A mikroműanyagok az ökoszisztémák legsúlyosabb szennyezői közé tartoznak, és minden élőlényre károsak lehetnek. Megvizsgáljuk, hogyan csökkentheti az új szabályozás a nagyobb termékek gyártásához használt műanyag pellet szállítása során gyakran előforduló szennyeződést.
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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!