The European Commission is proposing new laws 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 focus on pellet loss prevention in the plastic supply chain but does not yet include all businesses. Previous legislation 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 laws were proposed by the European Commission which focus on obliging the plastic pellet supply chain to introduce measures to prevent plastic pellet loss and spills. In 2024 we expect to see amendments and MEPs to vote on these proposals.
Challenge
The current proposals (16 October 2023) are the first attempt to legislate specifically to prevent pellet loss. However to be effective these proposals must be strengthened to apply to the whole plastic pellet supply chain (the 2023 proposals currently has exemptions for small and medium size enterprises, SMEs). The current proposals also do not address pellets spills at sea.
Current Activity
European Commission is currently working through the legislative process with MEPs examining and debating the issues. NGOs across Europe are highlighting to officials and MEPs how the current proposal to prevent pellet pollution from across the supply chain. MEPs are expected to vote later in 2024 before the European Parliamentary Elections.
Actions
Read our briefing compiled with NGOs across Europe on how the current legislation proposal can be improved to prevent plastic pellet pollution.