Abstract
European Commission is strongly committed into issues related to plastic materials production and plastic waste management. While the Circular Economy Package has set targets generally referred to recycling rates, the European Strategy for plastics in a circular economy (and related action plan), fosters sustainability along the entire plastic value chain: from primary producers to converters, brand owners and retailers to waste collectors and recyclers. The Directive on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (more commonly known as Directive on Single-Use-Plastics, waiting for publication in the Official Journal of the European Union) rules targets on ten plastic products most often found as littering on global beaches, directly affecting plastic industry and, consequently, market. Policy makers and industrial stakeholders are called upon to collaborate. The article aims to illustrate interactions between European Commission and all plastic value chain stakeholders on implementing measures to reach ambitious targets pursued by the recent European policy. The study shows how European Commission has robustly worked to regulate production and consumption patterns on plastic carrier bags and packaging (including food packaging) thus facilitating the achievement of specific targets provided by the recent Directive. However, additional provisions concerning market restriction have been introduced; industrial stakeholders carried on a prompt response by promoting the creation of alliances, join venture and association, as well as a more integrated plastic value chain. On the base of this purpose, a virtuous example of a closed supply chain is presented.
Highlights
The awareness on the impact of certain production and consumption systems in the environment has globally stimulated interest into the re-design of products, processes and services, pursuing raw materials sustainable utilization, waste reduction and sustainable patterns
The article aims to illustrate interactions between European Commission and all plastic value chain stakeholders on implementing measures to reach ambitious targets pursued by the recent European policy
A positive feedback on SUPs Directive has been received from 65 industrial stakeholders that, participating to the European campaign related to the Plastic Strategy, have submitted voluntary pledges to reach targets about having 10 metric tons (Mt) of recycled plastics in a closed loop system by 2025
Summary
The awareness on the impact of certain production and consumption systems in the environment has globally stimulated interest into the re-design of products, processes and services, pursuing raw materials sustainable utilization, waste reduction and sustainable patterns. The value and material maintenance in products and waste is stimulated by circular economy models (Di Maio and Rem 2015) Within this context, plastics represent a key material. In accordance with global context, waste generation has seen an intensification in Europe1 : 27.1 Mt of post-consumer plastic waste was collected in 2016; less than 31.1% of collected plastic waste was recycled in 2016, while landfilling and incineration rates of plastic waste remained relatively high, respectively about 27.3% and 41.6% (PlasticsEurope 2017). It follows that packaging industry become the cornerstone for a broader vision of sustainable plastic value chain. The paper would illustrate policy effort and packaging industry commitment towards the implementation of measures and the achievement of European targets in the plastic field
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