Microplastics are among the worst polluters for all ecosystems and can be harmful to all life. We look at how new regulations could reduce the contamination that often occurs during the transport of plastic pellets used in the manufacture of larger products.
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00:00Plastics are among the worst polluters to all ecosystems and microplastics are particularly concerning.
00:20They are from 5mm down to microscopic levels and can be harmful to all life.
00:25Contamination of nature often happens during transport by land and sea of plastic pellets that are used to make larger products.
00:35At UDECODE we explain new regulation to reduce this pollution.
00:39Microplastics contaminate soil, which can harm agriculture.
00:44Spillage into waterways and the sea leads to ingestion by animals, including fish, which are then in turn eaten by humans.
00:52Pollution on beaches also negatively affects tourism.
00:56Recent shipping spills have occurred in northwest Spain, Galicia and in the North Sea, affecting the Netherlands.
01:04Inadvertent consumption of microplastics can pose health issues, such as lower fertility and cancer, according to some scientific studies.
01:13Let's hear to what extent Europeans are aware and concerned about microplastic risks.
01:19I think the European Union could decide to use less plastic, as well as in the industry, as well as in our daily consumption.
01:27Or even to try to sensitize more people in the European countries.
01:34It's everywhere.
01:36Which, I mean, isn't brilliant, but I guess we don't really know what effects up will have long term.
01:41I believe that we're looking for a lot, because we're looking for a lot of damage.
01:46I've heard that now they can be able to pass through a cell that we have in the brain, so they go through the circulation of our blood.
01:55They have even increased in the supply of health care.
01:58Euronews reporter Greg Warlory has been following this dossier.
02:02So, what will be the new obligations for the companies that store plastic pallets and for those that transport them?
02:09The big companies that handle above 1,500 tons a year will have to get a certification by a third independent party.
02:17The small companies that still handle above 1,500 tons a year will have lighter obligations, like one-off certification,
02:27in the five years after they enter into force of the regulation.
02:30And you have the small companies that handle less than 1,500 tons a year, and the micro-enterprises,
02:38they will have to issue a self-declaration of conformity.
02:41And in practice, these companies have to do what?
02:44Train the people that work there, have more technical means when there is an accidental spillage?
02:49They will have to, indeed, because contamination can occur at different stages of the process.
02:54It can be the production, it can be the processing, the distribution.
02:56So, they will have, indeed, to provide all this kind of staff training, organizing to make sure that we, they reduce pallets losses.
03:07Some non-governmental organizations were a bit critical, saying there are too many exemptions, too much delay to enter into force.
03:16What is at stake?
03:17For instance, NGOs argue that most of SMEs are actually representing the vast majority of making up the plastic supply chain,
03:30accounting for 98% in conversion and 97% in transport and storage.
03:37The maritime sector got an additional year for the transition, and NGOs argue that, actually, the vast majority of European vessels are already following the international recommendations.
03:51And finally, why will non-EU companies also be included in this regulation?
03:56So, pellets are very mobile. They can be dispersed by air, water, land. It can occur at all stages of the supply chain.
04:07And the highest risks are actually in the loading and unloading. So, the EU wants to make sure to get all the companies within the regulations.
04:17Each year, the equivalent of up to 7,300 truckloads of plastic pellets are lost to the environment.
04:25The new rules are expected to reduce plastic pellet losses by up to 74%.
04:30But plastic pellets rank third among the largest sources of microplastic release after paints and tires.
04:37Textiles and detergent capsules are other significant sources of this pollution.
04:41Let's talk more about this topic with one of the shadow operators for this regulation in the European Parliament, Spanish Socialist César Luena.
04:52¿Cómo se puede garantizar que las empresas van a aplicar estas normas, sobre todo aquellas que no pertenecen a la Unión Europea?
05:03Fuera del territorio de la Unión Europea no podemos garantizar nada,
05:06pero aquellas empresas de fuera que trabajen, que operen dentro de nuestro territorio tendrán que tener un representante autorizado
05:14que explique cómo cumple con las normas europeas a cada autoridad competente en los Estados miembros.
05:21Por tanto, si ocurre una desgracia o un accidente, inmediatamente vamos a ver la empresa y vamos a tener este representante autorizado.
05:29¿Por qué el transporte marítimo tendrá tres años para cumplir estas normas, en lugar de dos, como las otras empresas,
05:37cuando la contaminación del mar es tan elevada?
05:40Pues porque países como, los puedo nombrar, no tengo ningún problema, como Chipre, como Grecia, como Malta, como Croacia,
05:49sí pedían esos tres años porque necesitaban más tiempo.
05:52A cambio, hicimos que el Consejo, que los países miembros aceptaran, por ejemplo, la propuesta del Parlamento sobre el etiquetado,
06:00que tuvieron el etiquetado claramente donde se detalle, se describan los materiales y los peligros que pueden tener
06:07si se pierden esos materiales, si se vierten al suelo o a las aguas.
06:12Para 2030, la Unión debe reducir la liberación de microplásticos al medio ambiente en un 30%.
06:19¿Se están evaluando adecuadamente otras fuentes de contaminación para alcanzar ese objetivo?
06:26Sí, yo creo que sí.
06:28Todo lo previsto en el Pacto Verde Europeo, desde las políticas de economía circular,
06:36hasta las políticas que hablan de residuos urbanos, de agua potable, de la pintura, textiles, etc.
06:42Entonces, si aplicamos lo que teníamos previsto, llegaremos y cumpliremos.
06:48Pero si dudamos y caemos en las cesiones a la extrema derecha, pues quizá no.
06:54La Unión Europea ha prohibido los plásticos de uno solo uso y existen innovaciones como materiales biodegradables.
07:02Pero no debería la Unión ser más activa en la promoción de alternativas al plástico para los consumidores.
07:08Tenemos por un lado el reglamento de ecodiseño, los trabajos en el programa Horizonte Europa
07:14y un reglamento que se revisó en el mandato pasado sobre los materiales reciclables y de un solo uso.
07:24Creo que ese conjunto de tres cosas debieran tener una visión única, un plan único
07:29y por tanto así creo que también seríamos más eficaces.
07:33Violaciones de las nuevas reglas sobre el plástico y el transporte de plástico
07:37pueden llevar a fines de más de 3% de las compañías que se han convertido en la Unión Europea.
07:43Los gobiernos detienen la iniciativa para iniciar procedimientos criminales en caso de contaminación severa.
07:50Pero el mayor desafío sigue persuadiendo a la gente a usar más plásticos en nuestras vidas diarias.
07:55¡Gracias!