The growth of single-use, throwaway culture has drastically escalated the accumulation of plastic in our environment. In 2023, ECOS worked to curb this growing problem – in different parts of the world.

Plastic pollution occurs at all levels of the value chain: pellet and other microparticles are lost during production, transport, and processing of raw materials, while plastic products are littered, landfilled, or incinerated, causing harm to our planet. Not to mention all the chemical substances added to plastics, which can have negative impacts on human health. Action is urgently needed – enter ECOS, together with our partners from global and regional movements, such as Break Free From Plastic and Rethink Plastic alliance.

A global push 

In 2023, ECOS has worked to reduce plastic pollution, and make plastics toxic-free, more circular and sustainable – through international treaties, EU policies, and projects at a local level. Crucially, we are also pushing for effective standardisation across the many varied uses of plastics, including tyre abrasion, textile microplastic shedding and reusable packaging.

By expanding where and how we approach the plastic crisis, ECOS is creating stronger partnerships, and more effectively supporting international action on plastics, leveraging the crucial role of standardisation. 

The opportunity for an international action on plastics  

The negotiations on an international UN Plastics Treaty originated in March 2022, when 175 nations voted to create a legally binding international agreement to “reduce plastic pollution, including in the marine environment […] based on a comprehensive approach that addresses the full life cycle of plastic.” ECOS has been part of global movement against plastic pollution, Break Free From Plastic, for a long time, so it was only natural that we should participate in the Treaty negotiations as an observer, and provide extensive feedback on the zero-draft of the treaty.

As a result, some UN delegations and stakeholders continue to contact us for our expertise and advice on how standards can help achieve the goals of the Treaty. We provide them with invaluable insights into biodegradability standards, fishing gear design, tyre abrasion, and reusable packaging among others.

Targeting packaging in the EU

Meanwhile, the EU decided to step up action on packaging – and rightly so, given that 40% of discarded plastics come from this sector. EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) aims at making all packaging reusable or recyclable by 2030, and introduces requirements which will help reduce over-packaging, and packaging waste. Together with our partners from the Rethink Plastic alliance, we advocated for the planet  as the European Parliament debated the PPWR – amidst some of the most intense industry lobbying in EU history.

We secured the adoption of sustainability criteria for reusable packaging, as well as acknowledgement of the importance of standardisation for efficient reuse systems. The result was not as ambitious as we would have liked but there is still hope for the trilogue negotiations – we will keep pushing for a regulation that truly protects our environment! 

Tackling a global crisis with local action

Conscious that pollution knows no boundaries, we decided not to focus on only one region of the world. At a local level, ECOS is working with the Mekong Institute in Khoan Kaen, Thailand to assess single-use packaging on local street food markets. Through this cooperation, we are looking for ways to directly reduce single-use plastic consumption. Things are moving forward: in 2023 we convened local stakeholders at a workshop, where we presented findings and discussed single-use plastic reduction strategies.

A holistic, global approach to plastic pollution could be an essential piece of the puzzle to reach the 2030 sustainable development goals, driving sustainability in plastics as we look to reusable, longer-lasting products.

Working at different levels, with policymakers, standardisers, researchers and fellow campaigners, ECOS will push to get us there. One reusable bottle at a time.