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The European Parliament\u2019s environment committee voted on a proposal that would introduce new rules on plastics including bans on certain single-use plastic products responsible for marine pollution, and require European governments to set reduction targets for others.<\/span><\/p>\n Campaigners are concerned that the committee\u2019s proposed definition of \u2018single-use\u2019 plastic items is too narrow, and could lead to producers easily avoiding bans, and would allow them to ignore reduction targets and other measures to reduce plastic pollution. [1]<\/span><\/p>\n Speaking on behalf of the Rethink Plastic alliance,<\/span> Greenpeace EU chemicals policy director Kevin Stairs\u200b<\/b> said: <\/span>\u201cThis loophole is a serious oversight by the Parliament and goes against common sense. Everyone knows a throwaway plastic cup or straw when they see one \u2013 companies simply marketing them as reusable won\u2019t stop pollution of our rivers and oceans. A turtle choked on relabelled plastic is still a dead turtle.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n The environment committee added very lightweight plastic bags, polystyrene food and drink containers, and products made of \u2018oxo-degradable\u2019 plastic [2] to the list of banned items originally proposed by the European Commission. The proposed rules would also require plastic bottles to be made with 35% recycled plastic and introduce collection and recycling targets for fishing gear, a key contributor to marine pollution.<\/span><\/p>\n The European Parliament will vote in plenary in the week of 22 October on the environment committee\u2019s proposals.<\/span><\/p>\n Yesterday, the global Break Free From Plastic movement published the results of 239 clean-ups and brand audits in 42 countries on six continents, revealing the extent of plastic pollution. The companies responsible for the most plastic pollution were Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestl\u00e9. Full details at <\/span>bit.ly\/brandauditreport2018<\/span><\/a>.<\/b><\/p>\n On the same day, a <\/span>260,000-strong petition<\/span><\/a> calling for the legislation to hold companies responsible for plastic pollution was delivered to members of the European Parliament\u2019s environment committee by Rethink Plastic, Break Free From Plastic and Sum of Us.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Notes:<\/b><\/p>\n [1] The definition supported by the European Parliament\u2019s environment committee concerns any plastic product \u201cdesigned or placed on the market to be used only once over a short time span before it is discarded\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n [2] Oxo-degradable plastics are supposedly biodegradable plastics, which in reality break down into small fragments and contribute to harmful microplastic pollution in the oceans and other ecosystems.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Contacts:<\/b><\/p>\n Kevin Stairs, Greenpeace EU chemicals policy director: <\/b>kevin.stairs@greenpeace.org, +32 476 961376<\/span><\/p>\n Greenpeace EU press desk<\/b>: +32 (0)2 274 1911,\u00a0pressdesk.eu@greenpeace.org<\/a><\/p>\n