The European Union is ready to say goodbye to single-use plastics

The EU directive banning disposable plastic products in all member countries will come into force on 3 July

Plastic waste on a beach in County Cork, Ireland. The European Union is ready to say goodbye to single-use plastics. From 3 July, the European Sup (Single use plastic) directive will come into force, which will lead to the ban on the use of cutlery, plates, cotton buds, straws, cups, glasses and plastic packaging in all member countries. The provision, approved in 2019, aims to reduce the amount of plastic waste, especially in water, by at least 50% by 2025 and by 80% by 2030.

The directive will also affect the consumption of paper cups and cups that even have a single layer of plastic, for which there will be no prohibition but the obligation to reduce consumption. The Minister for Economic Development Giancarlo Giorgetti, in the Lega share, expressed his opinion on the latter provision, proposing a reservation on the entry into force of the directive for Italy. According to the minister, "sectors such as paper", reads Ansa, "do not seem so negative from an environmental point of view as that of plastics". In addition, he also called for a different timing in the exit from the production of products such as plates or paper cups, of which Italy is one of the largest consumers with about 20 million disposable cups used per day.

Confindustria president Carlo Bonomi, who expressed "strong concern" about the entry into force of the directive on plastics, was also in line with Giorgetti, reports Il Sole 24 Ore. The abandonment of single-use plastic products will be supported by the entry into force of the so-called plastic tax, which will affect the cost of these consumer goods. According to Ipsoa (Professional Institute of Business Organization), the tax credit should increase by 10%, but it may not be sufficient to compensate for the loss of turnover of the producers. For Bonomi, the rule could have negative consequences on the Italian manufacturing industry which, particularly in the Emilia-Romagna area, has numerous plastic packaging production plants. The Ipsoa therefore recommended the planning of economic support measures for producers, to support the reconversion of activities towards the production of environmentally friendly products. However, underlining how "the reduction of plastic pollution is an objective of primary importance and cannot be postponed".

Furthermore, Ipsos reports strong support from Italians to a strategy for a "plastic free" country. About 77% of respondents believe that companies are not doing enough for sustainability and the same percentage also believe that reducing emissions and environmental impact are the most important sectors on which corporate policies must focus. Furthermore, for 41%, packaging is the first sustainability factor on which a brand or product is evaluated and 53% said they buy goods made with recycled materials. The receipt of the directive could therefore lead to an increase in costs on some products for Italian consumers, but from the data reported it seems that most are ready to support them in order to make their contribution to safeguarding the environment.


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Topics

Environment Climate Europe pollution Plastic Waste globalData.fldTopic = "Environment, Climate, Europe, pollution , Plastic, Waste "

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