Oxo Degradable Plastic Ban

European parliament ban on oxo degradable plastics is a political move that ignores the established science.

Oxo degradable plastic ban.

European parliament ban on oxo degradable plastics is a non science based political move. In a report published earlier this month the commission said that a process to restrict the use of oxo plastics in the eu will be started. European parliament ban on oxo degradable plastics is a political move that ignores the established science. Citation needed oxo degradable plastics have been degraded in real time in seawater at the banyul laboratory in france.

The report of the european chemicals agency echa on the risks posed to the environment by the use of such plastics has not yet been published. In a 2017 report it was stated that the biodegradation of the fragmented pieces is only partially supported. On 27th march 2019 the european parliament voted to ban certain single use plastics approving a directive into which oxo degradable plastics were added in a last minute politically motivated move. The law implements an eu directive to reduce the consumption of lightweight plastic carrier bags.

Spain announced plans to ban the sale of lightweight oxo degradable bags from 2018 onwards under a new law drafted by the spanish agriculture and environment ministry. The directive on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment will become ec law in april 2019 and includes a ban on oxo degradable plastics. Citation needed the statements about biodegradation of oxo degradable plastics have however been disputed by the eu. The european commission has recommended eu wide measures be taken against so called oxo degradable plastics.

The directive foresees a ban on all products made of oxo degradable plastic from july 2021. In march 2019 the european parliament approved measures aimed at tackling marine litter by limiting the use of disposable plastic. Oxo degradable plastic packaging which includes select plastic pouch bags is often marketed as a solution to plastic pollution because it claims to degrade into harmless residues within a period ranging from a few months to several years. Accordingly epi recommends all manufacturers and companies selling or planning to sell products with tdpa in the eu to abide with the eu s directive 2019 904.

To find out more about the eu bans on oxo please visit faq eu and microplastics. The exact date of such ban will depend on the applicable legislation passed by each eu member state.