Environment and sustainability – October 2024

Global and EU rules and regulations
AORA reports that a agreement has been reached between the global fresh produce industry and composting organisations on certified compostable Price Look Up (PLU) stickers. Global policies can reduce plastic leakage into the environment by 96% by 2040, according to a report (3.7 MB) by OECD. EU: On 2 October 2024, the EC published a proposal to give concerned parties an additional year to prepare for the Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). On the same day, the EC published guidance documents and FAQ. Two weeks later, the Council agreed to extend the timeline. The EP has published a briefing (181 kB) on the upcoming Green Claims Directive on substantiating environmental claims. A report (2.82 MB) by the European Court of Auditors shows that the EU plastic-based own resource (plastic tax) is not working smoothly due to problems with data reliability. The EC reports that the EU exported 8.5 million tonnes of recyclable paper, plastic and glass in 2023, 34% more than in 2022. Leiden University research shows that countries that import plastic waste from Europe recycle an average of at least 63% of it.

Rules and regulations in the Netherlands - all info is in Dutch unless stated otherwise
The NVRD reports that the government has informed municipalities of the postponement until 2025 of the 2023 reimbursement for litter from SUPs. A bottleneck was getting an implementing organisation operational in time. Verpact will assume this role until then. The state secretary has informed the House about the implications of this. He has also given the Dutch House an update on the DRS, EU uniform labelling and the NCPN obliging companies to incorporate a minimum share of plastic recyclate and bio-based plastics as of 2027. He included a Quick Scan (4.43 MB) on the economical effects of the NCPN and the most recent Monitoring (490 kB) of beverage packaging in litter. Statiegeld Nederland has launched an online location guide with DRS deposit points. Responding to Parliamentary questions on the wave of bankruptcies in the plastic recycling, the state secretary has stated that no additional measures will be taken. The government has published a Roadmap: From disposable to reuse (1.51 MB). According to its Annual Plan 2025 (3.77 MB), ILT will be intensifying the surveillance of SUPs. Research (in English, 9.33 MB) by RIVM (in English) shows that the main sources of microplastics in the environment are tyre erosion, waste and industrial granules.

Rules and regulations in the different countries outside of NL
Australia: The NSW Government is seeking feedback on the Plastics: The Way Forward action plan. Belgium: The Flemish Parliament (in Dutch) reports that the DRS for bottles and cans is not part of the new coalition agreement. Denmark: EPR draft legislation including design criteria has been sent to the EC. France: EUMEPS reports on an official notice (in French) stating that non-recyclable polystyrene is no longer banned from 1 January 2025. Luxembourg: Valorlux reports that non-household packaging must be declared as of 2025. In 2022, the packaging legislation (in French) was amended (in French) to extend the scope. Poland: Draft legislation on the planned DRS has been sent to the EC. UK: The government has published an update of the estimated EPR fees. OPRL reports that mandatory labelling will now not be included in the first stages of EPR. FDF reports that Ministers from the four nations have signalled their support (139 kB) for a producer-led EPR organisation. WRAP has recommended (757 kB) the government to restrict the packaging of uncut fresh produce. US: How2Recycle has launched the Recycle Check QR code. The Accelerating a Circular Economy for Plastics and Recycling Innovation Act has been introduced calling for a 30% minimum recycled content rate in plastic packaging by 2030. California: SB-1053 has been signed banning all plastic carryout bags as of 2026. The government has filed a lawsuit against ExxonMobil for deceiving the public on the recyclability of plastic.
 

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