Welcome to the Plastics Weekly, NEO’s regular news monitoring of the plastics industry.
Every Monday, we publish a roundup of the top developments in plastics and sustainability – from regulatory changes to company news.
This week’s highlights:
- British petrochemicals company Ineos is facing a legal challenge over plans to build a plastics plant in Antwerp. A group of 14 NGOs launched an appeal against Antwerp’s decision to grant Ineos a permit to build a chemicals plant to make ethylene from fracked US shale gas. The NGOs say the project will clash with EU environmental commitments by fueling the production of single-use plastics. Antwerp authorities are also accused of failing to consider the plant’s lifetime greenhouse gas emissions and environmental damage that could come from associated nitrogen pollution. (The Guardian)
- The European Commission has opened a public comment period to generate feedback for the development of a new European Union policy framework on the use of bio-based, biodegradable and compostable plastics. The EU currently lacks sustainability criteria for bio-based plastics. A clear policy framework addressing the sourcing, labelling and use of bio-based plastics would suppport the transition to a circular economy, as well as help inform decisionmaking for companies and investors. (Plastics News)
- The UN needs a binding treaty to address the plastics crisis, according to a report from the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), an international NGO. The authors argue that the threat from plastic pollution is almost equivalent to that of climate change and urge nations to set binding targets for reducing plastic production and waste. More than 100 countries are said to favour a treaty being proposed at the next UN Environment Assembly in February-March. (BBC)