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A. Executive summary

European Union has embarked on a transformative journey towards revolutionizing the lifecycle of plastics. This initiative, part of the broader EU environmental strategy, aims to drastically reduce plastic waste and foster sustainable industry practices. As we move into a decisive era, key legislative and strategic measures are being implemented to ensure that by 2030, all packaging plastics will be recyclable, ushering in an era of sustainability that aligns with the ambitious goals of the European Green Deal.

In all its documents, the European Union confirms the importance of plastic and how indispensable it is in everyday life. However, it believes that it is necessary to rethink the whole cycle of plastic, from planning to disposal, in order to offer more protection for health and the environment, given the enormous quantities involved.

As for the pollution and the warming of the planet, Europe is not solely responsible, but it can be useful to know that the European Commission aspires to be a global player for the solution of global problems, including plastics.

European Union is regulating the plastic cycle, especially for packaging and waste treatment. Investigations have been commissioned, with the aim of identifying problems arising from a certain use of plastics and all new polymers, in order to lay down an holistic approach. These projects were entrusted to consultants with an involvement of ECHA, the Chemicals Agency of the European Union.

At the end of first investigations, during which the stakeholders were consulted, the European Commission published a Communication on "Plastic in a circular economy", which has also become the subject of an important Resolution of the European Parliament.

The European Parliament shares the majority of concerns and objectives and it has already debated this issue several times, both as a legislator, with the approval of European Directives and Regulations, and as a political actor, promoting debates and initiatives of its own. The European Commission and the European Parliament are in tune with regard to the restrictions on plastics and the need to regulate its entire life cycle. For instance, on 18 April 2019, the EP voted in favour of the Commission’s proposal of a circular economy package, sharing the ambitious objectives expressed in the document.

The European Parliament has always shown great harmony with the environmental ambitions of the European Commission, which is the EU Institution with legislative right of initiative. After some initial resistance, the European Council of Ministers, co-legislator with the EU Parliament, is following the strategy of the Parliament and Commission.

Major Legislative and Policy Developments:

• Recyclability Mandate: By 2030, EU regulations will require all plastic packaging to be fully recyclable. This standard is set to transform the packaging industry across Europe by promoting sustainable design and production practices.
• Usage Limitations: In response to environmental concerns, the EU has set limits on the number of plastic bags that can be used per person per year, significantly reducing single- use plastic waste.
• Product Bans: The EU has prohibited certain single-use plastic products and has discredited the biodegradability of oxo-degradable plastics, which do not meet the stringent environmental standards now required.
• Enhanced Waste Management: Emphasizing reuse and recycling, the EU is adapting its waste management strategies to comply with global restrictions on waste imports and the stipulations of the United Nations Basel Convention.
  Regulatory Framework and Implementation:
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• Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD): The MSFD continues to be instrumental in achieving 'good environmental status' of marine waters, balancing ecological, economic, and social health.
• Public Engagement: Extensive consultations with stakeholders have helped refine the EU's approach, ensuring that the new directives are comprehensive and effectively address the nuances of plastic use and disposal.
• Leadership and Commitment: The European Commission, under President Ursula von der Leyen, was committed to fulfilling the Paris Agreement goals despite challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which has stressed the need for resilient and adaptive policies.
  Economic and Sectoral Impacts:
• Innovation and Funding: The EU is fostering innovation in the development of safer, more sustainable plastics and alternatives through significant investments provided by the Recovery Plan and ongoing budget allocations.
• Industrial Transformation: The plastics industry is encouraged to shift from the traditional linear model to a circular economy, maximizing resource efficiency and value retention.
• Corporate Responsibility: Major multinational corporations have voluntarily adopted measures to align with the EU’s environmental objectives, demonstrating industry readiness to support legislative goals.
  Future Directions and Stakeholder Involvement:
  The upcoming years will be pivotal as the EU implements a detailed roadmap covering the entire plastics lifecycle. It is crucial for stakeholders to remain actively involved through public consultations and to participate in related events. These engagements will be instrumental in shaping a sustainable, plastic-free future and in realizing the full potential of the European circular economy package.
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B. Introduction

Overview of the plastics industry: history and current global status.

The plastics industry has a rich and transformative history that dates back to the 19th century. The development of plastics began with the creation of Parkesine in 1862 by Alexander Parkes. This material, derived from cellulose and treated with nitric acid, marked the first man-made plastic. However, it was Leo Baekeland's invention of Bakelite in 1907 that truly revolutionized the industry, introducing the first fully synthetic resin derived from phenol and formaldehyde. This innovation ushered in the era of plastics by providing a material that was not only moldable but also electrically non-conductive and heat-resistant, properties that expanded its applications into areas like automotive and electrical industries.

During the 20th century, the development of plastics accelerated with introductions such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene, and nylon. These materials transformed numerous industries, including packaging, construction, and textiles, due to their versatility, durability, and lower cost compared to traditional materials like wood, metal, and glass.

Post World War II, the demand for plastics surged, driven by economic growth and consumerism in developed nations. The 1960s and 70s saw plastics becoming omnipresent in everyday life, from Tupperware to vinyl records. However, this rapid growth also led to increased environmental concerns, particularly regarding plastic waste accumulating in landfills and natural habitats.
Today, the plastics industry is a global powerhouse, critically intertwined with sectors such as automotive, healthcare, electronics, and packaging. Despite its indispensability, the industry faces significant environmental scrutiny. The current global production of plastics surpasses 350 million tonnes annually, with a significant portion contributing to waste due to single-use plastics and inadequate recycling processes.

The environmental impact of plastics, particularly in the oceans, has catalyzed a push towards sustainable practices. The industry is at a crossroads, with substantial pressure to reduce dependence on fossil fuels for raw materials (most plastics are derived from petrochemicals), improve recyclability, and innovate towards biodegradable alternatives. Advances in areas like bio-plastics, which are made from natural materials such as corn starch, and improvements in recycling technology are pivotal. Efforts to incorporate circular economy principles into the industry are gaining traction. This approach emphasizes the reuse and recycling of materials to extend the lifecycle of products and minimize waste. Additionally, regulatory changes such as bans on specific single-use plastics have been implemented in numerous countries, pushing the industry towards more sustainable alternatives.
The plastics industry is a significant component of the global economy, with China being the largest producer, followed by Europe and North America. The Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing market due to its expanding manufacturing sector and rising consumer markets. However, trade tensions, changing regulatory landscapes, and global environmental agreements like the Basel Convention are reshaping industry dynamics, compelling companies to innovate and adapt to new market realities.
The future of the plastics industry lies in its ability to navigate environmental challenges while meeting the global demand for high-performance, affordable, and sustainable materials. As the industry evolves, it must balance profitability with corporate social responsibility initiatives to address the urgent need for environmental sustainability and waste reduction. This balance will not only determine the industry's role in the global economy but also its impact on the planet's ecological health.


C. EU Current Legislation

It was in the 1970s that the EU, then the European Community, began to work on common environmental standards and, of course, waste received the first attention. Soon, the European Commission realised that not only waste has an important impact on the environment, but also many

substances that enter the biological cycle. And this is how, due to accidents in industrial plants, especially in the 1980s, emissions into the air and water began to be regulated and a long list of harmful substances was banned.
Plastics have more recently entered an holistic EU regulatory program, essentially because the quantities at stake have now become enormous globally.

Until recently, EU legislation for the protection of human health and the environment was limited to banning the release of certain products into the environment, also requiring their recovery and recycling. Then the quantities became important and the rules more stringent, as in the case of plastic. Countries have begun to make massive use of legal and illegal exports of waste. But the quantities involved were becoming more and more huge and certain countries were no longer willing to accept our garbage.
Since then, the EU has called for a reduction in the use of plastics, a ban on the use of harmful plastics and a different set of value chains for certain products, such as plastics. We will see this in Chapter C.

