Less plastic provides nothing but benefits

Europe demonstrates enterprise in the fight against plastic waste. The European Commission wants all plastic in the EU to be recyclable or reusable by 2030. MEP Mark Demesmaeker fully supports those plans: “Currently, tonnes of plastic still ends up in our environment or such waste is found drifting at sea. It’s high time to change all that.”

Europe generates 25.8 million tonnes of plastic waste a year. Only 30% of it is selectively collected for recycling. The proposals of the Commission are therefore an important step forward for our recycling economy. Europe is already releasing EUR 100 million for innovation in more easily recyclable plastic and better recycling processes. That’s good not just for the environment, but also for our health and the economy as well. An example: the recycling of one million tonnes of plastic reduces CO2 emissions by the same amount as taking one million cars off the road.

Not only recycling waste, but also preventing waste

But recycling more and recycling better is not enough, Mark Demesmaeker emphasises: “We must also focus on preventing waste.” A carefully thought out product design and new business models are essential in this regard. Minimum requirements for the release of microfibers from textiles are an interesting avenue, for example. It is also laudable that the Commission wants to reduce the waste originating from plastic objects that are only used once. They still represent half of all objects found on European beaches.”

Finally, Mark Demesmaeker is calling on the European Commission not to limit its actions to consumer packaging. There is also room for innovation in the business market.