Environment and sustainability – March 2025
EU rules and regulations
The EC has published an overview of how the EUDR obligations apply, depending on the company type (operator/trader), size and position in the supply chain. JRC has published a summary report (16.92 MB) of a stakeholder consultation on consumer waste sorting labels as part of the PPWR. TCEP has added multilayer trays to the Design for Recycling Guidelines for PET trays. According to a report (37.65 MB) by EEA, more decisive measures are needed to achieve the 2030 objectives of the 8th Environment Action Programme. Another report (47.74 MB) by EEA shows that this is also the case for the 2030 targets of the Zero Pollution Action Plan. A new publication (1.3 MB) by CEN-CENELEC explains the benefits of using technical standards when making green claims.
Rules and regulations in the different countries
Denmark: Draft legislation on reimbursing companies for deposits on beverages exported to the Faeroe Islands and Greenland, has been sent to the EC. NL all info is in Dutch unless stated otherwise: On 6 March 2025, a round table discussion on circular plastic took place in the House that you can rewatch here. On 11 March, a number of motions were adopted that were submitted during the two-minute debate on the circular economy. These include a motion for research on the sustainability of cups with a plastic coating of a maximum of 5% compared to reusable cups and a motion to allow the use of these cups. A motion was also passed to remove the €0.25 consumer surcharge for plastic containers and cups. KIDV has published a new set of Disposal Guide logos (in English). All icons have been updated, with the texts and layout modified to improve readability. A logo for metal packaging has also been added. According to data on deposits (310 kB) by Verpact, the 2024 collection rate is 77% for plastic bottles and 84% for cans (legal target for both is 90%). The PBL (in English) biannual Integral Circular Economy Report 2025 (6.3 MB) shows that more raw materials were used in 2022 compared to 2020. An English summary (595 kB) can be found here. NVRD has published the 2023 Household Waste Benchmark (8.91 MB). Turkey: DBYS has published guidelines on the DRS. UK: Ministers from the four nations have published a joint policy statement on EPR. It sets out the intended environmental effects of the EPR for packaging policy and how it is intended that the policy will achieve those effects. WRAP has announced that the Courtauld Commitment 2030 has become the UK Food and Drink Pact. US: A report by Closed Loop Partners, that you can download after filling in your details shows a viable pathway to recover small-format plastic packaging across the US. Minnesota: Circular Action Alliance’s (CAA) registration has been confirmed by the MPCA to be the EPR organisation to implement the Packaging Waste and Cost Reduction Act. Oregon: DEQ has approved the program plan (17.11 MB) submitted by CAA, making CAA the EPR organisation for implementing the Recycling Modernization Act.
Research on plastic
RIVM has examined pyrolysis oil for the presence of 'Zeer Zorgwekkende Stoffen' (ZZS, the Dutch Substances of Very High Concern). The research (in Dutch, 2.47 MB) shows that there are ZZS in plastic waste. Some of these ZZS will be broken down during pyrolysis, but new ZZS may also be created.
A University of Texas at Arlington study finds high levels of microplastics in bird lungs.
A JRC-led study reveals that the deepest point of the Mediterranean Sea, the Calypso Deep, has one of the highest concentrations of marine litter.
Researchers at Northwestern University have created a specialised sponge coated with nanoparticles that can collect pollutants like microplastics from lakes and oceans.
NVC members receive this information with all the relevant links in the monthly NVC Members-only Update. If you have any questions, please contact us: info@nvc.nl, +31-(0)182-512411