Lest's check the current EU legislation.


C.1. EU Legislation on packaging and packaging waste

In the early 1980s, the EU began to regulate packaging management, from production to disposal. Today there is an EU Directive of 1994 to reduce the impact of packaging and two Regulations of 2004 and 2011 for plastics in contact with food:

• Packaging
Decision 97/129/EC on identification system for packaging materials. This Decision, which covers all packaging covered by Directive 94/62/EC aims to establish the numbering and abbreviations on which the identification system is based, indicating the nature of the packaging material(s) used and specifying which materials shall be subject to the identification system. The goal was to make the nature of the material used identifiable, both for reasons of health and environmental protection, and to help its disposal.

• Plastics in contact with food
- Regulation 1935/2004 which regulates the use of materials in contact with food. Lastly, this Regulation has been updated in 2019, by Regulation (EU) 2019/1381 on transparency and sustainability of the EU risk assessment in the food chain, and the modification entered into force in March 2021. The Regulation introduces measures to prevent harmful levels of constituents from leaching into food, avoiding changes to food composition, taste, and odor, and addressing specific considerations for active and intelligent materials. The Regulation grants the EU authority to implement additional measures for certain materials, such as plastics and establishes procedures for safety assessments conducted by the European Food Safety Authority. It also mandates labeling requirements, including indications of use and appropriate symbols, and emphasizes the importance of compliance documentation and traceability.

The EU identifies 17 materials that it considers necessary to regulate, but this Regulation is limited to four materials: plastics, ceramics, regenerated cellulose and active and intelligent materials. In 2016, the European Parliament voted its own resolution to ask for the extension of EU legislation to other materials (today only regulated by national measures) for risk assessments, traceability, compliance, enforcement and controls. European Parliament Resolution: P8_TA(2016)0384.

-  Regulation 10/2011, which introduces specific rules on plastics in contact with food. Last changes were introduced by Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1442 (as regards changes to substance authorisations and addition of new substances) and Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/1627 (amending Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 10/2011 as regards the authorisation of the substance bis(2-ethylhexyl)cyclohexane-1,4-dicarboxylate (FCM No 1079). In 2013 and 2014 the EU Commission published two guidelines: Guideline 1 Guideline 2.

-  Commission Regulation 2023/2006, on best manufacturing practices of materials and objects intended to come into contact with food products (including plastics).

-  Commission Regulation (EU) 2022/1616, on recycled plastic materials and articles intended to come into contact with foods, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 282/2008

• Packaging waste

Packaging and packaging waste

- Directive 94/62/CE. The directive, last modified in 2018, includes measures to limit the production of packaging waste, to promote recycling, re-use and other forms of waste recovery. Their final elimination must be considered as the solution of last resort. The directive applies to all packaging placed on the European market and to all packaging waste, used or discarded by industries, businesses, offices, laboratories, services, households and at any other level, whatever the materials that compose them.
Here the relevant modifications introduced in 2018:

• -  Objectives for the recycling rate of municipal waste: 55% (from 2020), 60% (2030), 65% (2035)
• -  Objectives for recycling plastic packaging: 50% (from 2020), 55% (2030)
• -  Limit of plastic bags in light material: 90 p/y (from 2019), 40 p/y (2025) and no longer
  free from 31/12/2018 (p/y = pieces per person per year)
• -  Ultralight plastic bags are excluded from these measures
• -  Annex II, art. 3, letter d): Biodegradable packaging - Biodegradable packaging waste
  must be of such a nature as to undergo physical, chemical, thermal or biological decomposition by which most of the resulting compost will eventually decompose into carbon dioxide, biomass and water. Oxo-degradable plastic packaging is not considered biodegradable and therefore is subject to the established plastic regulations.
  

- Furthermore, the European Commission has adopted Implementing Decision (2018)
896 on the notification of the quantities of ultra-light plastic bags produced annually, defining the calculation criteria.

C.2. Marine equipment design, construction and performance

- There is the Directive 2014/90/EU on Marine equipment, last modified on 30 April 2021 (annex III) by Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2021/1206, that enhance safety at sea and prevents marine pollution through the uniform application of the relevant inter-national instruments relating to marine equipment to be placed on board EU ships, and ensures the free movement of such equipment within the Union.

- Concerning the marine equipment design, there is also a Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1667 of 8 August 2023 on the Design, construction and performance requirements and test standards for marine equipment (which repeals the previous ones) to facilitate a harmonised, rapid and simple implementation of Directive 2014/90/EU. CEN TC will develop standards for Life Cycle Management and Circular Design of fishing gear, through a tender launched by CEN following the signing with the European Commission of a contract under the Framework Partnership Agreement 2014.

Other related decisions

- Decision 1/2023 of the Joint Committee established by the Agreement between the European Community and the United States of America of 26 May 2023 on the mutual recognition of certificates of conformity for marine equipment amending Annexes I, II and III [2023/1146] Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/608 of 19 April 2018 laying down technical criteria for electronic tags for marine equipment


C.3. Waste management, collection, transport, import, export and recycling

The definition of waste has been a key part of protecting the European environment from the impacts of waste generation and management over the past thirty years. Objects or substances that are defined as “waste” are controlled by EU waste legislation in order to protect human health and the environment.

The EU strategy on waste management was firstly adopted in 1989. The strategy was then revised in 1996 and 2003. In addition to an Interpretative Communication of the European Commission on waste and by-products COM (2007) 59 fin., the EU has adopted common standards for waste collection and disposal, including plastics.

- Directive 2008/98/EC is the EU Directive on Waste, that specify the definitions of waste, waste hierarchy, list of waste and responsibilities. This Directive was modified in 2018, 2019 and 2023. Go to the related page.and read the eBriefing on Waste Directive.

In 2013, the EU Commission Green Paper "A European strategy for plastic waste in the environment" COM (2013) 0123 fin. What marks the beginning of a holistic legislative approach towards plastic waste which, without specific regulations, has been treated in a generic way (landfills). The EU Commission motivated this initiative by stating that "The intrinsic characteristics of plastics create specific problems in waste management. Plastic is a relatively cheap material and lends itself easily to industrial applications. For this reason, in the last decade it has spread exponentially and probably the growth trend will continue in the future. Secondly, plastic is a very long-lasting and more resistant material than the products in which it is used. As a consequence, plastic waste in the environment is constantly increasing. The durability of plastic is also problematic in terms of uncontrolled disposal, since this material can remain intact in the environment for very long periods. The need to continue efforts to reduce the impact of plastics in the marine environment was also highlighted at the Rio + 20 summit. “

• Reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (“single-use”)

- Directive (EU) 2019/904 of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment.
This Directive aims to prevent and reduce the impact on the environment of certain plastic products and to promote a transition to a circular economy by introducing a mix of measures tailored to the products covered by the directive, including an EU-wide ban on single-use plastic products whenever alternatives are available. The directive want to deliver on the EU’s plastic strategy an important element in the EU’s move towards a circular economy.
The Directive indicate the market restrictions (bans), the consumption restrictions, a compulsory marking of plastic, separate collection and design requirements for plastic bottles, the extended producer responsibility and awareness campaigns by member states. The Directive entered into force on 3 July 2021. The market restrictions and marking of product rules apply from 3 July 2021, while the product design requirements for bottles apply from 3 July 2024. The Extended producer responsibility measures apply from 31 December 2024. In May 2021, the European Commission provided a Q&A - Guide on the application of the Directive.
Collection and recycling

- Directive 2008/98/EC on Waste, was modified in 2018, 2019 and 2023. This Directive gives provisions for separate collection and recycling and asks Member States to take measures to ensure that "waste management is carried out without damaging human health and without harming the environment". Plastic is among the waste to be differentiated and is now charged with causing serious pollution (see the three Additional Notes in this document).

