Library

Our resources

Welcome to our library, where you can find the full range of infographics, reports,  position papers and videos on plastic pollution by the Rethink Plastic alliance and its member organisations. Browse our latest publications!

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October 3, 2024

A holistic plastic strategy: Addressing polymers and plastics under the ESPR

Plastics and polymers should be included as an intermediate product in the first working plan under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (foreseen for early 2025). By prioritising plastics and polymers in the first ESPR working plan, the EU will take a major step in addressing the plastic pollution crisis, working to minimise the environmental footprint of plastic and polymer production.

June 13, 2024

PVC Problem Very Clear.

Why the ECHA report supports phasing out PVC as the most effective and future-proof risk management measure

May 23, 2024

Save us “Chemical Recycling” Man! Oh wait…you can’t!

Meet “Chemical Recycling” Man. Not your run-of-the-mill comic book superhero. This one is propped up by the petrochemical industries.

These industries like to claim that chemical recycling will create “virgin-like” quality plastic. But beware – this isn’t true! Because of low oil yields and contamination, pyrolysis oil must be diluted by a mixture made up of crude oil, derived from fossil fuel (in some cases by a ratio of over 40:1!). Chemical recycling treatment cannot process the diversity of post-consumer plastic waste.

May 6, 2024

APPEAL TO EU LEADERS TO PRIORITISE A FAIR AND INCLUSIVE GREEN TRANSITION IN THE NEXT POLITICAL MANDATE

With just one month until the EU elections, we appeal to you to make top political priority of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution given the devastating impacts and growing intensity and frequency of climate-related events for ecosystems, health, economies, social justice and cohesion.
In the coming months, you have the momentous opportunity and responsibility to turn the tide.

April 18, 2024

NGO-Business Coalition supports the objection to the draft Implementing Act for the calculation of recycled plastic content in single-use plastic beverage bottles

We believe that the Commission’s draft in its current form would create an unlevel playing field between recycling technologies, keep consumers from taking sustainable purchasing decisions due to structural greenwashing and therefore contradict the objective of the SUPD to promote the transition to a circular economy.

April 9, 2024

A Plastic Pollution Free EU – Plastics and the EU elections

The EU elections will largely determine what guides EU politics and laws for the next five years. Even though plastic is driving some of the dominating issues of this election, there is a great danger that it will be pushed off the agenda – that’s rubbish! We need decisionmakers who will strive to reduce plastic production, support reuse, eliminate toxic chemicals, and deliver real solutions to the plastic pollution crisis to protect us and future generations.

April 9, 2024

Plastics’ injustice. A just transition to address an unjust pollution

Plastic proliferation and pollution fuel the triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. They impact us all, but not equally; thus they exacerbate injustice.

April 9, 2024

Plastics And Climate. Carbon bombing through and through

Treating plastic waste is an energy-intensive process, creating 193 Mt CO2e (carbon dioxide equivalent) tonnes of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per year. That’s more than the annual emissions of two […]

April 9, 2024

Plastics and Nature entwined. How plastic pollution drives biodiversity loss

Plastic production, use and disposal fuels climate change and pollution, but it also drives biodiversity loss, on land and at sea, with a variety of ecosystems and species declining.

Rethink Plastic