwashing. It’s more than a missed opportunity–it’s a direct hit against consumers, SMEs, and local recycling businesses.”

Lauriane Veillard, Chemical Recycling and Plastic-to-Fuels Policy Officer at Zero Waste Europe

“The European Parliament has just opened the door for companies to cook the books on plastic for the SUPD and other future European implementing acts on recycled content. This decision will trigger a cascade of misleading green claims on recycled plastics.”

Mathilde Crêpy, Head of Environmental Transparency at Environmental Coalition on Standards

ENDS

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Media Contact: 

• For Zero Waste Europe:
  Sean Flynn, Media Outreach Officer |  +32 471 96 55 93 | [email protected] 
• For Rethink Plastic alliance:
  Caroline Will, Communications Coordinator | +32456560705 | [email protected]

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About Zero Waste Europe 

Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) is the European network of communities, local leaders, experts, and change agents working towards a better use of resources and the elimination of waste in our society. We advocate for sustainable systems; for the redesign of our relationship with resources; and for a global shift towards environmental justice, accelerating a just transition towards zero waste for the benefit of people and the planet. www.zerowasteeurope.eu 

About Rethink Plastic 

Rethink Plastic is an alliance of leading European NGOs, representing thousands of active groups, supporters and citizens in every EU Member State. We are part of the global Break Free From Plastic movement, consisting of over 11,000 organisations and individuals worldwide demanding an end to plastic pollution. https://rethinkplasticalliance.eu/ 

About Environmental Coalition on Standards

ECOS, Environmental Coalition on Standards, is an international NGO with a network of members and experts advocating for environmentally friendly technical standards, policies and laws. We ensure the environmental voice is heard when they are developed and drive change by providing expertise to policymakers and industry players, leading to the implementation of strong environmental principles.

https://ecostandard.org/ .

Today, 23rd April, the European Union’s efforts to slash microplastic pollution finally moved forward, as the European Parliament adopted its position on the Proposal for a Regulation aimed at preventing pellet losses to reduce microplastic pollution. This positive vote comes at a time when plastics are in focus on the international stage, as global plastic treaty negotiations resume, and just after Earth Day’s plastic focus on Monday, 22 April.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) met in Strasbourg to approve the proposal, which is urgently needed to reduce the risk of pellet spills and hold plastic producers, transporters, converters and recyclers and all other actors involved accountable for pellet leaks across the plastic supply chain.

The new regulation includes binding minimum requirements for all carriers and operators, with an expanded scope that includes maritime shipping. On average, 1,566 cargo containers are lost at sea each year, making shipping a major cause of pellet spills globally. MEPs missed the opportunity to tighten the regulation by choosing to exempt businesses that handle less than 1,000 tonnes of pellets a year from mandatory certification, audits and staff training. Still, the text is a significant improvement from the European Commission’s initial voluntary prevention measures as well as any prior industry-led voluntary initiatives. 

Last winter’s pellet spill on the Galician coast showed firsthand how poor pellet transportation at sea can have catastrophic consequences. This, combined with mounting research linking microplastic contamination to human health risks, and a petition supported by over 90,000 Europeans, activated parliamentarians who voted 538 to 32 in favour of adoption of binding rules, seizing a last opportunity to protect the planet and people from harmful and toxic pellet pollution.

“This is a long-awaited, hard-fought win for planet and ocean biodiversity, even with lingering exemptions. For far too long, marine ecosystems and wildlife have suffered the consequences of industry negligence and a lack of EU regulation.

We call on EU countries to match MEPs in ambition so that the next European mandate can keep momentum up and agree to binding awareness and control measures for all industry players.”

Frédérique Mongodin, Senior Marine Litter Policy Officer at Seas At Risk 

“The EU’s leadership to implement strong supply chain governance on this harmful source of plastic pollution is a welcome step toward achieving microplastic reduction targets. Regrettably, the loophole in the Parliament proposal allowing operators to justify their way out of minimum prevention requirements weakens an otherwise robust proposal. We call on the negotiators at the global plastic treaty to follow in Parliament’s footsteps and seek global solutions to effectively prevent pellet loss – without any loopholes.”

Amy Youngman, Legal and Policy Specialist at the Environmental Investigation Agency

“The profound impact and scale of plastic pellet pollution across the EU is abundantly clear. From the catastrophic container losses in Galicia to the persistent contamination of sites like Ecaussinnes (Belgium) and Tarragona (Spain), EU citizens and local communities are currently bearing the heavy toll of this pollution. It was thus long overdue for the European Parliament to take action with what we can consider a partial win: yes, clear concessions were made to part of the plastic industry, but MEPs found political will to set binding preventive measures and hold polluters accountable.”

Lucie Padovani, Marine Litter Lobbying Officer at Surfrider Foundation Europe

This week’s plenary is the very last of the current Parliament’s mandate before June’s European elections. Negotiations on the pellet loss regulation between the European Council, Commission and Parliament will kick-off after the elections, where it will be crucial to keep the present momentum for microplastic and pellet pollution.