Lastly, in 2019 the EU adopted a Directive on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (known as “Single-use plastic Directive”).
•

So, following the enactment of the Waste Framework Directive, the EU is establishing common criteria on "cessation of waste status" for some waste streams.

The works, started in 2007, led to some EU Regulations:

- Regulation 333/2011, on metal scrap - Regulation 1179/2012, on glass
- Regulation 715/2013, on copper

The Commission had also worked for years on the criteria for paper, compost, digested and plastics, but the relevant Regulations were never proposed by the Commission. The Regulation on compost and digested has now been partly taken up in the new Fertilizer

- Regulation (EU) 2019/1009, on fertiliser (plastics are partially included)
The Commission, after the rejection of the regulation on paper, carried out an assessment of the usefulness of issuing the EU criteria of "End of Waste", considering that it was more appropriate to delegate this secondary regulation to the Member States.

• Plastics import and export

Europe is at crossroads regarding its management of plastic, plastic waste and the plastic waste trade. Rapidly growing amounts of plastic have negative environmental and climate impacts. Plastic and plastic waste are traded worldwide. Exporting plastic waste from the EU to Asia is a means of dealing with insufficient recycling capacities in the EU. Waste import restrictions in China have shifted exports to other countries.

Because some types of plastic waste have been added to the United Nations Basel Convention, the option of exporting plastic waste is becoming increasingly difficult. This requires policymakers, business and other actors to build a more robust and circular economy for plastic in Europe. The EU plastic production increased from 2 to 380 million tonnes since 1950 and could double by 2035.

However Europe has lack capacity to manage as such as quantities. That’s why in early 2019 EU exported 150k tonnes of plastic waste/mo and 300k in 2015 and 2016.

EU rules on trade in plastics

EU countries’ trade in plastic waste is regulated by the Regulation (EC) 1013/2006 on Waste Shipment, modified on 22 December 2020 by the European Commission by adopting new rules on the export, import and intra-EU shipment of plastic waste. These new rules ban the export of plastic waste from the EU to non-OECD countries, except for clean plastic waste sent for recycling. Exporting plastic waste from the EU to OECD countries and imports in the EU are now be more strictly controlled.This prohibits the export of plastic waste for disposal to non-EU countries (except countries in the European Free Trade Area, which are party to the UN Basel Convention) and of hazardous plastic waste for recovery to countries that are not part of the Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development (OECD).

Exports from the EU - New rules from 1 January 2021

1. Exporting hazardous plastic waste and plastic waste that is hard to recycle from the EU to non-OECD countries is banned.
2. Exporting clean, non-hazardous waste (which is destined for recycling) from the EU to non-OECD countries is only authorised under specific conditions. The importing country must indicate which rules apply to such imports to the European Commission. The export from the EU will then only be allowed under the conditions laid down by the importing country. For countries which do not provide information on their legal regime, the “prior notification and consent procedure” will apply.
3. Exporting hazardous plastic waste and plastic waste that is hard to recycle from the EU to OECD countries will be subject to the “prior notification and consent procedure”. Under this procedure, both the importing and exporting country must authorise the shipment.

Imports into the EU

1. Importing hazardous plastic waste and plastic waste that is hard to recycle into the EU from third countries will be subject to the “prior notification and consent procedure”. Under this procedure, both the importing and exporting country must authorise the shipment.

Intra-EU shipment

1. The “prior notification and consent procedure” will also apply to intra-EU shipments of hazardous plastic waste, and of non-hazardous plastic waste that is difficult to recycle.
2. All intra-EU shipments of non-hazardous waste for recovery will be exempt from these new controls.

Control of the shipment of waste

As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the European Union has a system to monitor and control shipments of waste within its borders and with the countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and third countries which have signed the Basel Convention:

- Regulation (EC) 1013/2006 on the control of waste transport is in force, in which plastics have an important role (14 references to plastics). The annexes of this Regulation have been amended several times until 2020. In particular, this Regulation was amended in 2014 by Regulation (EU) 660/2014 to strengthen the control systems, but without altering the annexes (with reference to all waste, including plastics) and by the Regulation (EC) 2007/1418, which lists products and countries to which Regulation 1013/2006 does not apply and which lists the plastics of which entry into non-EU countries is prohibited.
The aforementioned Regulation (EC) 1013/2006 on the control of waste transport has also been amended by a delegated act by the Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/2174, to better specify and identify plastic waste and related prohibitions or restrictions. of transport. The changes are effective from January 1, 2021. Here a summary.
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- Directive (EU) 2019/883, on port reception facilities for the delivery of waste from ships, repealing the old Directive of 2000.
Fees - Under the new rules, ships will pay an indirect fee to cover the cost of the scheme, giving them the right to deliver their waste to a port, whether or not they deliver any waste. This fee will also apply to fishing vessels and recreational craft, aiming to help prevent discarded fishing nets and waste accidentally caught in fishing nets going directly into the sea. In certain cases, if a ship delivers an exceptional amount of waste, an additional direct fee may be charged to ensure that the costs related to receiving such waste do not create a disproportionate burden on a port’s cost-recovery system. Fees may be differentiated depending on, for example, the category, type and size of the ship and the type of traffic the ship is engaged in. A reduced fee applies to ‘green ships’, meaning vessels that can demonstrate reduced quantities of waste and sustainable on- board waste management.
Port facilities - EU countries ensure that port facilities can receive the types and quantities of waste from ships normally using that port; avoid delays; don’t charge excessive fees which may discourage ships from using them; manage ships’ waste in an environmentally appropriate way in accordance with Directive 2008/98/EC on Waste and other EU legislation on waste.

• Nomenclature

- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1245 of Regulation 1013/2006 (modified until 22/12/2020), which defines a correlation table between the codes of the relevant nomenclature.

C.4. Hazardous waste legislation: classification of waste (including plastics)

- Decision 2000/532/EC for a classification of hazardous waste, the annexes of which have been updated until 2014. Here you can consult the consolidated version of the Decision with all the modifications. This decision has various references to plastics.

C.5. Tax on non-recycled plastic - The EU has an annual budget that allows it to finance all of its programs, aid and support for certain categories, as well as the functioning of its institutions. Part of this budget is fed annually by the contributions paid by each of the 27 member countries (calculated in proportion to national GDP and revenue from VAT revenues) and a part by so-called own resources.
- With Decision (EU, EURATOM) 2020/2053, starting from January 1, 2021, plastics are included among the own resources. In practice, it was decided that all non-recycled plastic should be taxed for the benefit of the EU coffers. The tax that will feed into the EU budget has been set at € 0.80/kg. Some countries enjoy exemptions and the implementing measures provide for the collection of statistics by Eurostat (the EU statistics office) and the calculation of how much each state must pay. On 30 April 2021, the EU Council delivered the Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2021/770 on the Calculation of the own resource based on plastic packaging waste that is not recycled, on the methods and procedure for making available that own resource, on the measures to meet cash requirements, and on certain aspects of the own resource based on gross national income.

