While the third wave of the pandemic continues to scourge most of the European Union countries and with the waste generated in the fight against Covid-19 at the highest levels (masks, disposable PPE suits, gloves, etc.), we should not lose sight of the fact that on June 3 of this year 2021 the deadline ends for the transposition of the EU Directive 2019/904 regarding the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment.
Due to the circumstances of the pandemic and the frequent delay by Spain in the transposition of European Directives, uncertainty remains as to whether before June 3 we will have the Directive adapted to Spanish regulations, which in any case will not prevent it from being applied. For this reason, it is advisable that all companies that use single-use plastics in their products indicated in the Directive begin to adapt, if they have not already done so.
The European strategy for plastics aims to establish a circular economy in which the design and production of plastics and plastic products respect the needs for reuse, repair, and recycling, and in which more sustainable materials are developed and promoted.
The Directive expressly recognizes that in the European Union, between 80% – 85% of marine litter, measured though beach counts, is plastic waste, of which single-use plastic items represent 50% and those related to fishing gear 27% of the total. Beverage bottles are one of the most common single-use plastic items found in marine litter.
The Directive obliges Member States to take the necessary measures to achieve an ambitious and sustained reduction in the consumption of certain single-use plastic products, including the following:
– Cups for beverages, including their covers and lids.
– Food containers used to contain food that is intended for immediate consumption (on-the-spot or take- away), which is typically consumed from the receptacle and is ready for consumption without any further preparation such as cooking, boiling or heating.
Unlike the previous criterion, the Directive obliges Member States to prohibit the placing on the market of certain single-use plastic products made from oxo-degradable plastic, among which the following stand out:
– Cotton bud sticks.
– Cutlery and plates.
– Beverage stirrers.
– The above-mentioned food containers but made of expanded polystyrene.
The Directive also introduces certain marking requirements on the packaging that provide information regarding the product’s waste management options and the presence of plastics in the product, which will be applicable, for example, for sanitary towels, tampons, wet wipes, tobacco products with filters and cups for beverages.
These are some examples of the content of the Plastics Directive. Our recommendation is that all companies that use single-use plastics in their products and packaging carry out a review in good time to check whether they are affected by the new criteria of the European Union and organize an orderly and planned transition to the new models to avoid emergencies or breaches in the near future.
