Circular Economy:Plastics

Werner Bosmans

DG Environment Rotterdam, 18 May 2017

Global plastic production

1200 million t

20502014

15 million t

314 million t

More plastic than fish in our oceans by 2050 ?

Production

Waste Management

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Global challenge

A new Europeanplastic industry

Objectives

• Decouple plastic production from virgin fossil fuel

• Exploit the full potential of plastic reuse, recycling

and uptake of recyclates

• Reduce plastic leakage in the environment

1. Decoupling from fossil feedstock

> 90% from virgin material

Raw material is cheap

By 2050:

15% of global GHG

Options

Alternative feedstock: mechanical & chemical recycling,biomass, CO2?

Conduct a LCA of the use of alternative feedstock

Innovation and research

• 25 mln T of plastic waste (2014, EU)

o 30% recycled

o 39% incinerated

o 31% landfilled

• Plastic packaging: 40%

2. Increasing reuse and recycling

=> too valuable to be burnt or landfilled

Options

• DESIGN for durability & recyclability

Study: reuse, recycling & marine litter

Product policies (GPP), EPR

? The role of consumers & marketing ?

• REUSE => fostering other business models

• Hazardous substances?

Interface waste, chemicals & product policy

Traceability

• Funding

R&D for (design of) reuse, sorting & recycling

Options (2)

• Legislation and incentives to support

o Better implementation by MS of existing waste legislation

to improve collection, sorting & recycling

Proposal waste legislation:

Separate collection of plastics,

Targets for recycling packaging: 55% in 2025

EPR – fee modulation

Options (3)

• Promote market for stable and safe supply of

high-quality recyclates

Standards: recycled plastics (quality)

& recycled content

Support industrial fora & platforms

Product policies, e.g. GPP

3. Leakage into the environment

• 5-13 mln T of plastic wasteend up in the oceans

• Cheap and disposable material:

single-use plastic products

• Microplastics (<5 mm) =threat to animal & human health

Options

• Marine litter: aspirational 30% reduction target in CEAP / SDGs

Monitoring and measures

Action on single use plastics – substitution?

• Reduce microplastics

Two studies on microplastics

1. Intentionally added to products (by Aug.)

2. Generated during the life cycle of products (by Nov.)

Options (2)

• Sustainability criteria for biodegradable plastics

Study: develop EU-harmonised criteria / standards for

biodegradability (composting) where appropriate

Assessing the use of

oxo-degradable plastics

• Clean up the oceans

• Consumers' awareness

Imagining the plastics of the future:

Linear plastic is out - Circular is IN

A global challenge with a business case for Europe

Key role for innovation and investment

If Europe can do this right, the world will follow us

Publication of Plastics Strategy by end 2017

refuse share

recyclesortreturn & collect

reuse

Thank you

Werner.Bosmans@ec.europa.eu