EU’s plastics strategy doesn’t include plastic tax

POLITICO's draft on the European Commission's plastic strategy did not mention the plastic tax proposed by the budget committee GüntherOettinger last week.

This strategy aims to develop general rules on biodegradable plastics and compostable plastics and to limit the use of oxygenated plastics that should be biodegradable plastics. Micro plastic in the product

This strategy also requires the committee to propose legislation proposals for disposable plastic products (such as coffee cups) by 2018, based on the results of ongoing public consultations.

The EU Executive Board plans to resume waste packaging agreed in December and recommends that all plastic packaging be recycled and recycled by 2030.

The committee also plans to propose plastic waste quality standards later this year. Currently, only 5% of plastic packaging is recycled. The committee stated that the rest of the annual value is about 100 billion euros

The draft strategy does not include the voluntary commitment of Plastics Europe (trade association). Though these measures will be announced at a later date, we did not participate in a strategic document indicating that industry proposals were not approved by the committee.

A committee official said, "At the moment we know too many things to support industry commitment." "But according to their ambition, eliminating the possibility of supporting in the future is There is not it. "

This article is part of POLITICO's new sustainability report, including circulation economy, air and water pollution, nature conservation and chemicals, and Sustainability Insights newsletter every Monday afternoon. For more information please send an e-mail to pro @ politico.eu

Earlier this year, the European Union (EU) launched Europe's first plastic strategy in the circulatory economy with the aim of changing the way of designing, using, manufacturing and recycling plastic products in the EU. Better plastic product design, higher plastic waste recycling rate, and higher quality recycling will help large companies handle more environmentally friendly plastics. As you can imagine, the battle to increase sustainability starts with a travel agency that is more relevant to nature-oriented customers. For example, within a few weeks, Alaska Airlines will become the first airline in the US to ban the use of straw on that flight. In 2017 alone, the airline distributed 22 million plastic straws - huge plastic

Earlier this year, European Budget Human Resources Committee Mr. Ettinger announced "Plastic Tax". The plastic strategy announced shortly thereafter indicates that the feasibility of the plan has not been evaluated yet. The proposal submitted yesterday did not mention the European plastic tax. This proposal completely ignores this and does not lead to the reduction of the use of plastic and the processing of plastic soup. The focus on reducing plastic has changed from production to recycling. Plastic manufacturers can simply continue to make it. Who will pay for the plastic? Taxpayers, not producers, are responsible for this plastic. In addition, the packaging is only 40% of the total plastic

Policy: In January 2018, the European Commission adopted the first European plastic recycling economic strategy. This program aims to eliminate plastic contamination, mainly plastic bags and other disposable plastics and fishery materials, and to change the method of manufacturing and consumption of plastics in the EU. The program also aims to increase recycling economy by employing companies and producers to create employment and investing in technological innovation. Impact: The European Commission plans to begin introducing regulations and measures, including regulatory recommendations on disposable plastics, packaging waste, and port waste management, to the European Parliament from 2018 to the end of 2019. "Plasticity strategies in a recycling economy" will play an important role in the EU's 2030 sustainable development goals and commitment to the Paris agreement. By 2030, all plastic packaging manufactured and sold in Europe should be reusable or recyclable.