Important step to prevent the unintentional release of plastic pellets
According to estimates by the European Commission, 50,000 to 180,000 tonnes of plastic pellets are accidentally released into the environment every year, for example during loading or unloading operations or due to leaky containers. The escaped pellets are spread throughout the environment by wind or rain, for example. This can harm human health and the environment. The EU Member States today adopted their common position (called a general approach) on the European Commission’s proposal. The aim is to prevent and reduce in future the unintentional release of plastic pellets into the environment during production, transport and processing. The draft regulation stipulates measures for economic operators involved in these stages of the supply chain.
Federal Environment Minister Steffi Lemke: "Microplastics are one of the key challenges of global plastic pollution. Once they enter the environment, they remain in rivers, seas and soils virtually forever. Far too often, microplastics make their way from farmland into our crops and ultimately into our food. We must put an end to this plastic pollution. Germany is working to achieve a binding global UN plastics agreement that is as comprehensive as possible. At the same time, we are making progress at EU level: with the Plastic Pellet Regulation, we aim to finally eliminate a key source of microplastics in the environment. It is important to me that we shape the regulation with an eye to the bigger picture: new requirements do not necessarily have to lead to more red tape for companies and more work for authorities. We need a viable, practical and reliable legal basis in the EU."
The EU aims to reduce microplastic releases into the environment by 30 percent by 2030. This target is also set in the European Green Deal. Microplastics can enter the environment when microplastic particles are deliberately added to products or as a result of unintentional releases, for example from plastic pellets. When microplastics enter the air, water, soil and food chain, ecosystems are damaged, biodiversity is threatened and, in some cases, human health is also at risk. Plastic pellets are often unintentionally released by poor handling practices, meaning this can largely be prevented.
In October 2023, the European Commission presented a proposal for a regulation to reduce environmental pollution caused by the unintentional release of plastic pellets. The aim is to prevent, contain and address spills and losses of plastic pellets caused by current handling practices. Plastic pellets are the third largest source of unintentional microplastic releases into the environment. The European Commission expects the proposal to make a significant contribution to achieving the European reduction target.
The draft regulation includes the development of a standardised method for measuring plastic pellet losses and its mandatory use throughout the EU. The proposed regulation also includes binding technical, organisational and other requirements for the prevention and containment of plastic pellet losses and the immediate clean-up of any plastic pellets that have been released. The Regulation also requires medium and large companies to be certified.
The Council has made changes to the Commission’s original proposal. For example, some definitions have been modified, requirements have been added for sea-going vessels in EU ports and the Member States are allowed to ensure compliance through established national permit systems. In the upcoming trilogues, Germany is seeking to further improve the efficiency of the requirements and has made an official statement to that effect.
The general approach agreed today provides the Council with a basis for the upcoming negotiations with the European Parliament and the European Commission as part of the trilogues. An agreement between the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council is expected within the next six months.