In Strasbourg on Wednesday 24 October, the European Parliament took position, by an overwhelming majority (571 votes to 53 and 34 abstentions), in favour of high ambitions to allow the EU to drastically reduce the pollution of the oceans by disposable plastic products, whilst leaving the member states flexibility as to the means of action.
It took position in droves in favour of banning some ten single-use plastic products – most frequently found washed up on beaches – by 2021, but also national targets to reduce consumption and increase recycling of these plastics. Increased producer responsibility to pay for rubbish collection and the cleaning of beaches and public awareness campaigns complete the strategy voted through in plenary.
With its vote, a large EP majority supported almost all of the amendments voted through by the committee on the environment on the proposed directive aiming to limit the consumption of single-usage plastics in the EU, in the interests of public health and the environment, innovation and competitiveness of European industry (see EUROPE 12121, 12114).
“This is a very good result, almost unhoped for. I am absolutely delighted”, said Frédérique Ries (ALDE, Belgium), rapporteur. Like most of the MEPs, she sees it as a potential victory for the planet. “Disposable means avoidable. If alternatives are available and affordable, we should get banning! Collection targets have been set in place for fishing engines. Producers need to put their hands in their pockets for collection and cleaning”. Ries has been given a mandate to open negotiations with the Council. The first trilogue meeting is scheduled for 6 November, she announced.
According to the EP, plastic plates, cutlery, cotton buds, straws, rods for balloons, drinks stirrers and oxo-degradable plastics (abusively labelled biodegradable, even though they fragment into microparticles that do not degrade) and expanded polystyrene food packaging (frigolite) should be banned.
For other products, such as drinking glasses and food containers, the member states must reduce their use by 25% up to 2025. 90% of plastic bottles should be collected by 2025. An amendment voted through gives producers of soda and fizzy drinks two years to find a solution to respond to the requirement to attach corks and links to the container.
There were two disappointments to temper the rapporteur's joy. One amendment to ban ultra-light bags (of less than 50 µm) used for fruit and vegetables and for pharmacy drugs was defeated. As for cigarette filters, these will have to be collected, but no numerical reduction in them made it through to the text voted upon.
The MEPs also referred to the Commission's definition of single-usage plastic products – an unspecific definition that producers could use to evade their obligations, as NGOs fear (see EUROPE 12119). Ries assured the press that she was fighting to make changes in the negotiations with the Council, in order to “pin down a positive definition that would block producers' attempts to label their product as reusable when it is in fact disposable”.
During the debate, the Commissioner for the Environment, Karmenu Vella, welcomed the MEPs' enthusiasm and referred to the support of all member states for the legislative proposal, with some of them having already begun to impose restrictions on certain products, such as straws.
In response to concerns expressed by the shadow rapporteur, Germany's Karl-Heinz Florenz (EPP), he said that he understood that businesses need a level playing field, clarity, legal security and possibilities to develop new markets for alternative materials.
“The aim is to create innovative markets and opportunities for alternative multiple-use products, but also to make items from other materials with less of a negative impact on the environment. And so there will be new business models. Tackling marine waste will help us to create economic opportunities for Europe”, he said. This proposal comes as part of the EU action plan for the circular economy. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)