Single use plastic reduction should be a main objective when it comes to implementing a proposed EU-wide reform, conservationists said on Saturday.
In a statement, NGO Friends of the Earth welcomed the publication of the proposal for an EU directive on the reduction of the impact of plastic products on the environment by the European Commission.
It said this should focus on the reduction of single-use plastics and incentivise reusable alternatives as priorities.
It also supported the proposed market restrictions on certain products and said this should be extend to include plastic lollipop sticks, expanded polystyrene and very lightweight plastic bags.
When it comes to consumption reduction on food containers and beverage cups,
FoE said it supported this but thinks there needs to be specific EU-wide targets.
Restrictions on Placing on the Market (Ban) for cotton buds, cutlery, plates, straws and stirrers, and balloon sticks; should also be extended to other products such as very lightweight plastic bags.
"These bags are still widely used, and this is very evident in Malta and often end up in the environment, with similar harmful impacts as lightweight plastic bags," the NGO said.
The directive, it said, needed to close the existing loophole for very lightweight plastic bags by adding them to the list of products restricted/
As for product design requirements for beverage containers; the NGO said it fully supported the idea that single-use plastic drinks containers should only be allowed on the market with tethered cap helping prevent further loss to the environment.
Caps make a significant contribution to plastic pollution, the NGO said, adding that the ‘connect the cap’ policy should be introduced for all beverage bottles.
Marking (Labelling) Requirements for sanitary towels, wet wipes, and balloons was also a positive for the NGO.
And the proposal for extended producer responsibility for food containers, packets and wrappers, beverage containers and cups, tobacco products with filters, wet wipes, balloons and lightweight plastic carrier bags also got the thumbs up.
Making producers foot the bill for the clean-up costs would ensure there was a strong economic incentive for them to: redesign their products; work with the municipalities to ensure high collection of their products; and team up with other companies to set up reusable systems for their products, where possible.
"The problem of marine litter is not new and it is well known to these producers and companies. By not supporting the proposed inclusion of full cost coverage of clean-up, business as usual will prevail, where citizens are blamed for the poor collection of products that end up in the natural environment," the NGO said.