Though there are private investment initiatives that fund solutions (and false solutions) to plastic pollution, they are not sufficient. Public investments must step-up to enable the systemic change needed to fund real solutions to the plastic pollution crisis. Let’s explore how this can work!
Plastic – The (in)Visible Pollution. Plastic pollutes more than what the human eye can see
Emissions from petrochemical sites, plastic production plants, incinerators and landfills pollute the
air and impact the health of surrounding communities and ecosystems. Toxic substances emitted
during the production process also pollute the soil and the water, with impacts on the food we
grow and water we consume, as well as on biodiversity.
Health And Safety Not Guaranteed – Exposing plastics’ impact on human health
Communities living near fossil fuel extraction, petrochemical refineries and transport routes and
the workers employed in these facilities, face increased risks of respiratory issues and cancer
from emissions, fires, and flares: just one example of how the detrimental effects of plastic on
human health start long before it is created for human use.
EU Regulation on preventing plastic pellet losses needs mandatory requirements for all operators to reduce microplastic pollution
Plastic pellets, whether derived from virgin material, recycled sources or biomass, constitute the primary building blocks for the majority of plastic products. The European Commission’s Proposal for a Regulation on preventing pellet losses to reduce microplastic pollution represents a necessary step towards addressing plastic pollution and the associated harms to human health and the environment. Plastic pellets, flakes, dust and powders are tiny and hazardous microplastics spilled and lost across the plastic supply chain, contributing to widespread, chronic and avoidable pollution impacting every EU country surveyed1. Effectively preventing pellet loss requires a comprehensive supply chain approach, applying measures to all operators at every stage of the supply chain.
Prevention and reuse – the only solution to record levels of packaging waste
Levels of packaging waste in Europe are at an all-time high. Over the last decade, its growth
outpaced the economy rising faster than the volume of traded goods. The latest Eurostat data
on packaging waste, published in October 2023, reaffirms this upward trajectory with a new
record of 188.7 kg per capita in 2021 – a 6% increase in waste generation in only one year.
The same data also reveals that recycling rates have stagnated since 2010. The packaging
sector is now responsible for approximately 59 million tonnes in CO2eq, more than the annual
emissions of Hungary. Packaging is also a major driver of virgin resources exploitation – using
40% of plastic and 50% of paper in Europe.
Fact sheet: Reusable Take-away Packaging
7 reasons why reusable take-away packaging is a sustainable alternative for climate protection and resource conservation.