Regulation on Plastic Pellets to Reduce Losses
The European Parliament is set to undertake a second reading of a regulation aimed at reducing plastic pellet losses across the supply chain.
Organizations such as the Rethink Plastic Alliance have praised the regulation's goal, but have questioned its slow implementation and exemptions for SMEs.
The European Commission states that plastic pellet losses to the environment are the third most prominent source of unintentional microplastic releases in the European Union.
The Commission attributes these losses to 'poor handling practices' at every stage in the plastics supply chain, making it 'almost impossible' to retrieve the tiny plastics once they have leaked into the environment.
- The regulation will apply to economic operators that have handled over five tonnes of plastic pellets in the EU in the previous calendar year.
- Exemptions will be made for SMEs.
Author's summary: EU regulation aims to reduce plastic pellet losses.