Activities of Jo LEINEN related to 2018/0172(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (debate) DE
Amendments (28)
Amendment 58 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) CThe measures laid down in this Directive should fully pursue circular approaches that prioritise re-usable products and re-use systems wiover any single-use product. All lmead to a reduction of waste generated, and such preventionsures should, first and foremost, aim at a reduction of waste generated, and promote the prevention of waste as this is at the pinnacle of the waste hierarchy enshrined in Article 4 of Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council.34 Such approaches are also in line wiince any single-use product is prone to have a negative impact on climate or the environment due its short life cycle, priority needs to be given to prevention and re-use of products which can deliver high savings of CO2 and of valuable raw materials. This Directive will contribute to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 1235 to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. __________________ 34 Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 November 2008 on waste and repealing certain Directives (OJ L 312, 22.11.2008, p. 3). 35 The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 25 September 2015.
Amendment 141 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 12 a (new)
Recital 12 a (new)
(12 a) The measures laid down in this Directive which promote the usage of non-plastic alternatives should under no circumstances cause an increase of detrimental effects to the environment and the climate, e.g. additional CO2 emissions or the exploitation of valuable resources. While many of the non-plastic alternatives are made out of natural resources and are expected to origin from the bio-economy, it is especially important to ensure the sustainability of these materials. In respect of the waste hierarchy, the measures laid down in this directive and their implementation should always give priority to prevention or to the transition to re-usable products rather than to other single-use alternatives, even if they are made of non-plastic materials.
Amendment 154 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 14
Recital 14
(14) Certain single-use plastic products end up in the environment as a result of inappropriate disposal through sewers or other inappropriate release into the environment. Therefore, single-use plastic products that are frequently disposed of through sewers otherwise inappropriately disposed of should be subject to marking requirements, consumption reduction targets and awareness-raising measures. The marking should inform consumers about appropriate waste disposal options and/or, waste disposal options to be avoided and/or about the negative environmental impacts of litter as a result of inappropriate disposal and, if relevant, about the existence of alternative products with similar operational characteristics. The Commission should be empowerdelegated to establish a harmonised format for the marking and when doing so should, where appropriate, test the perception of the proposed marking with representative groups of consumers to ensure that it is effective and clearly understandable.
Amendment 207 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) Pursuant to paragraph 22 of the Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on Better Law-Making of 13 April 201648 , the Commission should carry out an evaluation of this Directive. That evaluation should be based on experience gathered and data collected during the implementation of this Directive and data collected under Directive 2008/56/EC or Directive 2008/98/EC. The evaluation should provide the basis for an assessment of possible further measures and an assessment whether, in view of monitoring of marine litter in the Union, the Annex listing single-use plastic products needs to be reviewedextended. The evaluation should assess if, in view of further environmental problems, e.g. impacts on soil caused by littering, the Annex listing single-use plastic products needs to be extended in particular to products that can be easily replaced or avoided, even if they are not frequently found in marine environment . The evaluation should also assess if further measures are needed to address the consumption of non-plastic single use products with the view to extend the Annex to products made out of non- plastic materials. The evaluation should also consider whether scientific and technical progress that has taken place in the meantime, including the development of biodegradable materials and the development of criteria or a standard for biodegradability of plastics in the marine environment, as foreseen in the European Plastics Strategy, allows the setting of a standard for biodegradation of certain single-use plastic products in the marine environment. That standard would include a standard to test if, as a result of physical and biological decomposition in the marine environment, plastics would fully decompose into carbon dioxide (CO2), biomass and water within a timescale short enough for the plastics not to be harmful for marine life and not lead to an accumulation of plastics in the environment. If that is the case, single-use plastic products that meet such a standard could be exempted from the prohibition on placing on the market. While the European Strategy for Plastics already envisages action in this area, it also recognises the challenges in relation to determining a regulatory framework for plastics with biodegradable properties due to different marine conditions across seas. __________________ 48 OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1. OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1.
Amendment 210 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 22
Recital 22
(22) Pursuant to paragraph 22 of the Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union and the European Commission on Better Law-Making of 13 April 201648, the Commission should carry out an evaluation of this Directive. That evaluation should be based on experience gathered and data collected during the implementation of this Directive and data collected under Directive 2008/56/EC or Directive 2008/98/EC. The evaluation should provide the basis for an assessment of possible further measures and an assessment whether, in view of monitoring of marine litter in the Union, the Annex listing single-use plastic products needs to be reviewed. The evaluation should also consider whether scientific and technical progress that has taken place in the meantime, including the development of biodegradable materials and the development of criteria or a standard for biodegradability of plastics in the marine environment, as foreseen in the European Plastics Strategy, allows the setting of a standard for biodegradation of certain single-use plastic productsfishing gear containing plastic in the marine environment. That standard would include a standard to test if, as a result of physical and biological decomposition in the marine environment, plastics would fully decompose into carbon dioxide (CO2), biomass and water within a timescale short enough for the plastics not to be harmful for marine life and not lead to an accumulation of plastics in the environment. If that is the case, single-use plastic products that meet such a standard could be exempted from the prohibition on placing on the market. While the European Strategy for Plastics already envisages action in this area, it also recognises the challenges in relation to determining a regulatory framework for plastics with biodegradable properties due to different marine conditions across seas. ___________________ 48 OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1. OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1.
