Members of the European Parliament and EU member governments have only recently come to an agreement on new legislative measures. This would help prevent the risk of accidental microplastic pollution from nurdles—the small plastic pellets used in producing common items such as toys and plastic soda bottles—from occurring at an alarmingly high rate. This new legislation is a groundbreaking leap toward an incredible climate crisis exacerbated by microplastics. The European Commission has estimated that more than 50,000 tonnes of nurdles are accidentally released into the environment annually.
According to other experts, even that estimate is too optimistic and the real number may be up to 184,000 tonnes. Our modern world is flooded with nurdles. Now the impact of their transport on microplastic pollution has been documented, demonstrating an immediate need for a regulatory crackdown. Under the new rules, companies that are shipping nurdles must make sure they are packaged in a way that avoids spilling during transit.
According to the new law, businesses that transport and process over 1,500 tonnes of plastic pellets annually must get third-party verified certification. This certification would establish their adherence to the new regulations. In addition, all medium and large operators will be required to undergo independent audits to ensure compliance with these regulations. This legislation uniquely recognizes the important role of maritime transport. It squarely addresses the issues highlighted by the recent container ship disasters, which have escalated microplastic contamination to a crisis level.
The International Maritime Organisation will issue guidelines specifying the cargo documentation that should be required from companies transporting nurdles. This action puts the responsibility back on polluters. Its objective is to avert future ecological catastrophes such as disasters that have already occurred in several central and western European countries.
“By holding polluters accountable, we can prevent future ecological disasters like those already witnessed in Spain, the Netherlands, and the North Sea, where millions of plastic pellets have washed ashore and contaminated the land,” – César Luena
Environmental advocates have praised this new legislation as an essential step to protecting our ecosystems from the damaging effects of microplastics. Frédérique Mongodin, a leading advocate in the global movement against plastic pollution, shared her relief that the regulations had been adopted.
“It is a huge relief to see EU decision-makers endorse a binding regulation with a broader scope to fight both land- and sea-based sources of pellet microplastic pollution,” – Frédérique Mongodin
Mongodin further highlighted the importance of a coordinated approach, stating, “The Commission got it right by adopting a supply chain approach to ensure a uniform implementation of prevention and clean-up measures.”
The new legislation builds on previous efforts. It comes on the heels of a law passed in September 2023 that started the phase-out of PFAS purposely added to products like lipstick and artificial sports fields. Unfortunately, nurdles have become a major contributor to the microplastics pollution crisis across the globe. They have pervaded almost every organism on our planet, underscoring the widespread nature and scope of this issue.
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