Page 28 - Plastics News Issue December 2024
P. 28
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
and implementing fees to incentivize sustain- ing California and Oregon, enact similar laws, the
able packaging designs. EPR laws aim to create shift to a circular economy becomes increasingly
shared responsibility between producers and achievable.
service providers, promoting efficient recycling
systems and reducing the environmental impact Effectively designed EPR laws promise sig-
of packaging waste. nificant benefits, including reducing municipal
waste management costs, decreasing pollution,
EPR programs have a proven track record glob- and encouraging innovation in packaging mate-
ally, with countries achieving packaging recy- rials. By holding producers accountable for the
cling rates as high as 80%. Minnesota’s newly lifecycle of their products, these laws propel in-
established EPR law, for example, mandates dustries toward sustainable practices. With con-
producers reimburse local service providers for tinued refinement and expansion, EPR laws have
managing waste, while performance targets the potential to transform the packaging indus-
encourage waste reduction and the use of re- try, fostering a circular economy where materi-
cycled materials. By modulating fees based on als are reused, waste is minimized, and natural
material types, these programs incentivize pro- resources are preserved for future generations.
ducers to adopt eco-friendly designs, such as Source :- Recycling Today
replacing fossil fuel-based plastics with renew-
able fibers and starches. As more states, includ-
Indian govt opposes regulating production
of primary plastic polymers
finalize a legally binding treaty to combat plastic
pollution. Unfortunately, the meeting concluded
without reaching an agreement.
During the closing plenary of the fifth meeting
of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Commit-
tee (INC), India’s lead negotiator, Naresh Pal
Gangwar, articulated concerns that regulating
primary plastic production could infringe upon
the development rights of nations. He empha-
n a significant stance against global regula- sized that the treaty should focus exclusively on
tory measures, the Indian government has ex- addressing plastic pollution without overlapping
Ipressed its opposition to any proposals aimed with existing international agreements.
at regulating the production of primary plastic
polymers. This declaration came during a recent "India would like to state its inability to support
global meeting in Busan, South Korea, where ne- any measures to regulate the production of pri-
gotiators from nearly 200 nations convened to mary plastic polymers as it has larger implica-
tions in respect of the right to development of
28 PLASTICS NEWS December 2024
