As the debate on restricting microplastics intentionally added to products begins, the NGOs breakfreefromplastic (more than 1800 organizations) and Rethink Plastic Alliance reiterated on Thursday 14 November their full support for the approach initially adopted by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) and expressed concern that comments from industry are undermining the fundamental objective of the restriction rather than contributing to effectively addressing the issue of microplastic pollution.
In a letter to the European Environment Ministers and ECHA, these NGOs expressed on the same day their serious concerns about the “very broad and problematic derogations regarding allegedly biodegradable microplastics and unduly long transitional periods” contained in ECHA's proposal, which aimed to “prevent over 400,000 tonnes of microplastics to be added to the environment (and to our food and water)”.
They therefore call on the Commission and the Member States to address these concerns and move the restriction process forward without delay or derogation.
They recall that once released into the environment, microplastics are virtually impossible to remove and should therefore be present in the environment for hundreds or even thousands of years, with serious and well known effects on the environment. The scientific data collected by ECHA in the report supporting the need for a restriction are unequivocal: microplastics pose a serious risk to the environment and are a source of pollution that is currently beyond control.
“The restriction proposal is a big step forward. But if passed as it stands, this plan would seriously jeopardise the EU’s reputation as a leader in the fight against plastic pollution. It is a matter of urgency that these unjustifiable loopholes are closed, and that the restrictions are applied to all intentional microplastics in a concise timeframe”, comments Delphine Légi Alvarès, coordinator of the breakfreefromplastic movement and Rethink Plastic Alliance. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)