PREVENTION OF PLASTIC RAW MATERIAL GRANULE LOSSES WILL BE MANDATORY

EU Publishes Proposal for a Regulation on Preventing Losses of Microplastics (including Plastic Raw Material Granules)

CERTIFICATION WILL GRADUALLY BECOME COMPULSORY FOR COMPANIES PROCESSING/STORING/PRODUCING PLASTIC RAW MATERIALS

As you know, on 25 September 2023, the European Commission adopted measures to restrict microplastics intentionally added to products to protect the environment and human health. The definition of microplastics used in this restriction is stated as all synthetic polymer particles smaller than five millimetres that are organic, insoluble and resistant to biodegradation, and plastic raw material granules are within this scope.

Accordingly, the European Commission published on 17 October 2023 the Proposal for a Regulation on the prevention of granulate loss in order to reduce microplastic pollution (i.e. the unintentional release of microplastics). The proposal is expected to enter into force in the second half of 2024, but in general, the Regulation will enter into force 18 months after its adoption. The scope of the Proposal includes

Good handling practices to prevent granulate loss for all stakeholders: Equipment and procedures, etc.

Mandatory certification and personal declarations: To assist the competent authority in verifying compliance, large and medium-sized companies must obtain a certificate issued by an independent third party, while smaller companies must self-declare their compliance (certification every 3 years for large companies, every 4 years for medium-sized companies, a notification system for small, micro and medium-sized enterprises handling less than 1000 tonnes).

A harmonised methodology for estimating losses: a harmonised methodology will be developed by standardisation bodies to help operators monitor their losses and to address some remaining data gaps.

What happens next?

• All economic operators, both EU and non-EU, will have to comply with the requirements set out in the Regulation for the Regulation on the prevention of losses of plastic granules within 18 months of its entry into force.
• The Commission will continue to work to reduce microplastic pollution.
• Certification will come into force for large and medium-sized companies and the OCS Turkey certification scheme can be used as a blueprint to understand, predict and prevent granulate loss and thus demonstrate compliance with European legislation.

What is Operation Clean Sweep Turkey Certification Programme?

Operation Clean Sweep is an international initiative by the plastics industry to reduce the loss of plastic granules to the environment. It was first developed in the USA in 1990 by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and the Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS). In Turkey, this initiative is carried out by PAGEV and CERTILOOP Certification is the authorised certification body approved by OCS Global for the implementation of the programme in Turkey.