Session with the EU On “Plastic Waste Management” at the “World Environment Conference”

By Rajiandai Bariam 

India was the global host for the recently ended “World Environment Day Conference” under the theme #Beat Plastic Pollution at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The European Union which spearheaded in the fight against plastic was a special participant in the event.

In the World Economic Forum, it’s being said that by 2050, if no action is taken, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. Plastic is a global threat and it’s non biodegrade waste- microplastics are entering our food chain threatening our health. It had taken up the scenic land spaces, and our sea and beaches are covered with littered plastics.

The burden of plastic waste cannot be lifted by one single country. It is a global and collective burden that invites engagement and initiatives at the level of policies, industry and the public. The forum was aimed at sharing expertise, experiences and policies in tackling the plastic menace.

Plastic in itself is not a curse as it had made our lives easier yet it is the misuse of it that haunts our planet. The use of single use plastics consisted of 50 percent of the marine litter. The plastic litter that had become landfills is entering our water systems. Plastic ban is not the way forward. Yet there are ways to induce behavioral change through punitive measures by charging its use, and incentivizing industries or entrepreneurs to come up with reuse, recycle and development of better plastic. Extended Producer Responsibility presses the producer to make better products and designs with a longer product life. The European Union has adopted its plastic strategy for its member states. And they had made very visible progress in a short time through this multi-pronged strategy.

EU as a result of their plastic strategy had effectively banned plastic straws, cups, drink stirrers, cutleries and banned drinking bottles which lid and cap aren’t attached. They have an aim for a completely recyclable plastic or a circular economy by 2030.

Many of the member states like Hungary or Spain showed interesting examples on how they’d come up with innovative and reusable plastic strategies. Effective ways of collection of plastic through community participation, and segregation of plastic from other waste through innovative technologies are shown. In another example, used plastics are no longer waste but a resource. Recycled plastics are mixed with sand to make a lighter, stronger and recyclable concrete tiles.

But one of the boldest and revolutionary step comes from Bio-lutions company which represented the EU industry. Eduardo opened his speech with remark, “No more to plastic”. They’d found the solution to plastic. The company made containers out of plants like sugarcane leaves, tomato plants, and turmeric. Unlike plastic, the waste will go back to the soil as manures. Not only are they propagating sustainable product but also adds income to the farmers by buying their non revenue bi-products which otherwise are just stacks to be burned. Not only is their product bio-friendly but also economical and can compete on a price at particular with plastic.

The public awareness had grown and in progressive states like France in which plastic pollution had evolved from a growing awareness to a top priority political issue.

But there are many incentives for a more sustainable lifestyle and a circular economy where nothing is really thrown away. With the fact that plastics composed of major litters in land and sea, our beaches covered with plastics, an effective plastic waste collection and management system would turn our streets and habitats cleaner and safer making our areas more potent for habitation and tourism.

We are definitely making progress at the global level to address the issue as more and more public awareness and concern develops and the governments taking proactive initiatives and industries bringing new and innovative products. Plastic don’t have to be eliminated from the face of the earth. But plastics and its use is to be reimagined in the framework of a circular economy. Plastics have to be reused and recycled. But at the same time, with considerable effort and thought, some had started to look beyond plastic.