In an article published on March 13, 2018 by news provider Plastics News Europe, reporter Liz Newmark summarized expert opinions on the EU’s plastics strategy (FPF reported) voiced at the third circular economy stakeholder conference held by the European Commission (EC) and the European Economic and Social Committee on February 20-21, 2018 in Brussels, Belgium.
Alexandre Dangis, managing director of industry association European Plastics Converters (EuPC), called for “better enforcement of current EU legislation, in particular the waste directives and food contact regulation” to reach the EU plastics strategy’s ambitious recycling targets. “Technological limits of mechanical recycling might have been reached,” but progress still needs to be made regarding consumer education, waste management (e.g., sorting and separation), and chemical recycling of polymers.
Leonor Garcia, director of public affairs for industry association PlasticsEurope, stated “proper waste management systems are key to effectively tackling the problem at source, with practices that prevent plastics entering the marine environment, educational programs and scientific research programs on marine litter.” She further emphasized that “eco-design with plastics will increase circularity and resource efficiency,” and “new plastics packaging technologies will increase plastic packaging recyclability.”
According to Elżbieta Bieńkowska, European Commissioner for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, the EC’s legislative proposal on single-use plastics is due in May 2018 (FPF reported). Further, a “strategic research innovation agenda” for plastics will be released in 2018.
Mette Skovgaard, senior adviser, sustainability unit, City of Copenhagen, noted “disposal would be easier if industry agreed to use fewer types of polymers in plastics packaging.”
Nico Rietveld, commercial director of Bar-le-Duc mineral waters, called for deposit schemes to improve the quality of recycled materials and for less plastics incineration.
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Liz Newmark (March 13, 2018). “Experts call for stronger legislative base for EU plastics strategy.” Plastics News Europe
