Rethink Plastic Alliance

Plastic Production: A critical climate concern for the EU 🇪🇺 🏭 Did you know? In 2019, plastic production in the EU emitted greenhouse gasses equivalent to 189 coal power plants. It's time for action. Urgently reducing plastic production by 75% is crucial for meeting climate goals. As we run up to the #EUElections, we’re calling for an European Parliament that prioritizes tackling plastic pollution and REDUCES plastic production. Find out more about our campaign here: https://lnkd.in/eWf_ymcV #PlasticsAndEU #EULeadership #EUElections2024 #PlasticProduction #ClimateAction #BreakFreeFromPlastic Break Free From Plastic Zero Waste Europe ECOS European Environmental Bureau Environmental Investigation Agency Seas At Risk Surfrider Foundation Europe Greenpeace ClientEarth Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL)

🌱 We’re calling for the next EU parliament to take action against plastic pollution to protect our health and environment! 🌍 Plastic is toxic! Emissions from plastic production release harmful toxins into the air. Daily exposure to plastic chemicals can lead to hormonal disruptions, cancer, and developmental issues. People across the EU will soon vote for a new EU Parliament. We need a new EU government that prioritizes safety and health by implementing STRONG regulations that phase out harmful chemicals in plastics. #PlasticsAndEU #EULeadership #EUElections2024 #WorldHealthDay #PlasticPollution #Health #BreakFreeFromPlastic 🌿

⏳ The #EUelections are just two months away. Let's examine how they will matter in the fight against plastic pollution and why exactly plastic needs to be on the agenda of future EU decision-makers! 🗑 Europe is one of the largest producers and consumers of plastics worldwide. Almost 26 million tonnes of plastic waste (that’s as much as the combined weight of 2574 Eiffel towers! 😧 ) is generated each year in the EU. This is far more than Europe is currently able to manage, even less so than it recycles. ⚠ As you probably know, plastic pollutes the soil, water and air and it endangers animals. But it is also a very real threat to our health, its production requires oil and gas, it drives climate change and it is an expensive problem for communities to deal with. 💪 In the months leading up to the elections, we will highlight the ways plastic impacts other aspects of our lives. Follow our campaign to learn more and help us spread awareness about the ways plastic is harming Europe, the worlds and its people. 📢 Future EU decision-makers must phase out harmful plastics and introduce real solutions. We have no time to waste – let's #BreakFreeFromPlastics! Break Free From Plastic Zero Waste Europe Environmental Investigation Agency ECOS Surfrider Foundation Europe Seas At Risk Greenpeace Greenpeace European Unit ClientEarth Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) #PlasticsAndEU #EULeadership #EUElections2024 #PlasticPollution #Health #BreakFreeFromPlastic 🌿 #Plastic

End plastic pellet pollution! Sign our petition to urge the EU to step up in the fight against microplastic pollution. The European Parliament must adopt a comprehensive and ambitious Regulation on preventing pellet losses. We’re calling on MEPs to: 💯 Apply measures to all operators, irrespective of the quantity of plastic pellets they’re handling. 🚢 Include mandatory certification and control measures for all pellet handlers and carriers, including for the maritime transportation of plastic pellets. ⛔ Strengthen prevention measures to ensure legally binding minimum requirements to prevent plastic pellet loss. 📝 Label containers to indicate they contain pellets which are hazardous to the environment to increase awareness across the supply chain. ❗ Require mandatory standardised reporting of all losses to the environment. 💡 Regularly inform and train all pellet handlers. Environmental Investigation Agency Seas At Risk Surfrider Foundation Europe ECOS Break Free From Plastic WeMove Europe European Environmental Bureau Greenpeace ClientEarth Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) João Albuquerque Maria Spyraki MEP #pellets #microplastics #pelletloss #BreakFreeFromPlastic

This week the Council of the European Union unanimously endorsed the revised Waste Shipment Regulation! 🎉 The inclusion of a full ban on plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries marks a big step towards curbing #WasteColonialism and addressing the EU’s growing waste crisis. However, the journey to better, fairer and safer waste management doesn't end here.  ☑️ To truly make an impact, EU member states must ensure this regulation is accompanied by robust monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, both in exporting and importing countries. ✋🏽 Closing loopholes, especially concerning hidden plastics in other waste streams, is imperative. 🏭 While domestic recycling infrastructure improvements are vital, it's evident that recycling alone won't suffice. We must delve deeper into the root cause: the production of plastics.  Let's use this momentum to drive systemic change and foster a circular economy that prioritizes waste reduction and innovation. #EndWasteColonialism #BreakFreeFromPlastic #PlasticWasteTrade Lauren W. Environmental Investigation Agency Break Free From Plastic Zero Waste Europe European Environmental Bureau ECOS Surfrider Foundation Europe Seas At Risk ClientEarth Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) Greenpeace https://lnkd.in/decCQkBT