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D.
The new EU Legislation and strategy for the future of plastics
This chapter describes the new EU legislative initiatives undertaken since 2018 and within the framework of the European circular economy strategy.
As mentioned above, before the EU legislation concerned only the use and end of life of plastic waste and only for some products. There was not a complete regulatory framework that includes the whole cycle, from design and production (eco-design, substitution with other materials, etc.), to the final collection-recycling-disposal. This applies to almost every waste, products and resources. The increase in global pollution, the deep crisis of Western economies and the increase in consumption of the planet's resources have brought to the fore the need for a "circular" economy, that is where the value of products, materials and resources is kept as long as possible and waste generation is reduced to a minimum.
Also in the case of plastics, Industrial alliances can play an important role in achieving key EU policy objectives through joint action by all the interested partners.
The Circular Plastics Alliance aims to boost the EU market for recycled plastics to 10 million tonnes by 2025. The alliance covers the full plastics value chains and includes 272 organisations representing industry, academia and public authorities. New stakeholders can join the alliance by signing its declaration.
D.1. Circular Plastics Alliance
The Circular Plastics Alliance count currently 293 (June 2021) signatories. It is open to all public and private actors from European plastics value chains that are ready to actively contribute to delivering on the declaration of the alliance. To join the Alliance, an organisation must sign the declaration, committing it to the alliance's shared vision and to contributing to its operational work. Here the list of signatories, the Declaration and the Working Rules of the Alliance.
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As explained in the Alliance's declaration, the signatories "take action to boost the EU market for recycled plastics up to 10 million tonnes by 2025". The summary of the alliance’s commitments for action lists the planned deliverables, with deadlines. Several deliverables are already published and new deliverables will be published soon.
As said, the Circular Plastics Alliance (CPA) is committed to boosting the EU market for recycled plastics to 10 million tonnes by 2025. See the web Page on the CPA Commitments and deliverables.
To join the Alliance, stakeholders can apply electronically to sign the declaration and join the alliance.
D.2. Circular economy
Plastic obviously occupies an important place in the European strategy for achieving a circular economy. Plastic, due to its massive use and its spillage into the environment, is the ideal candidate to become the first artefact to be reinvented and recycled.
There are at least four EU documents that link plastics to the circular economy:

1. 2015 - EU plan on Circular Economy, COM (2015) 614, with Annex.
   This document explains the reasons for a transition to a circular economy, where the value of products, materials and resources is maintained for as long as possible and the production of waste is minimised. Here the phases of the economic cycle of a product where circularity is an important factor: design, production processes, consumption, waste management. Plastic is mentioned in 15 sentences of the text, together with paper, glass, metals and wood, as raw materials whose use should be promoted in a smarter way.
2. 2017 - Implementation of the Circular Economy Action Plan, Communication COM (2017) 33 fin. + Annex.

3. 2018 - European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy, COM(2018) 28. + Annex, focusing on plastic in this new economy approach.
4. 2020 - New Action Plan on Circular Economy COM(2020) 98 f. + annex.
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Click here for a Presentation of the New Plan. The New 2020 Plan gives explicitly a policy framework for plastic in a circular economy, an explanation on the key product value chain of plastic, how to reduce waste for more value, the place for Regions and Cities and the crosscutting actions needed to make a coherent plan.
In addition, the European Environment Agency (EEA) published its Report on Plastics and Circular Economy in 2020. Read here
Financing the circular economy
In 2019, the Informal Commission Expert Group “Support to Circular Economy Financing” published its report on “Accelerating the transition to the circular economy: Improving access to finance for circular economy projects” (here the Report). The Expert Group has analysed the status of barriers to the transition to a circular economy in the EU. The experts have identified major challenges and, to address these challenges, have given their expert opinions and recommendations to the main stakeholders, including policy makers, financial institutions and project promoters.
The European Union is providing several funding programmes in order to support the transition to a circular economy, such as the European Structural and Investment Funds, Horizon Europe and the LIFE programme.
Subscribers to this eDossier have access to a complete list and links to EU funds. If you have not signed up for a subscription for this eDossier updates and links to EU funds, please go here.
D.3. The commissioned studies and the pressure groups
To understand the path and the decisions of the EU on Plastics, we need to make a minimum of history.
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In 2010/2011, the European Commission commissioned studies on the life cycle of plastics, to assess their impact on health and the environment. The results led to the belief that much more attention had to be paid to plastic and throughout its life cycle.
These studies were commissioned to the French Bio Intelligence Service: . “Study on coherence of waste legislation”, 2011 EN
. “Plastic waste in the environment”, 2011 EN
Bio Intelligence was acquired in 2013 by Deloitte, a leading consulting and auditing company, becoming BIO by Deloitte. The European Commission then commissioned in 2013 an analysis entitled "Analysis of the public paper on the green paper", to examine the results of the consultation. launched by the European Commission itself following its publication of the Green Paper "A European strategy for plastic waste in the environment”.
Also included in the plastics debate is the action promoted by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation which, with its "New Plastics Economy" initiative (here the website) and its publication on plastics in 2017 (here the text), suggests a new role for plastics and, for example, the prohibition of oxo-degradable plastics, gathering for this initiative the support of 150 Associations and Industries. As we will see later, the European Commission has already recognised the non-biodegradability of oxo-plastics and the banning of micro-plastics.


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D.4. The EU long-therm strategy
The initiatives of the European Commission
For many years the European Commission has been studying and has produced numerous documents concerning the use of plastic. At the same time, the European Union launched a very advanced reflection on the role of the circular economy in the European context. Plastic and the circular economy are now part of the same strategy: reducing the environmental impact of human activities, with a benefit for the European economy.
In 2018-2019 the European Commission has published several Communications on plastic and circular economy and has proposed numerous new measures on the use of plastic, some of which have already become EU law. They concern the use of plastic, with limitations on shopping bags and the use of single-use plastics. They also concern the collection and treatment of urban waste and the disposal of ship waste, which are considered responsible for very high percentages of marine pollution.
In its Communication COM(2018) 28 f. + Annex and summarised later in this eDossier, the European Commission has indicated how the EU strategy for plastics should be part of a circular economy strategy. See the information brochures: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
The primary objective of the EU is to reduce the release of plastic into the environment. This objective is achievable, says the EU Commission, through the adoption of rules and behaviours throughout the life cycle of plastics, from its replacement, where possible, with different materials, adopting new design criteria to increase durability and reuse of plastics, with regulatory measures for the production and marketing of products containing micro-plastics and the production of innovative plastics, "bio-plastics", "intelligent" and "biodegradable" plastics, with a more consistent separate collection with recycling and disposal systems that are even more environmentally friendly.
The EU will therefore move both with a revision of the existing rules, and through new legislative initiatives to cover areas that are not yet regulated.
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The European Parliament
In September 2018, EP voted a Resolution P8_TA(2018)0352 on the Commission’s Communication COM(2018) 28 f. + Annex on a European strategy on plastics in a circular economy. This changed the history of theEU on plastics.
The EP adopted the Resolution by 597 votes to 15, with 25 abstentions, which welcomed the Commission’s initiatives on single-use plastics, on plastic-free supermarkets, marine littering, bio-based content, biodegradability and compostability with a clear harmonised rules on bio- based content and biodegradability.
The Commission was also called on to:

• ban micro-plastics in cosmetics, personal care products, detergents and cleaning products by 2020 and to prepare a proposal for a ban, taking into account whether or not viable alternatives exist;
• set minimum requirements in product legislation to significantly reduce the release of micro- plastics at source, in particular for textiles, tyres, paints and cigarette butts.
  The Members of the European Parliament also supported the Commission's goal of preparing a strategic research and innovation agenda on the circularity of materials, with a focus on plastics and plastic-containing materials, as well as packaging. They asked that the Horizon Europe 2021-2027 program include a "plastic-free ocean mission" in order to use innovation to reduce the amount of plastic entering the marine environment.
  According to Europarl site, “in a report adopted on March 2021 by 646 votes in favour, 3 against and 39 abstentions, MEPs stress that marine litter, and especially micro and nano plastic, poses a serious threat to a number of marine animal species, as well as to fishermen and consumers. They highlight that an average consumer of Mediterranean shellfish ingests around 11 000 fragments of plastic every year. The fishing sector is estimated to lose between 1 and 5% of its revenue because of marine pollution. Fisheries and aquaculture waste accounts for 27% of marine litter. Therefore, Parliament urges the EU to accelerate the development of a circular economy in this sector by phasing out expanded polystyrene
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packages and improving marine waste collection and recycling channels. Research on sustainable materials and new designs for fishing gears are also key, MEPs add”.
Remarks
Although with some resistance from individual MEPs, Commission and Parliament are moving in unison to limit the negative effects attributed to plastics: the one thrown into the environment, the non-recyclable one, the single-use one, the biodegradable one, etc. The whole life cycle of plastic will be regulated in some way, introducing a sort of "stress test" for industry and market and testing all the stakeholders.
This "revolution" on the use of plastic will benefit companies ready to take up the challenge immediately, putting the survival of unprepared companies at risk.
Europe will once again be at the forefront and this will lay the foundations for benefiting European companies in those global markets which, as it happened for other industrial sectors, will eventually have to adopt the same EU rules, not least because it is the first industrial and commercial power.

