To counter the problem of environmental pollution, the EU recently released a recycled plastic packaging plan. According to the plan, the European Union will terminate the use of plastic products including a one-time coffee cup by 2030. The European Commission said it hoped to improve the recycling rate of plastic packaging and ensure that all plastic packaging before 2030 could be recycled or reused. In addition, the EU hopes to create new business opportunities through the plan.
Meanwhile, the EU will develop new measures to improve the recyclability of plastic products used on the market, increase the use of recycled plastic components, and improve the mechanism of plastic recycling, and establish a more advanced and standardized garbage sorting collection system. Because plastic particles can enter the body through air, water and food, the plan also includes measures to limit the use of plastic particles in cosmetics and detergents.
Statistics show that, around the world, 85% of the beach garbage is plastic waste. As a result, the measures published in the EU also include cleaning up 700 kilograms of plastic waste that has been washed ashore. At the same time, the European Union also plans to reduce the production of marine wastes from the source, and formulate new rules for port and shipping industry, so as to ensure that the garbage produced by ships on the sea will not be discharged into the sea, but will be transported back to the land and properly disposed.
The European Commission will provide guidance for member governments and European enterprises on how to minimize the waste of plastics at the source, and support relevant technological innovation. The EU said that on the existing financial support, the European Union will also provide an additional 100 million euros of funds for developing more recyclable plastic materials by 2020, improving the recycling process, tracking and clearing harmful substances and pollutants in recycled plastics.
The reason for the plan is that the European Union has said that the massive use of plastic packaging has made an astonishing waste in Europe, while plastic wastes are often difficult to decompose, which brings serious environmental problems. The European Commission points out that only 5% of the economic value of plastic packaging materials can be retained in economic activities, and the remaining 95% will disappear after the first use. 70 billion to 105 billion euros are wasted every year in Europe. In addition, the EU produces about 25 million tons of plastic waste each year, but the recovery rate is less than 30%. Non recyclable plastic waste takes hundreds of years to break down. The European Union, as a single commodity market, has the responsibility to participate in the solution of these problems.
"The EU also hopes to be able to help the economy in the region gradually change to the circular economy." Jyrki Katenin, the vice president of the European Commission responsible for employment, growth, investment and competitiveness, said that the plan can also protect European environment from plastic pollution, and promote EU economic growth and technological innovation. By changing the way of design, production, use and recycling of plastic products, new investment and employment plans can be generated, so as to boost the growth of EU's economy. Under the plan, the EU will do well in recycling business, curb plastic waste, stop littering at sea, promote investment and innovation, and stimulate global change.
Katenin believes that the plan is a "good opportunity for European industry to build a global lead in new technologies and materials". He added that, without a complete set of standards, there is not a special plastic recycling market in Europe, so the establishment of the market is a top priority.
According to the statistics of the European plastics manufacturers association, the output value of the EU plastics industry was up to 340 billion euros in 2015, with more than 1 million 500 thousand people employed. The EU plans to create 200 thousand new jobs in the plastic garbage sorting and recycling industry by 2030.
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