The European Commission is proposing new regulation to address plastic pellet pollution. Every European country surveyed for the Great Nurdle Hunt is found to be experiencing plastic pellet pollution. The current proposal focuses on pellet loss prevention in the plastic supply chain but does not yet include all businesses. Previous regulation introduced into the EU focussed only on reporting plastic pellet loss.
Opportunity
Existing environmental laws and voluntary efforts by industry have so far failed to prevent plastic pellet pollution across the European Union. In 2023 new regulation was proposed by the European Commission which focuses on obligating actors in the plastic pellet supply chain to introduce measures to prevent plastic pellet loss and spills.
Challenge
The current proposals (16 October 2023) are the first attempt to regulate specifically to prevent pellet loss. However to be effective these proposals must be strengthened to apply to the whole plastic pellet supply chain with the current proposal containing loop holes for businesses handling under 1,000 tonnes of plastic pellets per year.
Current Activity
In April 2024, MEPs voted overwhelmingly in favour of adopting a position in favour of a proposal for regulation to prevent plastic pellet loss from supply chain sources.
This was followed by the European Council (EC) agreeing a position on the proposed regulation in December 2024, including strengthening some aspects such as the inclusion of obligations regarding maritime transportation.
The proposed regulations will now proceed to the next stage of the negotiation process, known as trilogue, where further discussions will take place between the European Parliament, Council and Commission later in 2025.
NGOs across Europe are highlighting to officials and MEPs how the current proposal to prevent pellet pollution from across the supply chain can be further strengthened.
Actions
Read our briefing compiled with NGOs across Europe on how the current legislation proposal can be improved to prevent plastic pellet pollution.