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E.
How EU is implementing its working plan on Plastics
This presentation follow the working plan and the timetable developed by the European Commission. There are all the steps to design future rules and to update existing ones, with a holistic and functional approach to a circular economy. As for all legislative procedures, stakeholders
and member countries will be consulted continuously, before the EU Council and the European Parliament will be asked to approve the legal measures.
Below, a presentation of all actions already initiated, concluded or planned by the EU on Plastics: A.1. Improve the economy and the quality of plastic recycling
a. Improve the design

• -  Interaction between chemical law, products and waste: Communication COM (2018) 32 + SWD (2018) 20. Following this Communication, the EU adopted the Directive (EU) 2019/904, on the Reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment ("single-use Plastics"), with which not only are some single-use plastic products banned but the production of those products in recyclable materials is encouraged.
• -  Design and Manufacturing rules with a possible revision of the Directive 2009/125/EC, for the reducing the presence of chemical "pollutants" in plastics.
  The European Commission launched an Open public publication (OPC) focusing on options for addressing the interface between substance, product and waste legislation, which took place from 23 July to 29 October 2018. Click here to read the summary report.
• -  Revision of the Packaging and Waste Directive 94/62/EC, for a more complete total reuse of packaging from 2030. The last revision is dated 16 June 2018. The subsequent revision will also try to give consistency between the classification of waste and chemicals and their traceability in the waste. Between 30 September 2020 and 6
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January 2021 the Commission has launched an Open Public Consultation (OPC): here the comments received and here the Evaluation of initial impact.
On 30 November 2022, the Commission proposed to revise the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive by a new Regulation (view the proposal). This review contributes to reaching the objective of the European Green Deal and the new circular economy action plan to ensure that “all packaging on the EU market is reusable or recyclable in an economically viable way by 2030”. It will also contribute to the commitment of the 2018 Plastics Strategy to ensure that by 2030 all plastics packaging placed on the market can be reused or recycled in a cost-effective manner”.
Read the eBriefing on Waste Directive revision.
- Eco-design. Extension of the eco-design Directive 2009/125/EC to other products and products, to reduce the use of plastics or for their eco-friendly use.The initiative aims to correct the production and consumption patterns in force and which are summarised in "take, use, eliminate". Many products break down too quickly, many cannot be easily and safely reused, repaired or recycled, and many are made for single use only.
As said before, these and all other problems not solved by the EU legislation in force will be addressed by the next revision. Between 17 March and 9 June 2021, the European Commission launched an Open Public Consultation (OPC) for a review of this directive, with the hypothesis of further legislative measures where deemed necessary to make products placed on the EU market more sustainable. Here the Impact assessment and here the OPC comments received from industry and citizens.
> A proposal for a Directive amending this Directive is expected in the first quarter of 2022. You can track further progress of this initiative by checking this eDossier
b. Actions to increase the recyclable content
Voluntary Pledge - The European Strategy for Plastics, Communication COM(2018) 28 f. + Annex set a target to use 10 million tonnes of recycled plastic to make products in the EU by 2025. This compared to less than 4 million tonnes used in 2016.
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To achieve this, Annex III of the Strategy invited stakeholders to voluntarily commit to using or producing more recycled plastics.
70 companies and business associations therefore submitted voluntary commitments for the end of 2018. Most of them agreed to publish their names. Many Voluntary Industry Groups have also agreed to publish their commitment, in part or in full. See the commitments published on the circular economy stakeholder platform. Interested parties can make or update their voluntary commitments.70 companies and
business associations submitted voluntary pledges by the end of 2018. Most of
them agreed to publish their names.
Many pledgers also agreed to publish their pledge, in part or entirely. See published pledges on the circular economy stakeholder platform. Stakeholders can make or update their voluntary pledges.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of EU measures and necessary corrections
The initiative was taken to evaluate the effectiveness of the regulatory or economic incentives put in place with EU legislation to stimulate the recycling of packaging and packaging waste:

• -  General Evaluation report published in March 2020, on the effectiveness of the measures put in place by the EU
• -  2018 Revision of the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive Directive 94/62/ EC consolidated text,
• -  Update of the Commission Implementing Decision: consolidated text of Commission Decision 2005/270/EC for updating the Tables for reporting data pursuant to Article 12 of Directive 94/62 / EC, as well as the rules for the calculation, verification and disclosure of data pursuant to this directive.
• -  Construction Products Regulation (CPR) Regulation (EU) No 305/2011 (modified in July 2021): Evaluation of the effectiveness of regulatory or economic incentives to stimulate recycling. Check the Roadmap for the implementation of the Construction Products Regulation (CPR)
• -  End-of-Life Vehicles Directive Directive 2000/53/EC. Evaluation of the effectiveness of regulatory or economic incentives to stimulate recycling, with the assessment/revision of the existing Directive. Indeed, the 2000 Directive was amended many times and it was subject to various implementation by setting out
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measures to prevent and limit waste from end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) and their components, by ensuring their reuse, recycling and recovery. The Directive aims to improve the environmental performance of all economic operators involved in the life-cycle of the vehicles. Last modifications have been introduced in 2020. A revision of the Directive is now underway and is expected to end at the end of 2022:

1. Initial impact assessment
2. Public consultation from 20 July to 26 October 2021

• Continuation of work to regulate the use of Food Contact Materials (FCM) (including plastics): finalisation of pending authorisation procedures for plastic recycling processes, better characterisation of contaminants and introduction of monitoring systems (started)> The safety of FCM is evaluated by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). At EFSA's website you can search for opinions on substances to be used in food contact materials. The safety of Food Contact Materials is tested by the business operators placing them on the market, and by the competent authorities of the Member States during official controls. Scientific knowledge and technical competence on testing methods is being maintained by the European Reference Laboratory for Food Contact Materials (EURL-FCM). Its website provides guidelines and other resources concerning the testing of food contact materials.

