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Environment

Microplastics

The EU aims to address the growing volume of microplastics in the environment by tackling the main sources of releases. 

Overview

Microplastics are small pieces of plastics, usually smaller than 5mm. They are persistent, very mobile and hard to remove from nature. A growing volume of microplastics is found in the environment, including in the sea and in soil, as well as in food and in drinking water.

Once in the environment, microplastics do not biodegrade and tend to accumulate - unless they are specifically designed to biodegrade in the open environment. Biodegradability is a complex phenomenon, especially in the marine environment. There are increasing concerns about the presence of microplastics in different environment compartments (such as water), their impact on the environment and biodiversity and potentially human health.

In 2023, the European Commission adopted a REACH restriction on microplastics intentionally added to products and a proposal for a Regulation on preventing plastic pellet losses to the environment. These actions will directly contribute to reaching the 30% reduction target for microplastic releases set out in the Zero Pollution Action Plan.

In addition, the Commission presented a brochure to provide an overview of EU policies and initiatives to combat microplastic pollution, promote research and innovation, and ensure integrated monitoring of microplastics.

Objectives

The EU aims to reduce microplastic releases by 30% by 2030. This will be achieved by

  • reducing plastic pollution (as these degrade into microplastics)
  • restricting the use of intentionally added microplastics to products, and
  • reducing unintentional microplastic releases

In the EU

Microplastics - 2030 target
30% by 2030

EU target to reduce microplastics released into the environment

Microplastics - swimming pools
Between 200 and 600

olympic size swimming pools of microplastics are unintentionally released into the environment every year

Microplastics - pellets
Over 2100 truckloads

of plastic pellets were lost to the environment in 2019

Law

There is currently no EU law in place applying to microplastics in a comprehensive manner.

There are several specific laws with partial objectives

Some microplastics are formed when larger plastics break down. These unintentionally formed microplastics fall outside of the scope of the new initiative, and are addressed by

Several EU laws affect the production of microplastics, or their release into the environment, both directly and indirectly. These are

Timeline

Key dates related to initiatives on microplastics

  1. September- October 2023
    Adoption of several initiatives on microplastics
  2. 26 January - 23 February 2023
    • Targeted consultation on SMEs that are handling plastic pellets
  3. December 2022
    Stakeholder workshop on plastic pellets
  4. February - March 2022
    Several stakeholder workshops held

    First stakeholder workshop on additional sources of microplastics

    • Second stakeholder workshop on additional sources of microplastics
    • Stakeholder workshop on Tyres, Pellets and Textiles
    • Stakeholder workshop dedicated to Member State representatives
  5. 30 November - 18 January 2022
    Call for evidence for an impact assessment
  6. November 2021
    Second stakeholder workshop for study ‘Cost-benefit analysis of policy measures reducing unintentional releases of microplastics’.

    Register to be a stakeholder

    The second stakeholder workshop will take place virtually on 22 November (synthetic textiles), 24 November (tyre abrasion) and 25 November (plastic pellets).

  7. 16 September 2021
    First stakeholder workshop for study ‘Cost-benefit analysis of policy measures reducing unintentional releases of microplastics’.
  8. 11 March 2020
    Publication of the new circular economy action plan

    Including specific measures on microplastics, in particular the restriction of intentionally added microplastics and measures on unintentional release of microplastics
     

  9. 11 December 2019
    Publication of the European Green Deal

    Including a new initiative to address the unintentional presence of microplastics in the environment

Background

In 2018, the EU Plastics Strategy identified microplastic pollution as an issue warranting the development of innovative reduction solutions. The 2019 Opinion of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors on “Environmental and health risks of microplastic pollution” also pointed to the need for precautionary measures to be taken. In the new Circular Economy Action Plan, the European Commission committed to addressing the presence of microplastics in the environment by restricting the use of intentionally added microplastics in products and addressing unintentional releases of microplastics. In 2021, the Zero Pollution Action Plan provided further impetus by setting a 30% reduction target for microplastic releases by 2030.