The plastic waste trade in the circular economy

The plastic waste trade in the circular economy

Europe is at crossroads regarding its management of plastic, plastic waste and the plastic waste trade.

Rapidly growing amounts of plastic have negative environmental and climate impacts. Plastic and plastic waste are traded worldwide. Exporting plastic waste from the EU to Asia is a means of dealing with insufficient recycling capacities in the EU. Waste import restrictions in China have shifted exports to other countries. Because some types of plastic waste have been added to the United Nations Basel Convention, the option of exporting plastic waste is becoming increasingly difficult. This requires policymakers, business and other actors to build a more robust and circular economy for plastic in Europe.

The European Environment Agency’s (EEA) briefing provides an overview of exports of plastic waste from the 28 EU Member States (EU-28) to other countries and discusses its possible consequences and opportunities.

Source and full EEA briefing: https://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/waste/resource-efficiency/the-plastic-waste-trade-in