21^st Eco-gen Ambassador Program- Free Topic Report, February 2019

According to a recent draft law, the European Union (EU) intends to implement strict laws to the control use of Microplastics in a range of consumer products including cosmetics, paints, detergents, some farm, medical and other products.

 

What are Microplastics

Microplastics are small, barely visible pieces of plastic less than five millimeters in length. They persist in the environment at high levels, particularly in natural aquatic and marine ecosystems after entering ecosystems from a variety of sources, including cosmetics, clothing, and industrial processes.

 

Two classifications of Microplastics currently exist. Primary Microplastics are any plastic fragments or particles that are already 5.0 mm in size or less before entering the environment. These include Microfibers from clothing, Microbeads, and plastic pellets (also known as nurdles).

 

Secondary Microplastics are result of degradation and natural weathering of larger plastic products once they enter the environment through processes. Such sources of secondary Microplastics include water and soda bottles, fishing nets, and plastic bags.

 

Please watch the video in the link below for a clear graphic and easy to follow explanation on Microplastics.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAiIGd_JqZc&feature=youtu.be

Why are Microplastics a problem?

The small size of Microplastics prevents them from being picked up by water filtration and they make their way into rivers and oceans. They make their way up the aquatic food chains as fish and other smaller aquatic animals such as worms, zooplankton, and crustaceans eat them. These animals can feel full because their stomachs are full of plastic and not get enough of food that they actually need. Further humans eat fish and sea salt, therefore, ultimately, the plastic ends up in our bodies too. Since animal and human digestive systems cannot digest them, plastics accumulate inside the bodies as potential health hazards.

 

The Menace of Microplastics

As per statistics from the European Chemicals Agency, 10000 to 60000 tonnes of Microplastics generating pollution equivalent to that caused by 60 billion plastic bottles, leak into the environment every year, their volume six times the size of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Impossible to remove and non-bio degradable, Microplastics stay and accumulate in the environment for thousands of years, thus demanding strict restriction on Microplastic ingredients under REACH, the strictest set of chemical laws in the world.

 

REACH Compliance

Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) is a European Union regulation dating from 18 December 2006. REACH addresses the production and use of chemical substances, and their potential impacts on both human health and the environment. As of today, REACH compliance is only mandatory on products produced in or shipped into the EU and member countries. However, REACH is having a global effect since many other jurisdictions have similar or pending legislations. Moreover, many products from other parts of the world have to follow this compliance if they have to be sold in the EU.

 

How will the new regulation control Microplastics

The ban on Microplastics is part of an EU wide plastic strategy that targets Europe to be the first continent to start banning many types of single use plastic by 2021. Expected to become a law all across Europe by 2020, the restriction plans to prevent an estimated 400,000 tonnes of plastic pollution. It will start with restricting one sector, namely cleansing products made by few firms that have already pledged to stop using Microplastic. Other sectors will be granted 2-6 years before the law takes effect. After public consultation this summer, the proposal will be subject to economic, social and risk assessments, followed by a vote by government experts. Cosmetics and personal care companies will be required to work on their commitment, information transparency, deadlines and application scope to the phase-out of Microbeads.

 

Conclusion

Through this forum, I want to introduce REACH to young leaders worldwide, so that through them it reaches policy makers, activits and general public in various nations finaly contributing to a global attack on plastic menace starting with the smallest of plastics.

 

Sources and References

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microplastics

https://eeb.org/eu-moves-to-ban-Microplastics-in-most-products/

https://www.cosmeticsbusiness.com/news/article_page/Greenpeace_ranks_30_cosmetics_companies_on_Microbead_action/119844