No, plastic pollution is not an irremediable scourge. Provided, of course, that you do your part: this is what the No Plastic In My Sea association proposes in a new report published on March 16, 2023. The NGO lists 500 solutions that already exist in France and abroad. Products, packaging, machines, services… the fields of action are manifold. In addition, there are twelve recommendations from the association to permanently curb plastic pollution.
Prioritize the most polluting products
To combat this scourge, No Plastic In My sea has identified several projects: reducing single-use plastic (and in particular bottles, the first single-use plastic found on European beaches) by focusing on reuse, favoring bulk sales to use less packaging (which constitutes 45% of plastic use in France and 60% of plastic waste), opt for solid products or products to be diluted, improve the recyclability of products, develop eco-design, step up the fight against highly polluting microplastics …
The association deplores the lack of resources allocated to initiatives aimed at effectively combating plastic pollution. In his report, remember that nobody
the government dares not show a general target for a quantified reduction in plastic production “. Forecasts even predict a tripling of global plastic production by 2050, particularly as the petrochemical industry is investing heavily in plastic production sites. Yet, as No Plastic in My Sea argues, “ Reducing production is, according to the Breaking the Plastic Wave report of July 2020, the solution that would generate the greatest results for reducing plastic pollution “.
Mobilize producers and distributors
No Plastic in My Sea is asking for cooperation. Among its recommendations, the association encourages manufacturers and distributors to come together to propose a 50 discount % of plastic bottles placed on the market in 2030 compared to 2020, to develop solid products or develop concentrated refills to dilute for drinks, to promote mass in their brands. Government also has a role to play:
“We are calling on government, eco-organisations and companies to support reuse with consumers through massive communication campaigns. »
No Plastic In My Sea, “Solutions to Plastic Pollution” Report, 2nd Edition, March 16, 2023
According to the association, these measures also aim to better enforce the European directive on single-use plastics and the Agec law (anti-waste for a circular economy), which ban some types of plastic and single-use products, but suffer a decline due to lack of a explicitly quantified reduction target. It is also a way to make progress in the fight against plastic pollution, pending the adoption of a binding international treaty on the entire life cycle of plastics at the end of 2024, under the aegis of the UN Environment.
“This treaty should enable states, businesses and investors to engage in a transition aimed at stabilizing and then reducing global plastic production and optimizing recycling. »
No Plastic In My Sea, “Solutions to Plastic Pollution” Report, 2nd Edition, March 16, 2023
Europe is also working on a regulation on packaging and packaging waste. This is also expected to be finalized by early 2024 with
reduction, reuse and recycling targets. But we better mobilize now to maximize our chances of reversing the curve.
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