Amendment 220 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 25 a (new)
Recital 25 a (new)
(25 a) Since plastic marine litter is not limited to the marine environment surrounding the Union and since a huge amount of plastic marine litter can be detected in other parts of the world than the Union, Member States shall ensure that exports of waste materials to third countries do not add to plastic marine litter elsewhere.
Amendment 286 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 1
Member States shall take the necessary measureadopt national plans to achieve a significant reduction, of at least 40%, in the consumption of the single-use plastic products listed in Part A of the Annex on their territory by … [six years after the end-date for transposition of this Directive] and of at least 60% by ... [eight years after the deadline for transposition of this Directive].
Amendment 304 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Those measures may include national consumption reduction targets, measures ensuring that reusable alternatives to those products are made available at the point of sale to the final consumer, economic instruments such as ensuring that single- use plastic products are not provided free of charge at the point of sale to the final consumer, measures ensuring that single- use plastic products are not provided where food and beverages are consumed at the point of sale. Those measures may vary depending on the environmental impact of the products referred to in the first subparagraph.
Amendment 305 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2
Those measures may include national consumption reduction targets,e above-mentioned national plans shall lay down national consumption reduction targets in accordance with the provisions of the previous subparagraph and the measures necessary for achieving them, such as measures ensuring that reusable alternatives to those products are made available at the point of sale to the final consumer, and economic instruments such as ensuring that single- use plastic products are not provided free of charge at the point of sale to the final consumer. Those measures may vary depending on the environmental impact of the products referred to in the first subparagraph.
Amendment 311 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 a (new)
These plans shall be forwarded to the Commission and shall be updated where necessary. The Commission may issue recommendations on the plans adopted.
Amendment 312 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 b (new)
Article 4 – paragraph 1 – subparagraph 2 b (new)
The data forwarded by the Member States pursuant to Article 13(1)(a) within [three years after the end-date for transposition of this Directive], relating to the previous year, shall constitute the benchmark from which to calculate the significant reduction referred to in the first subparagraph of this Article.
Amendment 316 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 2
Article 4 – paragraph 2
2. The Commission mayshall adopt an implementing act laying down the methodology for the calculation and verification of the significant reduction in the consumption of the single-use plastic products referred to in paragraph 1. That implementing act shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 16(2) by... [one year after the end-date for transposition of this Directive].
Amendment 347 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 3
Article 6 – paragraph 3
3. The Commission shall request the European standardisation organisations to develop harmonised standards relating to the requirement referred to in paragraph 1 by [two years after entry into force of this Directive].
Amendment 360 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Member States shall ensure that each single-use plastic product listed in Part D of the Annex placed on the market bears a conspicuous, clearly legible and indelible marking, both on packaging containing several units and on each separate unit, when packaged individually, informing consumers of one or more of the following:
Amendment 379 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point c
Article 7 – paragraph 1 – point c
(c) the presence of plastics in the product and, if applicable, the existence of alternative products with similar operational characteristics.
Amendment 478 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 11 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Member States shall ensure that exports of waste materials to third countries do not add to plastic marine litter elsewhere.
Amendment 499 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point a
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point a
(a) the Annex listing single-use plastic products needs to be reviewedextended, in particular to single-use plastic products that are easily replaceable or avoidable, even if those products are not frequently found in the marine environment;
Amendment 504 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point b
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point b
(b) it is feasible to establish binding quantitative Union targets for the consumption reduction of, in particular, single-use plastic products listed in Part A of the Annexreview the quantitative consumption reduction targets laid down in Article 4;
Amendment 507 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point b a (new)
(b a) the Annex should be extended to single-use non-plastic products;
Amendment 510 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point c
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – point c
Amendment 540 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – part A – indent 2
Annex I – part A – indent 2
— Cups for beverages and their caps and lids
Amendment 546 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – part A – indent 2 a (new)
Annex I – part A – indent 2 a (new)
-- Packets and wrappers made from flexible material containing food that is intended for immediate consumption from the packet or wrapper without any further preparation, such as crisps and sweets packets
Amendment 555 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – part B – indent -1 (new)
Annex I – part B – indent -1 (new)
- Very lightweight plastic carrier bags as defined in Article 3(1d) of Directive 94/62/EC, except when they are compostable under standard CEN 13432
Amendment 643 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – part D – indent 3 c (new)
Annex I – part D – indent 3 c (new)
-- Cups for beverages and their caps and lids
Amendment 653 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – part E – indent 4
Annex I – part E – indent 4
— Cups for beverages and their caps and lids
Amendment 668 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – part E – indent 8
Annex I – part E – indent 8
— Lightweight plastic carrier bags as defined in Article 3(1c) of Directive 94/62/EC and very lightweight plastic carrier bags as defined in Article 3(1d) of Directive 94/62/EC compostable under standard CEN 13432
Amendment 699 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – part G – indent 4
Annex I – part G – indent 4
— Cups for beverages and their caps and lids
Amendment 709 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex I – part G – indent 8
Annex I – part G – indent 8
— Lightweight plastic carrier bags as defined in Article 3(1c) of Directive 94/62/EC and very lightweight plastic carrier bags as defined in Article 3(1d) of Directive 94/62/EC compostable under standard CEN 13432