• Development of quality standards for selected plastic waste and recycled plastics, in cooperation with the European Committee for Standardisation. The requirements of the Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste are met if packaging fulfils the standards (e.g. on prevention, reuse, recycling, energy recovery, biodegradation and composting) of the European Committee for Standardisation, an association of national standardisation bodies of 34 European countries that defines voluntary standards at European level. The use of these standards is not mandatory as EU legislation does not allow mandatory standards.
• Ecolabel and "Green Public Procurement": further encouragement of the use of recycled plastic, also through the development of adequate means of verification.
• Plastic recycling - From voluntary to mandatory pledge. This way initiated in 2018 with the Commission Communication on European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular
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Economy, COM(2018) 28 f. + Annex, followed by A new Circular Economy Action Plan for a cleaner and more competitive Europe, COM(2020) 98 f. and annex. As seen above, plastic recycling had been asked with voluntary pledges. Now the European Commission is preparing a new legislation. To increase uptake of recycled plastics and contribute to the more sustainable use of plastics, the Commission will propose mandatory requirements for recycled content and waste reduction measures for key products such as packaging, (construction materials and vehicles), also taking into account the activities of the Circular Plastics Alliance.
• Micro-plastics
The Commission would address the presence of micro-plastics in the environment by:

• restricting intentionally added micro-plastics and tackling pellets taking into account
  the opinion of the European Chemicals Agency;
• developing labelling, standardisation, certification and regulatory measures on
  unintentional release of micro-plastics, including measures to increase the capture of
  micro-plastics at all relevant stages of products’ lifecycle;
• further developing and harmonising methods for measuring unintentionally released
  micro-plastics, especially from tyres and textiles, and delivering harmonised data on
  micro-plastics concentrations in seawater;
• closing the gaps on scientific knowledge related to the risk and occurrence of micro-
  plastics in the environment, drinking water and foods.
  The European Commission plans to deliver legislative proposal end 2021 or in 2022.
  c. Actions to improve the separate collection of plastic waste

• Publication of new guidelines on separate waste collection and sorting (2019)
• Ensure better implementation of existing waste collection obligations, including through
  continuous review of waste legislation (see above). EU-wide harmonised model for separate collection of waste and labelling to facilitate separate collection is planned to start in 2022.
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A.2. Reduce plastic waste
Disposable plastics, waste at sea, micro-plastics, oxo-plastics, biodegradable plastics, increased recycling, separate waste collection have been the subject of impact assessments, studies and research by the EU. The results led to the decision to initiate the following legislative initiatives. Studies show that the so-called single-use plastics are by far the most responsible for plastic pollution (especially at sea), given the amount used. Here a summary.
a. Reduction of single-use plastic products
Directive (EU) 2019/904 of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. It was preceded by the Proposal for a Directive COM(2018) 340 fin + Annex and Implementation plan EN, following a public consultation. The provisions of the Directive banning certain single-use plastic products entered into force on 3 July 2021. The Directive states that the product design requirements for bottles apply from 3 July 2024. The Extended producer responsibility measures apply from 31 December 2024.
b. Marine littering
The waste that ends up in the sea, including plastic, is of various kinds and of various origins. The European legislator and the Member States therefore had to address both the question of how to reduce the quantity and nature of releases at sea, and to identify the origin of the releases. In both cases with various specific regulations. Yes, because referring only to plastics, there are plastics, or persistent organic products, which by size and composition emerge from a myriad of products and therefore the problem must also be addressed from the very beginning of the industrial chain. The European Commission therefore started with an overall assessment of the phenomenon, then carried out an impact assessment and finally proposing a series of legislative measures:
• On 12 May 2021 the European Commission adopted a Communication COM (2021) 400 entitled "A path towards a healthier planet for all EU - Action plan: Towards zero air
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pollution, the water and soil”. This Communication announces the intention to introduce European standards to reduce plastic waste released into the sea by 50% and microplastics released into the environment by 30%. Taking also into account the Results of the Public Consultation (11 November 202 - 10 February 2021).
• We have already seen above that there was the adoption of the Directive (EU) 2019/904 of 5 June 2019 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. It was preceded by an Impact assessments: DOC1, DOC2, DOC3 (here an Executive summary) and a Public consultation (here the results).
• Adoption of the Directive (EU) 2019/883, on Port reception facilities for the delivery of waste from ships, which repeals the old Directive of 2000.
• Development of measures to limit plastic loss from aquaculture (date to be defined). The discussions on possible legislative measures are not exhausted and sector operators emphasise that 80% of marine plastic pollution is due to coastal activities. Here the data provided by the World Aquaculture Society.
c. Actions to monitor and reduce marine litter more effectively
In addition to avoiding the dumping at sea of waste and in particular of plastic in its various forms, the EU is committed to monitoring the seas. It is used to verify the effectiveness of existing legislation and to understand the nature and origin of waste, including plastics. It should be known that only 1% of the plastic poured into the seas floats. The rest settles on the funds or fluctuates. Plastics in the sea have different sizes: from large objects to very small fragments, micro-particles that enter the food chain, up to entering our body. They bring with them poisons and bacteria of all kinds.
To achieve homogeneous mapping, the EU has developed harmonised methods that all member countries must comply with.
Here is the EU activity for monitoring marine litter:
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d.

• Improved monitoring and mapping of marine litter, including micro-plastics, with harmonised EU methods. In 2018, the Commission launched EMODnet, the European Marine Observation and Data Network (website), tasked with monitoring the seas of the EU and beyond.The European Marine Observation and Data Network (EMODnet) is a network of organisations supported by the EU’s integrated maritime policy. These organisations work together to observe the sea, process the data according to international standards and make that information freely available as interoperable data layers and data products.
• Support to Member States for the implementation of their marine litter programs of measures under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, in conjunction with their marine litter / litter management plans under the Framework Directive on waste. On 25 June 2020, the Commission adopted a report on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive Directive 2008/56/EC (MSFD), (consolidated version) which reveals that although the EU framework for the protection of the marine environment is one among the most comprehensive and ambitious in the world, persistent challenges remain such as nutrient glut, underwater noise, plastic waste and other types of pollution, as well as unsustainable fishing. This message was further reinforced by the European Environment Agency's (EEA) 'Marine Messages II' report, also published the same day.
  Actions on compostable, biodegradable plastic and oxo-plastics

•
Development of harmonised standards on the definition and labelling of compostable and biodegradable plastic.
There are two specific laws with partial objectives:
a. Directive (EU) 2019/904 on Single-use plastics prohibits the placing on the market of oxo-degradable plastic products and all single-use plastic products (listed in Part B of the Annex). Plastic products prohibited under this directive: cutlery (forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks), plates, straws, cotton buds, drink stirrers, sticks to attach to support balloons, expanded polystyrene food containers.
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b.
For other products, it establishes that they must bear a marking to communicate how the waste is managed.
For a complete analysis of the Directive, contact eEuropa by email.
Directive (EU) 2015/720 on Directive on Plastic bags
The legislation on packaging waste does not contain specific prohibition measures for plastic bags made of lightweight materials, which, however, can have a negative impact on the environment and whose consumption must be reduced. Therefore, the Directive establishes ways and objectives to reduce the consumption of lightweight plastic bags, through the imposition of taxes or the setting of consumption reduction targets at a national level. Those in ultra-light material can be excluded from the reduction rules imposed for others in light material. In addition, As of May 27, 2018, EU countries must report the annual consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags to the European Commission. By May 2017, the Commission will develop rules on labels and trademarks for the identification of biodegradable and compostable plastic bags, which must be implemented at the latest 18 months after their adoption. EU governments and the Commission will encourage information and awareness campaigns, particularly in the 12 months after 27 November 2016.
If you need an analysis of the Directive, contact eEuropa by email.
•
•
• •
Concerning EU standards, CEN (European Committee for Standardization) has published several standards on bio-based products, but there is no clarity around the part of a plastic product that is entirely or partly derived from biomass. The EU does not have sustainability criteria that applies to bio-based plastics.
For more information on CEN standards, please contact eEuropa by email.
There is a harmonized CEN standard for industrially compostable packaging, but there
is no general standard for marine biodegradation.
Life Cycle Assessment to identify the conditions where their use leads to benefits and criteria for such application (date to be defined)
Process to limit the use of oxo-plastics. The Commission has published a Report COM (2018) 35 fin on the impact of oxo-degradable plastics and has instructed the European
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Chemical Agency (ECHA) to prepare a dossier for the banning of oxo-plastics, in the framework of the procedures defined by the EU Regulation "REACH" (contact us to request info and updates on the rules set by the EU for your products / compounds or to request the necessary authorisations for their production or for their commercialisation).
—> Request eDossier EURECHA20-P, on the functioning and rules of the EU Chemical Agency, also specifying the products / compounds you wish to monitor Email us
e. Actions to curb pollution by micro-plastics
In 2017, the European Commission requested ECHA to assess the scientific evidence for taking regulatory action at the EU level on microplastics that are intentionally added to products (i.e. substances and mixtures).
ECHA launched a public consultation on micro-plastics requested by the European Commission in January 2018 to produce results to be published on 11 January 2019. The consultation closed on 11 May 2018. Here is the ECHA statement.
"In January 2019, ECHA proposed a wide-ranging restriction on micro-plastics in products placed on the EU/EEA market to avoid or reduce their release to the environment. A consultation on the restriction proposal was organised from March to September 2019. ECHA received 477 individual comments. Details of the consultation, including non-confidential responses, are available on ECHA’s website." (Source: ECHA)
"The Commission is expected to prepare its proposal following ECHA’s report and the committees’ combined opinion. The Commission’s proposal to amend the list of substances restricted under Annex XVII of REACH will be submitted to a vote by the EU Member States in the REACH Committee. Before the restriction can be adopted, it is scrutinised by the European Parliament and the Council." (Source: ECHA)
Restrictions could include:
• restrictions to inadvertent release of micro-plastics from tires, fabrics and paints (for example,
tire design requirements - tire abrasion and durability, if necessary) and/or information obligation (including labelling, if necessary), methods for assessing micro-plastic losses from fabrics and
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tires, combined with information (including possibly labelling) and minimum requirements, with
targeted funding and research and development)

