European Parliament

36 packaging value chain industry associations launch recommendations

EU commission presents its “Plastics Strategy” roadmap / Adoption this year / European Parliament opts for stricter waste legislation / 80% of packaging waste to be recycled by 2030

European manufacturers urge EU action on competitiveness / Joint declaration

EP Environment Committee targets 80% packaging waste recycling / EU Commission's original goals revived

EU Commission finally presents proposals for regulating endocrine disruptors / Trade associations critical / Forward strategy based on WHO criteria

European Parliament seeks more ambitious targets for waste sorting and recycling / Bioplastics producers pleased with proposals

UK Parliament Committee studying impact of microplastics / Greenpeace poll finds vast majority in favour of phase-out in cosmetics / British Plastics Federation concurs

Demand for polymeric applications increasing steeply throughout the world / German medical devices providers report record sales / Russian market caves in / Significant potential in ASEAN region

European Parliament draws attention to dangers of plastic microbeads in cosmetics / Bans being pursued worldwide / Report for Commission analyses the problem

EU close to classifying BPA as category 1 reprotoxin / REACH Committee approves draft

Circular economy, recycling, environment: How "green" is Europe's plastics industry? / Plastic bags and one-way cutlery under pressure / Political establishment and industry join hands to combat marine litter

Plastics organisations critical of EU's revised proposals / Waste reduction targets seen as insufficient / Landfilling will still be allowed / Recyclers call new package “light” version

ECPI urges European Commission to authorise recycling of flexible PVC containing DEHP / Expresses disappointment in European Parliament's objection

Polymer production grows by 4% in 2014 / EU 28 trade surplus widens / Turkey still most important resin buyer / PlasticsEurope recommends landfill ban to improve recycling / "Plastics – the Facts 2015"

Revised EU paper leaked / Broad brush across proposals to be presented by year's end

Polish plastics processors' association founds new working group to realise EU guideline / Calls for bag fee

EU Parliament plenary session approves circular economy resolution / Binding rules for waste disposal and recycling / Bioplastics producers welcome package design proposal

EU to restrict formamide in Toy Safety Directive update / US toymakers call for uniform rules

Restriction of lightweight bags passes European Parliament / Charges from end of 2018 / Commission expects cost savings of EUR 740m per year / EuPC “disappointed”

Part 4 – Regulations: Regulatory moves keep the industry on its toes again in 2014 / Restrictions on plastic bags dominate the discussion / BPA and phthalates still a topic / Flame retardant issues still smoulder / Recycling guidelines make headway

EU guideline calls for gradual reduction in consumption up to 2025 / EuPC highlights problems from internal market perspective, warns of job losses / PlasticsEurope fears trade barriers, calls for regulation of “oxo-degradable” plastics

OPA discredits Italian statement on oxo-biodegradable plastics and bag charges / Call for objective technical assessment by Commission

European Commission adopts new waste proposals / Landfill of recyclable waste to be banned by 2025 / 80% packaging waste recycling target set for 2030 / Mixed response by European plastics associations

“Reasonable” estimate sees 4.4 bn barrels of shale oil under southern England / Geological survey finds no significant gas potential / New financial incentives for local communities

European parliament approves legislation on lightweight carrier bags / Latest legal hurdle mounted / Decision welcomed by European Bioplastics and Novamont