EU chems regulator plan to restrict microplastics ‘very difficult’ to implement

LONDON (ICIS)–The EU’s chemicals industry has given a cold reception to a proposal from the regulator which would sharply reduce the use of microplastics in several downstream sectors.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) is to propose to the European Commission – the EU’s executive body – a 20-year plan which would prevent 500,000 tonnes of microplastics being released to the environment during the 20-year plan implementation.

Among others, microplastics are common in cosmetics, fertilizers, or detergents.

ECHA said the plan’s potential high costs would be justified to avoid the environmental harm microplastics imply; the regulator said costs during the 20-year plan’s implementation could stand between €10.8bn and €19.1bn, depending on how far the restrictions would go.

For industry, the costs would come from reformulating microplastic-free products that would still have similar functions or alternatively sourcing alternative raw materials “which may be more costly”, said ECHA.

The industry would also be expected to chip in in costs related to compliance, as would national governments when enforcing these strictest rules.

“These costs … include both administrative and analytical or testing costs,” said ECHA.

GOOD INTENTIONS, COLD RECEPTION
But EU trade group Cefic said that the methods to identify microplastics are not yet available after the definition of microplastics was broadened, making “very difficult” to implement the plan.

EU chemicals are subject to the Reach regulatory framework, the strictest in the world, and often complain the costs associated to regulation are the highest globally, making them uncompetitive against chemicals in other major jurisdictions like the US or China.

“The restriction will have a major impact not only on the chemical sector but on the European industry at large, touching on many downstream value chains from agriculture to sports, construction, textiles, cosmetics, and medical devices,” said Cefic.

“As legislation will only be effective if it is enforceable, Cefic highlights that the technical hurdles for detecting microplastics must be first overcome to ensure the proposed restrictions can be implemented and enforced across the range of industrial sectors now concerned.”

The proposal by ECHA will be sent to the Commission at the start of 2021; this has to then be approved by the EU’s 27 national governments – the Council – as well as the European Parliament.

Cefic concluded any restrictions on the use of microplastics should be “pragmatic, effective and enforceable”.

OMMIPRESENT MICROPLASTICS
Microplastics have become common in several industries and its high use in specific products has been deemed by ECHA’s scientific committees as highly dangerous.

A specific concern is the infill materials going into artificial turf sports pitches, widely used by children, which are the biggest source of pollution, releasing to the environment 16,000 tonnes/year of microplastics, out of the estimated 42,000 tonnes/year total emissions.

Were the restrictions to be implemented, artificial turf sport pitches would be given a six-year transition period, but a total ban would follow.

Many other sectors also use variable levels of microplastics; apart from the aforementioned cosmetics, fertilizers and detergents, tyres is of specific concern as they shred in contact with the asphalt, releasing the microplastics into the atmosphere.

Paints and inks can also contain microplastics, although in levels that do not always lead to environmental harm, said ECHA.

“These uses are not proposed to be prohibited but would need to be reported to ECHA to ensure that residual releases are monitored and could be controlled in the future,” added the regulator.

“Suppliers would also be obligated to give instructions on how residual releases can be minimised.”

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