• restrictions to release of plastic pellets (e.g. certification scheme along the plastic supply chain
  and/or the best available reference techniques, according to the Industrial Emissions Directive)
• Evaluation of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive: assessment of the effectiveness of
  recovery and removal of micro-plastics:
  - Read the Staff Working Document on the Evaluation of the Urban Waste Water Treatment
  Directive
  - Executive summary of the Evaluation (EN) - Stakeholder synopsis report (EN)
  A.3. Plastics: Guidelines for investments and research in the circular economy
  a. EU initiatives to promote investment and innovation in the value chain
  • Commission guidelines on the eco-modulation of the EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) tariffs. Report from BioByDeloitte (2014). The EU Commission announced to prepare guidelines.
  • Recommendations of the financial support platform for the circular economy. European Investment Bank set-up the Platform.
  • Review of the feasibility of an investment fund with private capital to finance investments in innovative solutions and new technologies, aimed at reducing the environmental impact of plastic production. See EIB financial instruments.
  • Direct EU financial support for research and innovation through EU Funding Programmes (eg Structural Funds and LIFE, Horizon Europe, etc.)
  • Impact on the life cycle of alternative raw materials for plastic production (started)
  • Development of a strategic agenda for plastic research innovation to guide future
    financing decisions (part of the "plastic in a circular economy" EU strategy )
    A.4. Global action
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a. Targeted regional actions

• Reduction of plastic waste and marine litter in East and Southeast Asia, to make plastic consumption and production sustainable, to promote a waste hierarchy motion and to extend producer responsibility, and to improve the recovery of fishing gear (from 2018)
• Examination of options available for specific actions aimed at reducing plastic pollution in the Mediterranean, in support of the implementation of the Barcelona Convention (Switch Mediterranean)
• Cooperation on the prevention of plastic waste in the main world river basins (Switch Africa, Switch Asia, Switch Mediterranean)
  b. Actions to support multilateral plastic initiatives

• Renewing plastics and marine littering in forums such as the UN, the G7, the G20, the MARPOL Convention and regional maritime conventions, including the development of practical tools and specific actions on fisheries and aquaculture (ongoing )
• Support for actions under the Basel Convention, in particular for the implementation of environmentally harmful waste management tools
  c. Actions relating to bilateral cooperation with third countries

• Promotion of a circular economy of plastics in third countries through dialogue on trade, industrial and environmental policy, and economic diplomacy (ongoing)
• Use of bilateral EU policy funding for the regions, development, neighbourhood and enlargement to promote and support the EU plastics strategy, its management and the promotion of the circular economy; activation of programs and tools, including "Switch to Green" and the "External investment plan" (ongoing)

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F.
Recommendations for Member States and for industry
In 2018, the EuropeanCommission adopted the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy. This strategy is part of a wider plan to develop a circular economy and the comes from the 2015 Circular Economy Action Plan which identified plastics as a priority area. This included
proposals to modernise EU waste legislation which were agreed in December 2017.
The following is the agenda of the initiatives that the Commission had proposed to implement. Some of these are already realities, others are in progress. The value of the following list is to make clear the project that the EU wants to implement to reduce the impact of plastics, so that public and private stakeholders are ready for future challenges.
A.1. Key measures to improve the economy and the quality of plastic recycling
- National favourite reusable and recycled plastic in public procurement

• make better use of taxation and other economic instruments to reward the adoption of recycled plastics and encourage reuse and recycling with respect to landfilling and incineration, and to intensify the separate collection of plastic waste and improve the way in which this is done (a public initiative is ongoing)
• implement well-designed EPR schemes and / or deposit systems in consultation with the relevant sectors
• undertake voluntary commitments to support the objectives of the EU strategy, in particular with regard to the adoption of recycled plastics
  - Industry is encouraged to:

• take concrete steps to improve dialogue and cooperation throughout the value chain, in particular for the material and product design aspects
• undertake voluntary commitments to support the EU strategy objective, in particular with regard to the use of recycled plastic
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A.2. Key measures to contain plastic waste and waste
- National and regional authorities are encouraged to:

• increase awareness of dispersion and introduce fines, where they do not already exist; promote beach cleaning
• intensify the collection of waste, particularly close to the coasts, and improve coordination between the authorities responsible for waste management, water and the marine environment
• intensify efforts to eradicate illegal and non-compliant landfills
• develop national monitoring of marine litter on the basis of harmonised methods at EU
  level
• engage in regional maritime agreements, in particular to develop regional plans against
  marine litter
• consider the introduction of the EPR, in particular to provide incentives for the collection
  of waste fishing gear and recycling of agricultural plastics
• consider introducing deposit reimbursement systems, particularly for beverage
  containers
  - Industry is encouraged to:

• promote existing alternatives to single-use plastic items (eg in catering and take-away), where these are more environmentally beneficial
• pursue and implement inter-industrial agreements to reduce the release of micro-plastics into the environment
• put in place measures to prevent the release of plastic pellets
  A.3. Measures to guide investments and innovation towards circular solutions
  - National and regional authorities are encouraged to:

• make better use of economic instruments, in particular to increase the costs of landfilling and incineration and to promote recycling and prevention of plastic waste
• make greater use of public procurement and funding to support the prevention and recycling of plastic plastics waste
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- Industry is encouraged to:

• increase R & D infrastructure and investment in areas of direct relevance for the achievement of the EU strategy
• to help work towards the creation of a private investment fund to offset the environmental externalities of plastic production
  A.4. Key measures to exploit global action
  - National and regional authorities are encouraged to:

-

• engage in international forums to develop a global response to the increase in marine litter
• adopt national measures to reduce the loss of plastics in the environment, avoid plastic waste and increase recycling
  Industry is encouraged to:
  • To play an active role in supporting an integrated and cross-border circular plastic economy, including through the development of a global plastics protocol

