The European Commission has published guidelines to facilitate the uniform application of the new rules under the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation across the EU and to simplify compliance for economic operators and Member States. The full implementation of this Regulation will contribute to a more sustainable and competitive packaging sector across the EU and […]
EU-funded project shows unprecedented rise in ocean plastic
Researchers are equipping policymakers with valuable data to help shape future ocean plastic pollution policy interventions. Their global analysis shows an unprecedented rise in ocean plastic since 2005. Have you ever wondered exactly how much plastic pollution has accumulated on the surface of our oceans around the world? A new study partly supported by the […]
EU addresses local plastics challenges through pilot scheme in Colombia
Colombia is ranked among the top 20 most polluting rivers in the world, due to the high levels of plastic material in the Amazon and Magdalena rivers. The latter is affected by its proximity to major cities such as Bogotá and Medellín, and its highly interconnected water basin. This is why the European Union, in […]
The Commission is proposing new EU-wide rules on packaging
The Commission is proposing new EU-wide rules on packaging, to tackle this constantly growing source of waste and of consumer frustration. On average, each European generates almost 180 kg of packaging waste per year. Packaging is one of the main users of virgin materials as 40% of plastics and 50% of paper used in […]
The European Union and the Municipality of Vicente López organised a new day of cleaning up the banks of the Río de la Plata
Through its global campaign #EUBeachCleanup, the European Union carries out every September a series of awareness-raising and ocean activism actions worldwide. For the fifth time in Argentina, it took place on Saturday 24 and more than 2,250 kilos of waste was collected, mostly plastics and microplastics, thanks to the collaboration of 300 volunteers. In the […]
Is a cow’s stomach the answer to breaking down hard-to-recycle plastic?
There’s no questioning whether plastic is an important material in our daily lives. However, European citizens generate about 25 million tonnes of plastic waste, but under 30 % is collected for recycling. Plastic waste is mostly burned, so more eco-friendly processes are being sought. The waste is having serious negative effects on our health and […]
COVID-19 in Europe: increased pollution from masks, gloves and other single-use plastics
The coronavirus pandemic has challenged European societies in many ways. The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) briefing, published yesterday, analyses the pandemic’s effect on the use of certain single-use plastics products, which cause greenhouse gas and other emissions and can end up littering the environment. It also brings useful lessons to improve our response to future […]
Plastics, a growing environmental and climate concern: how can Europe revert that trend?
The ever-increasing amount of plastic, its impact on biodiversity and contribution to climate change, and how to deal with it in a circular economy perspective have been on the European Union’s policy agenda for years. The COVID-19 pandemic has only increased the attention for plastic waste with images of masks in our seas, and large […]
UAL coordinates a biotechnology project against agricultural plastic waste
RECOVER is an H2020 project – in which 7 countries are participating – in which microorganisms, new enzymes, worms and insects are applied in a combined way, which will collaborate, not only in the elimination of plastics, but also in their transformation into new products for agricultural and food packaging use. With the aim of […]