British Glass, the trade association representing the UK glass manufacturing industry, is voicing significant concerns following the recent announcement of base fees for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme. While the association supports the overarching goals of the EPR, which aims to make producers accountable for the entire lifecycle of their products, they are deeply…
The European Union has officially signed the Bridge to Busan Declaration, marking a significant step towards creating an international and legally binding framework aimed at moderating the production of primary plastic polymers and addressing the important issue of plastic pollution. Urgency to Address Rising Plastic Production The Declaration comes in response to alarming predictions…
Regulation (EU) 1781/2024 was published in the Official Journal of the European Union during last June. Known as the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), it sets forth comprehensive ecodesign requirements aiming at enhancing the sustainability of products available in the EU market. Framework for Sustainable Product Design Regulation (EU) 1781/2024 introduces a robust…
In a bold move aimed at tackling Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions, Zero Waste Europe (ZWE) has called upon the European Commission (EC) to integrate waste incineration into the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The advocacy group argues that such a step would effectively penalize the incineration of fossil-based materials like plastics and synthetic textiles,…
International organizations are urging the European Commission (EC) to extend the current ban on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) beyond food packaging, and include medical applications. This initiative, led by the environmental law organization Client Earth, aims to address the health risks associated with PVC in a wider range of packaging applications. ECHA Report Highlights PVC…
Τις τελευταίες ημέρες κυκλοφόρησαν διάφορες ψευδείς ειδήσεις σχετικά με την έναρξη του Συστήματος Επιστροφής Εγγυοδοσίας (Deposit Return System – DRS) στην Ελλάδα από την 1η Ιουλίου 2024, καθώς και για σχετικές ανατιμήσεις σε προϊόντα. Το Υπουργείο Περιβάλλοντος και Ενέργειας διέψευσε τις εν λόγω φήμες σχετικά με το DRS σε επίσημη ανακοίνωση. Οι ανατιμήσεις, παρόλα αυτά,…
In 2023, the production value of food processing and packaging machinery hit a record-high of € 16.5 billion, marking a 5 % increase from the previous year. This notable achievement was highlighted in a press release by the VDMA (Food Processing and Packaging Machinery Association), establishing the sector as the fifth-largest in the mechanical engineering…
The 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris are set to make history, not just in athletic performance but in environmental sustainability. Organizers are taking significant steps to reduce the event’s environmental footprint, including the innovative use of recycled materials, making this year’s games to be the greenest ones yet. Recycled Plastic Seats The standout feature…
A recent study conducted by CleanHub, an ocean plastics campaign group, has shed light on the alarming trend of plastic waste exportation revealing that Germany, Japan, and the UK are the leading contributors to this global issue. Alarming Statistics CleanHub’s report reveals the concerning scale of plastic waste exportation, with an estimated 5 million…
Με αφορμή τις αρκετές περιπτώσεις τοποθέτησης επαναχρησιμοποιούμενων προϊόντων στην ελληνική αγορά, την Τρίτη 11 Ιουνίου το Υπουργείο Περιβάλλοντος και Ενέργειας εξέδωσε νέα εγκύκλιο με ορισμένες διευκρινίσεις σχετικά με τον χαρακτηρισμό προϊόντων, όπως τα καλαμάκια, ως επαναχρησιμοποιούμενων…
Italy has announced the seventh postponement of the nation’s Plastic Tax, now set to take effect in July 2026. This tax, which imposes a fixed levy of € 0,45 per kilogram of plastic products sold or purchased, affects producers, importers, and consumers alike. The Origins of the Italian Plastic Tax The Plastic Tax was…
On the 27th of September, 2023, the European Union’s Official Journal (OJEU) published Regulation (EU) 2023/2055, introducing a group of restrictions on microplastics, under Annex XVII to the REACH regulation. This regulation marks a significant step in the EU’s commitment against microplastic pollution, aligning with the European Green Deal and the Circular Economy Action Plan.…