Strategy for plastics - cotton buds and microplastics

Subject: Strategy for plastics - cotton buds and microplastics

The Commission has recently presented its strategy on plastics in the transition towards a circular economy, the aim of which is to protect the environment from plastic pollution whilst at the same time promoting growth and innovation. By 2030 all plastic packaging on the EU market will be recyclable, the use of single-use plastic bags will be reduced and the intentional use of microplastics will be limited. The strategy seems to lack any reference to microplastics and everyday pollutants such as cotton buds.

In a monitoring exercise conducted by Legambiente, nearly 7 000 cotton buds were counted on 46 Italian beaches. Italy has the most cutting-edge legislation in Europe in this regard, since it has a law which prohibits the marketing and manufacture of non-biodegradable cotton buds in Italy as from 2019; from 2020 the ban will also be extended to cosmetics containing microplastics.

In the light of the above, can the Commission, within the bounds of its remit, answer the following questions:

- Does it not consider it appropriate to supplement the strategy for plastics with a set of special rules concerning these widely used articles which are polluting our seas so greatly?

- What data does it have on the various pollutants collected in European waters and, more specifically, on cotton buds?

Answer given by Mr Vella on behalf of the Commission

(5 April 2018)

The Plastics Strategy (1) identifies marine litter, including microplastics and single-use items (such as cotton buds), as key challenges. Curbing plastic waste and littering is therefore one of the main axes for action.

The Commission is already preparing a legislative initiative on single-use plastics and started the process to restrict the use of intentionally added microplastics, such as in cosmetics, detergents and paints. It requested, therefore, the European Chemicals Agency to review the scientific basis, in the framework of the regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) (2) for a restriction.

The Commission has commissioned several studies on marine litter and its effect on the environment, the most recent being a study undertaken by the Joint Research Centre: ‘Top Marine Beach Litter Items in Europe’ (3).

The Commission has launched a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study by the Joint Research Centre, which will include single-use plastic products, to assess alternative plastic production and end-of-life scenarios.

⋅1∙ http://ec.europa.eu/environment/waste/plastic_waste.htm

⋅2∙ Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and

Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing a European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC and 2000/21/EC, OJ L 396, 30.12.2006, p. 1.

⋅3∙ http://mcc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/dev.py?N=41&O=434&titre_chap=TG%20Marine%20Litter