Correction: A previous version of this release incorrectly stated that businesses that handle less than 1,000 tonnes are exempt from certain rules. Business that handle LESS than 1,000 tonnes of pellets a year are exempt from these rules.

Notes to the Editor: 

• Plastic production pellets, around five millimetres in size, are the building blocks of all larger plastics and constitute the third largest source of microplastic pollution in the EU. These pellets are known to accumulate especially in the aquatic and marine environment, where they have significant negative impacts on wildlife and ecosystems.
• Plastic pellet pollution occurs across all stages of the supply chain in the EU (Plastic Giants report).
• Over the past ten days, Seas At Risk and Rethink Plastic mobilised people in the EU to seek and share firsthand evidence with decision-makers by going out to the field and hunting for plastic pellets around local beaches, rivers or industrial parks.
• It is estimated that as many as 184,290 tonnes of pellets are lost in Europe every year. (Impact assessment report from the European Commission).
• The exponential expansion of the production of raw plastic materials since 2005 has resulted in increased waste generation and over 170 trillion plastic particles in the world’s oceans. (TINY PLASTIC, BIG PROBLEM. THE CASE FOR PREVENTING PELLET POLLUTION.)
• More than 20 NGOs and organisations called on MEPs to strengthen the proposal by including maritime transport and other measures  (Open letter)

Media contacts: 

For Seas At Risk
Adenieke Lewis-Gibbs | +33 7 49 82 25 99 | [email protected] 

For Environmental Investigation Agency
Amy Youngman | [email protected] 

For Surfrider Foundation Europe
Lionel Cheylus | +33 6 08 10 58 02 | [email protected]
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Description of the Rethink Plastic Alliance

Rethink Plastic, part of the Break Free From Plastic movement, is an alliance of leading European NGOs working towards ambitious EU policies on plastics. It brings together the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), ClientEarth, Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), European Environmental Bureau (EEB), Environmental Coalition on Standards (ECOS), Greenpeace, Seas At Risk, Surfrider Foundation Europe, and Zero Waste Europe. Together they represent thousands of active groups, supporters and citizens in every EU Member State working towards a future free from plastic pollution.

Today, the European Parliament’s Environment, Public Health and Food Safety (ENVI) committee approved a resolution regarding the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2023/2683 defining the methodology for accounting for recycled plastic content in single-use plastics. In this resolution, the ENVI committee invites the Commission to adopt a recycled content calculation methodology avoiding creative accounting. The Rethink Plastic alliance supports this decision which introduces safeguards in the definition of recycled content and acknowledges specificity between recycling technologies.   

In particular, the ENVI committee establishes a recycling hierarchy in which chemical recycling effectively only deals with plastic waste that cannot undergo mechanical recycling and ensures consistency with the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). 

“With this vote, the ENVI Committee is demanding the Commission step up. This is a call to redefine the pecking order of technologies, ensuring that the recycled plastics hitting our markets are not only safe and transparent but also fair. It’s about sticking to the promises made in the PPWR — no compromises, no shortcuts. 

Lauriane Veillard, Chemical Recycling and Plastic-to-Fuels Policy Officer at Zero Waste Europe

“We cannot trust the results of mass balance accounting. The non-proportional allocation of recycled content is misleading and inconsistent with high-quality recycling. The ENVI Committee is rightfully asking the European Commission to revise its methodology to ensure transparent claims and drive true circularity.”

Mathilde Crêpy, Head of Environmental Transparency at Environmental Coalition on Standards

Following today’s adoption by the ENVI Committee, the resolution will be voted on next week during the last plenary session of the European Parliament’s mandate.

Media Contact: 

• For Zero Waste Europe:
  Sean Flynn, Media Outreach Officer |  +32 471 96 55 93 | [email protected] 
• For Rethink Plastic alliance:
  Caroline Will, Communications Coordinator | +32456560705 | [email protected]

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About Zero Waste Europe 

Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) is the European network of communities, local leaders, experts, and change agents working towards a better use of resources and the elimination of waste in our society. We advocate for sustainable systems; for the redesign of our relationship with resources; and for a global shift towards environmental justice, accelerating a just transition towards zero waste for the benefit of people and the planet. www.zerowasteeurope.eu 

About Rethink Plastic 

Rethink Plastic is an alliance of leading European NGOs, representing thousands of active groups, supporters and citizens in every EU Member State. We are part of the global Break Free From Plastic movement, consisting of over 11,000 organisations and individuals worldwide demanding an end to plastic pollution. https://rethinkplasticalliance.eu/ 

About Environmental Coalition on Standards

ECOS, Environmental Coalition on Standards, is an international NGO with a network of members and experts advocating for environmentally friendly technical standards, policies and laws. We ensure the environmental voice is heard when they are developed and drive change by providing expertise to policymakers and industry players, leading to the implementation of strong environmental principles.https://ecostandard.org/