Single-use products under attack in the fight against litter David Schisler, C.E.E. R. SCHISLER Pack2Go Europe Spring meeting 2015 3-4-5 June – The Landmark, London
EU Action on Plastics Carrier Bags Pack2Go Europe Spring meeting 2015 3-4-5 June – The Landmark, London
The French bans General EU rule: free access to compliant packaging • The 1994 Packaging & Packaging Waste Directive does not allow EU countries to discriminate against packaging so long as it complies with “essential requirements” • Italy banned plastics carrier bags illegally (unless bioplastics) An exception made for single-use carrier plastics bags • EU institutions changed the rules to legalise Italy’s position (new rules published last month) Pack2Go Europe Spring meeting 2015 3-4-5 June – The Landmark, London
What is going on in France now? Pack2Go Europe Spring meeting 2015 3-4-5 June – The Landmark, London
The French bans 1 Single-use carrier plastics bags • Now that EU law allows it, France will ban single-use plastics carrier bags by 2016 . Pack2Go Europe Spring meeting 2015 3-4-5 June – The Landmark, London
The French bans: following the precedent 2 Single-use plastics tableware • Green Party in France opportunistically took a step further: ban of single-use plastics tableware by 2020 now on the table (unless bio-sourced/compostable) • This too is illegal under the EU Packaging & Packaging Waste Directive • But, after the precedent set by the plastics bag ban, French Greens are now seeking new targets Pack2Go Europe Spring meeting 2015 3-4-5 June – The Landmark, London
The context and politics behind it Pack2Go Europe Spring meeting 2015 3-4-5 June – The Landmark, London
The big picture Part of larger proposal: Energy Efficiency & Circular Economy • Introduced by French government • Environment Minister Segolène Royal • This main focus of the proposal is to reduce French carbon emissions by 40% in 2030 • The Greens opportunistically put forward an amendment to ban tableware Pack2Go Europe Spring meeting 2015 3-4-5 June – The Landmark, London
The two houses of the French Parliament are fighting it out Pack2Go Europe Spring meeting 2015 3-4-5 June – The Landmark, London
The big picture * Has final say Proposed compromise of * Proposal originally targeted introducing collecting/sorting all single-use plastics tableware at source • Now limited to cups and plates • Deadline: summer 2015 Pack2Go Europe Spring meeting 2015 3-4-5 June – The Landmark, London
Timeline Key takeaways French government wants to be seen leading the way on environmental matters (hosting world climate change talks at the end of 2015 in Paris) Bioplastics industry likely pushing for this and create a market for themselves Green Party is focussing big part of efforts on this The ban will be very hard to fight off/ likely here to stay It will be challenged by Brussels (it is currently illegal under EU law ) Single-use cups and plates will likely stay in legal limbo until the situation is clarified at EU level or the French somehow undo this later on Greens will fight with this tooth and nail to put pressure on EU to do the same as France Pack2Go Europe Spring meeting 2015 3-4-5 June – The Landmark, London
Timeline Meanwhile… in Berlin: • The city of Berlin is considering placing litter tax on paper cups • Despite the fact that this has been ruled unconstitutional in the past • Developing legal measures to address litter is very much part of the public debate • To be continued…. Pack2Go Europe Spring meeting 2015 3-4-5 June – The Landmark, London
Thank you for your attention Pack2Go Europe Spring meeting 2015 3-4-5 June – The Landmark, London
Thank you for your attention Pack2Go Europe Spring meeting 2015 3-4-5 June – The Landmark, London
Thank you for your attention Pack2Go Europe Spring meeting 2015 3-4-5 June – The Landmark, London
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