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G. EU financial aid to support the Plastic Strategy
To achieve most of the objectives outlined in the Plastics Strategy, it will require research and innovation in different sectors and, consequently, important additional investments.
Many EU funds and financial mechanisms support research and innovation activities, as well as companies for a transition from plastics to more recyclable solutions. Help is also aimed at Member States in their efforts to upgrade their existing waste management infrastructure. IIn 2017 the European Commission set up the Circular Economy Finance Support Platform, to enhance the link between existing instruments and potentially develop new financial instruments for circular economy projects. The Platform brings together the Commission, the EIB, National Promotional Banks, institutional investors and other stakeholders, and is supported by an expert group for advice.
EU funding programmes
- Horizon Europe
This is the EU Research and Innovation programme (2021-2027), with a budget of €95.5 billion. This Program was preceded by Horizon 2020 (2014-2020). Horizon 2020 provided nearly € 350 million to fund research and development in areas of direct relevance to the strategy.
- Regional policy support for the circular economy
With a global budget of €392 billion for 2021-2027, some investments will contribute to: more recycling, improved waste management, resource and energy efficiency, strengthening the bio- economy, novel solutions in product design, new business models and the creation of green jobs.
- LIFE programme
The programme 2021-2027 has a budget of €5.4 billion. The LIFE programme is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action created in 1992.
LIFE Programme has four sub-programmes:
▪ Nature and biodiversity
▪ Circular economy and quality of life
▪ Climate change mitigation and adaptation
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▪ Clean energy transition
- Single Market Programme (SMP)
This is a program for 2021-2027 with a budget of €4.2 billion to strengthen the European Internal Market, the largest market in the world, where people, goods, services and money can move almost as freely as within a single country. The aim of the program is to empower and protect consumers and enable Europe's many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to thrive.
The objectives of the SMP are to:
• Maintain a high level of food safety;
• Give even higher protection to consumers;
• Boost the competitiveness of businesses, in particular SMEs;
• Improve the governance of the Single Market and compliance with rules; • Produce and disseminate high-quality statistics;
• Develop effective European standards.
- SWITCH Regional Programmes
In cooperation with UN and regional Partners, the EU promotes many projects through the following programmes: Switch Africa, Switch Asia, Switch Mediterranean. Circular economy and plastics are activities promoted by these initiatives.
EU financing support
- European Investment Bank (EIB)
The EIB Group Climate Bank Roadmap 2021-2025 outlines the goals which will enable climate finance to support the European Green Deal.
The EIB Group has two parts:
• the European Investment Bank
• the European Investment Fund (EIF) that specialises in finance for small businesses and mid-caps The EIB contributes to the circular economy by providing financing, advisory support and knowledge sharing and provides finance to circular economy projects/promoters, including those with a higher risk profile:
• EIB and the circular economy
• EIB Circular economy overview 2021
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• Joint Initiative on Circular Economy
All EIB This support is channeled through an Advisory Center. There is an Hub designed to serve as a single point of access to a comprehensive offering of consulting and technical assistance services. It aims to provide targeted support to identify, prepare and develop investment projects across the European Union. Goto the Hub.
In order to facilitate and support financial need of the transition to the circular economy (plastic included), the EU Commission created an Expert Group consisting of representatives of the Commission, the European Investment Bank, national financial advisors, member countries and stakeholders to facilitate and support financial needs of the circular economy. You can get in touch with Expert Group through this address: [email protected].
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H.
EU legislation on plastics mentioned in this eDossier
For Directives, Regulations and Decisions we provide the latest consolidated version as of the date of this eDossier.
Packaging and Packaging Waste

1. Identification system for packaging materials - Decision 97/129/EC
2. Material in contact with food - Regulation 1935/2004
3. Implementation of the Food Contact Materials Regulation - EP Resolution P8_TA(2016)0384
4. Plastics in contact with food - Regulation 10/2011 and Commission guidelines -: Guideline 1
   and Guideline 2
5. Best manufacturing practices of materials and objects intended to come into contact with food
   products - Regulation 2023/2006
6. Packaging and packaging waste - Directive 94/62/CE
7. Methodology for the calculation of the annual consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags -
   Decision (2018) 896
8. Formats relating to the database system pursuant to Directive 94/62/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on packaging and packaging waste - Commission Decision 2005/270/EC

Marine equipment

1. Marine equipment - Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1158
2. Marine equipment - Directive 2014/90/EU

Marine littering

1. Impact assessment of marine littering (Part 1 Part 2 Part 3) and public consultation (here the results)
2. A path towards a healthier planet for all EU - Action plan: Towards zero air pollution, the water and soil” - Communication COM (2021) 400
3. Port reception facilities for the delivery of waste from ships - Directive (EU) 2019/883
4. Marine Strategy Framework Directive - Directive 2008/56/EC
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Waste

1. Notification of the quantities of ultra-light plastic bags produced annually, defining the calculation criteria of Waste - Directive 2008/98/EC
2. Read the eBriefing 2024-1-129-EN on EU Waste Directive
3. Interpretative Communication of the European Commission on waste and by-products COM
   (2007) 59 fin.
4. Green Paper "A European strategy for plastic waste in the environment" COM (2013) 0123 fin.
5. Reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment Directive (EU) 2019/904
6. Waste of metal scrap - Regulation 333/2011
7. Waste of glass - Regulation 1117/2012
8. Waste of copper - Regulation 715/2013
9. Fertilizer Regulation (EU) 2019/1009

Reduction of single-use plastic

1. Single-use plastic Directive (EU) 2019/904
2. Proposal for a Directive on Single-use plastic COM(2018) 340 fin + Annex and Implementation
   plan EN

Plastic trade

1. Trade in plastic waste is regulated - Regulation (EC) 1013/2006
2. Shipment of waste - Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/2174
3. Port reception facilities for the delivery of waste from ships - Directive (EU) 2019/883
4. Control of waste transport - Regulation (EC) 1013/2006
5. Plastics prohibited for import - Regulation (EC) 2007/1418
6. Shipments of waste: correlation table between the codes of the relevant nomenclature
   Regulation (EU) 2016/1245

Plastic Tax

1. Tax on non-recycled plastic - Decision (EU, EURATOM) 2020/2053
2. Calculation of the own resource based on plastic packaging waste that is not recycled -
   Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2021/770
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Hazardous waste legislation
1. Classification of hazardous waste - Decision 2000/532/EC Circular Economy & Recycling

1. EU plan for the Circular Economy, COM (2015) 614 f.
2. Implementation of the Circular Economy Action Plan - Communication COM (2017) 33 fin. +
   corrigendum
3. European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy, COM(2018) 28 f. + Annex
4. A new Circular Economy Action Plan for a cleaner and more competitive Europe COM(2020) 98
   f. and annex
5. Action Plan on Circular Economy
6. Accelerating the transition to the circular economy: Improving access to finance for circular
   economy projects” (here the Report)
7. EP Resolution on Plastic in a circular economy P8_TA(2018)0352
8. Construction Products Regulation (CPR) - Regulation (EU) No 305/2011
9. End-of-Life Vehicles Directive - Directive 2000/53/EC

Design of Plastics

1. Design of plastic: Interaction between chemical law, products and waste - COM (2018) 32 + SWD (2018) 20.
2. Reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment ("single-use Plastics")
   Directive (EU) 2019/904
3. Ecodesign requirements for energy-related products - Directive 2009/125/EC (possible revision
   to include plastics)

Compostable, Biodegradable and Oxo-Plastics

1. Reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment - Directive (EU) 2019/904
2. Directive on Plastic bags - Directive (EU) 2015/720
3. Impact of oxo-plastics Report - COM (2018) 35 fin
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I. EU Legislation on Plastics in force and latest legislation activity
To check the latest EU legislation and Court cases on Plastics: CLICK HERE (for subscribers ony) Click here to subscribe this dossier.
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