Overview
Plastics are an important material in our economy and daily lives. However, they can have serious negative effects on the environment and human health.
The EU adopted a European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy in January 2018, as part of the EU’s First Circular Economy Action Plan, which builds on existing measures to reduce plastic waste.
The strategy is a key element of Europe’s transition towards a carbon-neutral and circular economy.
It will contribute to reaching the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Climate Agreement objectives and the EU’s industrial policy objectives.
Latest news
The Commission published its first report under the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD), showing Member States' progress.
A new global inventory, PlastChem, presents information on more than 16,000 chemicals in plastics – over a quarter of which are hazardous chemicals of concern. This data can aid plastics regulation, but more transparency is still needed.
The European Commission has unveiled a first set of pilot actions to accelerate Europe's transition to a circular economy, with a particular focus on the plastics sector.