It is clear that our planet is facing an environmental crisis and plastic waste is one of the leading issues in the overall problem. The EU Commission has considered all the statistics on the environmental impact of single-use plastics and, more specifically, on marine litter and waste management. The very purpose of single-use plastics is catastrophic. When something is made to be used and thrown away, it's as if it was made to be wasted.
In numbers, the problem maps out as follows:
80-85% of marine litter is plastics
Plastic residues are found in marine species
50% of EU marine litter is single-use plastic materials
€13 billion a year of damage to global marine ecosystems due to plastic
€630 million a year estimated loss to European tourism and coastal communities due to plastic
€300 million a year estimated impact on European fishing industry due to the impact of plastic
Considering the above, the EU proceeded with the Directive (EU) 2019/904 – on reducing the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. It mainly focuses on the ban on single-use plastics, commonly referred to as the SUP Directive. It is a tailored approach toward each item based on research and efficiency.
The Directive focuses on the following ten items:
· Cotton bud sticks
· Cutlery, plates, straws and stirrers
· Balloons and sticks for balloons
· Food containers
· Cups for beverages
· Beverage containers
· Cigarette butts
· Plastic bags
· Packets and wrappers
· Wet wipes and sanitary items
The EU Commission page states: "Where sustainable alternatives are easily available and affordable, single-use plastic products cannot be placed on the markets of EU Member States" - referring to cotton bud sticks, cutlery, plates, straws, stirrers, and sticks for balloons and will also apply to cups, food and beverage containers made of expanded polystyrene. It will also apply to all products made of oxo-degradable plastic.
The SUP Directive aims to minimise the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (mostly the marine environment) and, consequently, human health. In the long term, the Directive aims to promote a thinking pattern of sustainable models, both in the market in terms of businesses and products and materials.
In addition, it serves as a guide and timeline for the Member States to reach some specific goals that will prove the significance of sustainability and its domino effect after applying the policies outlined in the Directive.
For example, two targets are:
"a 77% separate collection target for plastic bottles by 2025 – increasing to 90% by 2029."
"incorporating 25% of recycled plastic in PET beverage bottles from 2025, and 30% in all plastic beverage bottles from 2030."
Furthermore, the EU Commission has adopted guidelines to assist the Member States in proceeding with implementation along with two Implementing Decisions, consisting of rules on calculation, verification and reporting regarding the separate collection of single-use plastic beverage bottles waste. In addition, an Implementation Plan and several other documents provide sufficient support to the Member States.
The Directive was entered into force on 2 July 2019, and the Member States' implementation deadline was 2 July 2021. However, even though the Member States had two years to implement the Directive by incorporating its contents in national law, several failed. More specifically, 15 out of 27 countries missed the deadline for the implementation: Malta, Cyprus, Belgium, Luxembourg, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland, Ireland, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia, Slovakia and Portugal.
Countries such as Cyprus, for example, gained a 6-month extension because several companies and restaurants had a large stock of unused single-use plastics, especially in the light of Covid-19 lockdowns. Although the above argument is understandable, and of course, that stock should not just go to waste, there should be some strict deadlines and framework nationally. Although the 6-month extension has passed, and single-use plastics are not relatively available as in the past, several local companies still provide single-use plastics.
On the other hand, Serbia, for example, even though a non-EU country that has not signed the Directive, has been positively inspired by the EU and has committed to following the Directive.
Nonetheless, most Member States have made significant efforts to implement the SUP Directive in national legislation. At this stage, efficiency remains an issue for some, along with meeting deadlines and creating stricter frameworks, while others still have a long way to go to achieve the "green" goals.
Finally, it is important to understand the impact of single-use plastics on the environment, both as individuals and as the Member States. National legislative bodies must take environmental issues much more seriously than they currently do. Sadly, as people, we have reached and violated nature's deadline to save the environment. Drastic measures need to be implemented promptly to ensure that the future beholds everything we can do to fix the tremendous mistakes of the past.
Overall, the EU Directive on the Single-Use Plastics Ban provided an excellent framework and starting point for increasing sustainable measures and consequently protecting the environment. It is now up to us as citizens of the EU and the very Member States to promote and ensure that the contents of the SUP Directive are implemented and enforced through national law.
*The above analysis is written as of 7 February 2022 and includes updates on Directive 2019/904, up to and including that date only.
*All mentioned facts are sourced from EU Commission material.
Комментарии