MICROPLASTICS
ECHA proposals on microplastics ban receive committee support / Inclusion of materials in synthetic turf
In the latest on the European Chemicals Agency’s (ECHA, Helsinki / Finland; www.echa.europa.eu) proposal to restrict microplastics that are intentionally added to products on the EU/EEA market (see Plasteurope.com of 01.02.2019), the ECHA’s risk assessment committee (RAC) supports the ban. The restrictions would to apply concentrations of more than 0.01% weight by weight.
 Football pitch turf could be subject to microplastics restrictions in future (Photo: ECHA) |
Regarding biodegradable plastics, which are excluded from the restriction according to specific ECHA test methods and criteria, the RAC would like to see more evidence that the relevant microplastics are biodegradable in the environment, including soil and water.
The RAC also recommends a complete ban on microplastics as infill material on synthetic turf, such as used for football pitches. It envisions this following a transition period of six years.
With respect to the definition of “microplastic”, typically regarded as smaller than 5 mm, the ECHA proposal includes lowering the size limit for the definition to less than 100 nm. However, the RAC does not think it necessary since the ban could be enforced in other ways, “such as by looking at raw materials in supply chains.”
According to the European Commission, approximately 50,000 t/y of microplastics are estimated to be used in the EU/EEA region, with 42,000 t/y released into the environment. This figure does not include material used in artificial turf, and estimations are that this could contribute another 16,000 t of microplastics released annually. The proposed microplastics ban was developed along with the EU “Plastics Strategy” (see Plasteurope.com of 19.01.2018).
In the next step, the tentative schedule has a 60-day consultation of the ECHA socio-economic analysis committee’s (SEAC) draft opinion. The combined final opinion of the RAC and SEAC is planned to be submitted to the European Commission by the end of 2020. When everything goes according to plan, discussions with EU member states and a vote would follow in 2021, with the microplastics restrictions adopted in 2022 following agreements by the European Council and European Parliament.
The RAC also recommends a complete ban on microplastics as infill material on synthetic turf, such as used for football pitches. It envisions this following a transition period of six years.
With respect to the definition of “microplastic”, typically regarded as smaller than 5 mm, the ECHA proposal includes lowering the size limit for the definition to less than 100 nm. However, the RAC does not think it necessary since the ban could be enforced in other ways, “such as by looking at raw materials in supply chains.”
According to the European Commission, approximately 50,000 t/y of microplastics are estimated to be used in the EU/EEA region, with 42,000 t/y released into the environment. This figure does not include material used in artificial turf, and estimations are that this could contribute another 16,000 t of microplastics released annually. The proposed microplastics ban was developed along with the EU “Plastics Strategy” (see Plasteurope.com of 19.01.2018).
In the next step, the tentative schedule has a 60-day consultation of the ECHA socio-economic analysis committee’s (SEAC) draft opinion. The combined final opinion of the RAC and SEAC is planned to be submitted to the European Commission by the end of 2020. When everything goes according to plan, discussions with EU member states and a vote would follow in 2021, with the microplastics restrictions adopted in 2022 following agreements by the European Council and European Parliament.
18.06.2020 Plasteurope.com [245329-0]
Published on 18.06.2020
German version of this article...