The European Commission on Tuesday adopted an EU-wide strategy focused on combating plastic pollution and on moving towards a more circular economy.
The EC said the strategy looked to develop growth and innovation while at the same time protecting the environment.
The new strategy aims to make all plastic packaging in the EU recyclable by 2030 and targets the reduction of single-use plastics. The use of microplastics will also be limited under the new strategy.
The EC said less than 30% of the 25 million mt/year of plastic waste generated in the EU are collected for recycling.
To protect the environment, the new strategy will look to change plastic products from the design and production phase through to the post-consumer and recycled stages of plastic products' lifespan to move toward a more circular economy.
The new strategy will move to make recycling profitable, as well as increasing recyclability and demand for recycled plastics. The strategy will also aim to improve collection and sorting systems with the development of a standardized system.
Industry body PlasticsEurope welcomed the new strategy.
"PlasticsEurope supports the creation of a joint vision for a truly circular and resource efficient Europe, the promotion of actions aimed at tackling plastics leakage into the environment, increasing recycling and re-use and boosting innovation," it said.
