Global Plastics Bans and Regulations

In March, the United Nations made a big move to tackle plastic pollution by passing a historic resolution. This resolution got a lot of support from member countries, setting the stage for a global plastics treaty. The first round of negotiations is now happening in Uruguay and will continue until December 2.

According to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), over 60 countries have already started to ban or tax plastic packaging and single-use plastics. In their latest report, “The Plastics Landscape,” PRI pointed out that while there aren’t any specific policies targeting the initial production of plastics yet, companies that produce the raw materials for plastics (like oil and gas companies) might still be impacted. This is because new policies are focusing on increasing plastic recycling and cutting down on fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions.

The spotlight on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is getting brighter, especially with California’s new single-use plastic law that kicked in this summer. The UN has announced plans to create a global agreement on plastic pollution by 2024, highlighting that plastic production has skyrocketed to 400 million tons a year and is expected to double by 2040. According to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), EPR policies are already in place in the U.S., Canada, and the European Union, and more are likely to follow in places like India.

The UN’s resolution, passed on March 2, emphasized the need for sustainable product design. This means making products that can be reused, remanufactured, or recycled to stay in the economy longer and cut down on waste, which helps promote sustainable plastic use.

At the K 2022 event in Düsseldorf, Germany, experts shared their hopes for the global plastics treaty talks organized by Plastics Europe. Nicholas Kolesch, Vice President of Projects at the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, pointed out that recycling standards should be tackled on a global scale. Since waste management is usually handled at the local level, Kolesch hopes to see more standardization in collection practices to clear up confusion and improve recycling efforts.

Notable efforts

Here’s a rundown of some important new plastics regulations from this year and those coming soon:

• UK Packaging Tax: Starting in April 2022, any plastic packaging with less than 30% recycled content will face a £200 charge per ton.
• India’s Plastic Packaging Rules: New regulations are in place to cut down on single-use plastics (SUP). With about 40% of plastic waste uncollected, these rules include banning certain materials and products and setting up nationwide task forces to ensure companies and businesses follow the guidelines.
• China’s Plastic Pollution Measures: By 2025, China plans to phase out non-degradable plastic bags, disposable plastic tableware, and single-use plastic items in the hospitality sector.
• Australia’s Packaging Covenant Organization (APCO): With over 2,000 members, APCO aims for four key goals by 2025: making all packaging reusable, recyclable, or compostable; recycling or composting 70% of plastic packaging; including 50% recycled content in packaging; and phasing out problematic single-use plastics.

APCO will release its annual report on consumption and recovery in December, detailing industry progress. They’re also reviewing targets to find ways to improve sustainable design, collection, recycling, and reprocessing.

Australia is taking a leading role in global efforts to end plastic pollution, recently joining the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution by 2040, collaborating with other forward-thinking countries.

According to a UN Environment report, different regions are taking various approaches to plastic bag regulation. In Africa, 25 countries have banned plastic bags—the highest number of any continent—with many of these bans introduced between 2014 and 2017. Similar measures, combining bans and economic penalties, are also being rolled out across Asia, Central and South America, Europe, North America, and Oceania.

Production vs. peril

According to Plastics Europe’s report, “Plastics — the Facts 2022,” global plastic production bounced back after the COVID-19 pandemic, rising by 4% to over 390 million tons in 2021. China’s share of production grew to 32% in 2021, while Europe’s share dropped from 19% to 15%. Here’s how the market shares break down:

• North America: 18% (unchanged)
• Latin America: 4% (unchanged)
• Middle East and Africa: 8% (up from 7%)
• Japan: 3% (down from 4%)
• Rest of Asia: 17% (unchanged)
• CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States, including Russia and Ukraine): 3% (up from 2%)

The plastics industry is working hard to balance its production and profit goals with growing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) demands.

Virginia Janssens, Managing Director of Plastics Europe, noted in the report, “The European plastics manufacturing industry is going through a major transition. Every week, I see our member companies investing heavily in capital, time, energy, and creativity to meet our 2050 net zero and circularity goals.”

She added, “Our members are making significant investments and reorganizing their production and technology to address challenges like plastic waste and climate change while continuing to deliver the benefits of plastics to consumers and society.”

The report also highlighted that using post-consumer recycled (PCR) content is crucial for sustainability. In 2021, Europe used 9.9% PCR in new products, up from 7.2% in 2018 and 8.5% in 2020.

Also Read: Plastic Manufacturing: Challenges and Opportunities

Recycling rates exceed 40% in four EU countries

Four countries—Netherlands, Norway, Germany, and Spain—have managed to recycle more than 40% of their plastic waste. The report also found that recycling rates are 13 times higher when plastics are collected separately, rather than mixed with other waste.

Janssens emphasized that reaching net zero by 2050 will require “faster systemic change and more intense collaboration between all parts of the European plastics system and policymakers.” She added that we need a new policy framework that encourages investment and innovation by creating a competitive environment for a circular economy in plastics.

Andrés del Castillo, senior attorney at the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL), supports a comprehensive approach. He said, “Seeing the plastics crisis only as a waste issue doesn’t capture the full problem. We need to consider the entire lifecycle of plastics, from extraction to production, use, and disposal.”

Regarding the UN resolution on plastic waste, he explained that the goal is to negotiate a treaty by the end of 2024, with a vote expected in early 2025. The process includes five meetings of an intergovernmental negotiating committee (INC), with the first meeting (INC-1) taking place from November 28 to December 2 in Punta del Este, Uruguay.

“The resolution sets the stage for creating an ambitious treaty that addresses the entire lifecycle of plastics, not just waste,” del Castillo noted.

CIEL has reviewed submissions from 44 countries and the European Union ahead of INC-1. The review highlights that nations are not only concerned about plastic products but also the materials themselves. The proposed treaty should include a general ban on single-use plastics, with specific exemptions for certain items or sectors, and set different deadlines for adaptation.

Del Castillo also warned that while plastics manufacturers often partner with governments to reduce plastic pollution, these efforts should be scrutinized. Many of these programs focus on recycling, but, as a Greenpeace report points out, most plastics are not actually recyclable. Additionally, these same companies frequently oppose bans on single-use plastics and other policies aimed at reducing plastic production. “Such efforts should be seen for what they are—greenwashing,” he said.