Brussels, 3 July 2017 - More than 7 months after the transposition deadline of the EU Plastic bags directive, environmental NGOs celebrate today the 8th edition of the International Plastic Bag Free Day. In this important year where plastic pollution of ocean is considered a priority global concern, the compliance and ambition levels of EU Member States to reduce plastic bags fall short of expectations.

Challenges arise from lack of uniform reporting methods in measuring waste reduction efforts. Advocates in the US demonstrate the need for a new metric to standardize measurement and comparison across US states. This discrepancy among US municipalities and states translates to the EU: member states are similarly void of uniform reporting. Both US and EU member states will benefit from such a standardized measurement.

The minister describes that approach as “gradual” and which in a few months will result in a total ban on the manufacture and sale of plastic bags in Tunisia.

European Parliament to reinforce more ambitious recycling targets within the long-awaited Circular Economy Package

The importance of differentiating between the two