SUP-Directive
Single use plastics, most of which come from packaging, is an ever larger source of the plastic soup. The European Union intends to take action and has thus compiled the SUP-Directive.
Precautionary Principle
To combat the plastic soup, governments take measures to prevent ocean pollution based on accepted legal principles. The precautionary principle is one of the best known. This principle means that a government may take measures to prevent possible harmful effects, even if definitive proof of damage has not yet been identified. The government may, or even must, do this if there is a risk of irreversible damage. In such a case, the lack of scientific evidence should not be used to postpone the adoption of preventative measures against ocean pollution.
Rio Declaration (1992)
In 1992 the United Nations produced the ‘Rio Declaration on Environment and Development’. Of the 27 principles proclaimed in the document, the fifteenth, is about the precautionary principle: “In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by States according to their capabilities. Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.”
Intentionally added microplastics
In early 2019, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) made a proposal to the European Commission for banning microplastics intentionally added to cosmetics, detergents, paints, and agricultural and industrial products. Cefic (the European Chemical Industry Council), which represents the interests of producers, immediately engaged an international law firm to prevent the ban. According to their lawyers, the scientific evidence, in this case, would be insufficient to be able to apply the precautionary principle. ECHA’s response to this is that although scientific knowledge on this subject is only slowly increasing, many examples of adverse effects of microplastics can already be found in the literature. According to ECHA, there is sufficient information available to justify a ban.
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Polluter Pays Principle
The polluter pays principle is that someone is financially responsible for the elimination of the pollution they cause.
Extended producer responsibility
The extended producer responsibility applies when it comes to plastic packaging and littering. However, little has been done so far.
Source of Plastic Pollution
Single-use plastic ban is one of the ways to tackle the source of plastic pollution, but is it enough? Learn more about ways to stop plastic at its source.
