Taken together, these products constitute 70% of marine litter. Europeans are greatly concerned about the impacts of plastic waste on their health and the environment. The proposal submitted by the European Commission on 28 May envisages different measures to apply to different product categories. Where alternatives are easily available and affordable, single-use plastic products will be banned from the market. For products without straight-forward alternatives, the focus is on limiting their use through a national reduction in consumption; design and labelling requirements and waste management/clean-up obligations for producers.

Karmenu Vella, EU Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, said: «At the beginning of its mandate, the Commission promised to be big on big things – and plastic pollution and marine litter are among the biggest challenges of our times. That is why we invested so much in the Commission’s legislative proposal to reduce single use plastic items and abandoned fishing gears. So I warmly welcome today’s vote by the European Parliament. It sends a clear signal that Europe is ready to take a decisive, coordinated action to curb plastic waste and to lead international effort in making our oceans and nature plastic-free. This is progress we will proudly showcase at next week’s Our Ocean conference in Indonesia. ’’

The proposal is a deliverable of the world’s first Plastics Strategy the Commission adopted early this year. It is part of a broader effort of turning Europe into a more sustainable, circular economy, reflected in the Circular Economy Action Plan the Commission adopted in December 2015. In parallel to its legislative initiative, the Commission has been in dialogue with stakeholders and producers; has launched its awareness-raising campaign targeting EU citizens and is leading international efforts to reduce plastic pollution worldwide through relevant platforms and fora, including G7, G20 and UN Sustainable Development Goals.

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