🚨 Could the microplastics ban be rewritten after its entry into force? 🏭 Alarmingly, EU officials are bending over backwards to accommodate industry demands — with the real risk that what was once considered a sweeping ban on microplastics will be gnawed away by caveats and exemptions. ⚠ Beyond microplastics, the future of other legislation aimed at stemming pollution is at risk. The European Commission pledged to address the most harmful chemicals by group, and, without evidence of their safety, restrict them as broadly as possible. 🚫 But, when the EU adopts a much-needed ban on PFAS or bisphenols, two highly harmful groups, will the ban be similarly "clarified” via untransparent processes after its adoption too? 🤝 In the end, there is only one logical way forward for the Commission: it needs to stick to what was agreed by EU institutions and member states on microplastics. 📰 Read Hélène Duguy's Oped in Euronews: https://lnkd.in/e2mmqrjP ClientEarth ECOS Surfrider Foundation Europe Break Free From Plastic #MicroplasticsMatter #EnvironmentalProtection #EURegulations #ActNow #BeatMicroplastics #GlitterBan #Microplastics #Plastics #Future #Pollution

There's a deal on the #PPWR! EU institutions take an important step to prevent #packaging waste and promote #reuse, but reckless loopholes for throwaway packaging risk undermining EU efforts. Read our PR here: https://lnkd.in/esMiTWUF To stop the uncontrolled growth of packaging waste the EU is setting binding packaging reduction targets for its Member States (5% by 2030, 10% by 2035 and 15% by 2040), as well as reuse targets for certain packaging segments, including beverages and transport packaging. What do we know from the PRs of the institutions so far? ✅ stricter provisions on substances of concern ✅ restrictions on #PFAS in food packaging ❌ restrictions for unnecessary packaging limited to plastics ❌ cardboard packaging excluded from reuse targets for transport risk undermining the regulation’s effectiveness! These loopholes are the result of unprecedented pressures from single-use paper lobbies and risk undermining the regulation’s effectiveness, leading to an increase in paper packaging consumption, thus perpetuating wasteful practices and putting unsustainable pressure on forests. 📢 The coalition of NGOs working on the #PPWR together urges the three EU institutions to waste no time to adopt this key regulation before the European elections! The European Parliament must ratify the compromise reached yesterday in the April Plenary and the European Commission must sign the agreement as soon as possible. We will continue to advocate for high ambition at EU level and proper implementation of the new rules to stop the uncontrolled growth of packaging waste through prevention and reuse! Read our take on the compromise by the institutions here 👇 European Environmental Bureau, Deutsche Umwelthilfe, Environmental Paper Network, Recycling Netwerk Benelux, Surfrider Foundation Europe, ECOS, Zero Waste Europe, Fern NGO

💪 We need strong measures to prevent avoidable waste - no more loopholes for throwaway packaging! ❓Why go for single-use when dining in? Reusable tableware is a perfectly feasible option! 📅 Happening TODAY: the European Parliament, the Council and Commission will discuss the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation - an unmissable opportunity to say no to avoidable throwaway packaging in restaurants. 📨 Read our letter to decision makers, with support from 30 co-signatories from across Europe! https://lnkd.in/eUB7NBja ClientEarth European Environmental Bureau City to Sea ConsomAction Deutsche Umwelthilfe Environmental Investigation Agency Environmental Paper Network Friends of the Earth Europe Humusz Szövetség Mehrwegverband Deutschland e.V. New ERA - New European Reuse Alliance No plastic in my sea Oceana Plastic Change Plastic Soup Foundation Zero Waste Europe Reloop Réseau Vrac et Réemploi Recycling Netwerk Benelux Sciaena Seas At Risk Surfrider Foundation Europe Gallifrey Foundation ECOS https://lnkd.in/eivSTMen

📣Urgent call to #PPWR negotiators ✍️Joint letter 🚫Say NO to single-use packaging in dine-in services, a completely avoidable source of waste Empower reuse solutions instead – and pave the way to a greener future💚 We want the EU to take bold action to reduce avoidable single-use packaging in the HORECA sector. There is no more time to waste⌛ Read our joint letter, co-signed by 30 organisations👇 https://lnkd.in/eivSTMen

Plastic pellet pollution is no longer the industry’s little secret. 🤐 This week MEPs and journalists went to Ecaussinnes, a town just 30 kilometres from the European capital, and saw the effects of plastic pellet loss firsthand. Nestled in rural Belgium, a mega petrochemical complex – #Feluy, the largest pellet production site in Europe – is polluting local rivers and streams and flowing pellets into our ocean. 🌊 Plastic pellets – the building blocks for all plastic products – are leaking into the environment. The cause? Poor handling, transportation, and negligence at all steps of the supply chain. We need strong, binding measures from the EU to keep pellets out of marine nature – and out of our food web.   The Pew Charitable Trusts Surfrider Foundation Europe Rethink Plastic Alliance Saskia Bricmont #plasticpollution