Green business rubs its hands: “Plastics directive” will have a particularly significant impact in Lithuania

At that time, Saulius Skrodenis, president of the Lithuanian Polystyrene Foam Association, explained that the so-called EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) is a very friendly material for humans and the environment.

The Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists, whose position was handed over to Delfi by Daiva Rimašauskaitė, Acting Head of the Communication Department, also expressed a more critical view of the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on reducing the environmental impact of certain plastic products. adopted in June 2019.

“We cannot agree with the author of the comments and the widespread public opinion that any alternative is better than plastics. And without further investigation, today it is clear that certain supposedly greener alternatives to plastic that are rapidly spreading raise more environmental problems than primary plastic packaging.

For example, paper packaging referred to in the guidelines, which is plastic-lined or plastic-lined, unlike the corresponding disposable plastic products, are not recyclable and can only be incinerated or disposed of in a landfill, ‘ the confederation states.

Lithuania – among the “leaders”

As of July 3, plastic earplugs, cutlery, plates, straws, blenders and balloon sticks will not be marketed on the Community market.

Disposable disposable products (such as bags) and food containers, beverage containers and Styrofoam lids will also be prohibited.

Crawley told Delfi that Europe had long been moving towards reducing plastic consumption.

“But the new directive is probably the strongest step. It has already affected Bagfactory’s business. As a manufacturer of eco-friendly bags, we have noticed that since early 2021, customer interest in our products has increased.

In my opinion, the new EU requirements will have a particularly strong impact on businesses (bag users) in the Baltic region, as official statistics show that this is where the consumption of plastic bags is highest ”, He said.

According to Eurostat data for 2018, per capita in Lithuania it consumes 332 plastic bags per year, in Latvia, 327 plastic bags.

“These are the highest figures in the EU. By comparison, per capita consumption of plastic bags is 100% in the EU, with the lowest use of plastic bags in Germany (20) and Belgium (28). Statistics show that it is the Baltic region companies that will be most affected by the new EU directive: Western European countries have been fighting against plastic consumption for a long time, while Lithuanian companies using plastic bags plastic will have to adapt to the new EU requirements in a short time ”, G Crawley.

According to the director of Bagfactory, in the long term, consumers will be encouraged to switch to reusable bags, and the business will have to adapt to it.

“This is an important moment not only for the customers of the bag makers, but also for the bag makers themselves; In the long run, the competition will be won by those manufacturers using the latest technologies and innovations in bag production.

For example, Bagfactory can already offer reusable bags to the market, but we are not standing still and we are constantly improving, even developing technologies for the production of eco-friendly bags. By the way, we are cooperating with Lithuanian scientists in the development of new technologies for the production of reusable bags, ”he said.

Trying to recycle

S. Skrodenis, director of the association that unites the producers of polystyrene foam (EPS), said that for several decades, EPS has been recycled in the world and is becoming a raw material that is used again to produce EPS.

Researchers from the Polytechnic University of Valencia published a study report in 2010 indicating that the properties of recycled EPS do not deteriorate and that “the properties of the recycled material are actually better than those of the original product.”

Therefore, EMU can be considered as a benchmark for circular economy, it only needs to be collected and recycled. According to a study commissioned by the Danish Environmental Protection Agency, recycling 1 kg of EMU saves 1.8 kg of CO2 compared to producing a completely new EMU, ”he said.

As you know, EPS is used for the insulation of buildings, for example, during renovations, as well as for the interior, the formation of various elements, in industry and in food packaging. However, the new directive will force the EU to abandon the latter.

S. Skrodenis recalled that the European Association of Polystyrene Foam Producers is committed to the European EMU industry will recycle 46% by 2025. EPS waste.

“There are foam processing capabilities in Lithuania. Members of the Lithuanian Styrofoam Association collect and send samples of the produced foam to processors. However, the foam collection must cover all of Lithuania, so that the municipalities, as in Denmark, actively participate in it ”, explained the president of the association.

Recycle only one third

Remigijus Lapinskas, director of the Institute for Green Policy, commented that the Directive to reduce disposable plastic products prohibited the marketing of only a very small part of plastic products.

“The problem of plastic pollution is much deeper. In 2019 alone, more than 100,000 tons of waste were collected and generated during waste treatment in Lithuania. Tons of plastic waste. Only a third of it was recycled or prepared for recycle. “Since plastic raw materials will not be completely abandoned and the planet’s resources are limited, it is necessary to improve recycling rates,” he said.

The interlocutor considered that the promotion of sustainable businesses could solve the problems of plastic.

Therefore, the state must provide effective financial mechanisms that help companies to reorient themselves and allow the creation and expansion of companies that produce alternative products. We already have successful examples of sustainable businesses in Lithuania, but so far most of them are rather niche, so we have to find ways to make them accessible to all inhabitants.

In addition, investment in research and innovation is important, as we do not yet have alternatives for certain products. I think that certain state orders for the recycling of certain materials (secondary raw materials) could also help the business, which would allow to install new plants using new technologies.

There are still many challenges in the requirements of products with plastic parts (housings, etc.). We need to gradually adjust them so that quality products reach the market and manufacturers do not create barriers to repair things. If the product is not suitable for use, the manufacturer should have made its processing possible, ”said R. Lapinskas.

Fines are still being negotiated

According to the representatives of the Ministry of the Environment, Delfi will be able to place other disposable plastic containers for drinks (other than expanded polystyrene foam or aerobically transparent plastic) on the Lithuanian market after July 3, 2021, but they will have to do so. be labeled in accordance with the regulation: beverage containers made in part of plastic (for example, paper with a plastic layer) are marked with a colored imprinted mark, and beverage containers made entirely of plastic are marked with a black and white printed mark or an engraved / embossed mark Mark.

“In accordance with the requirements of the Regulation, the color printed label will also be marked as of July 3. Containers of disposable plastic wet wipes, household wipes, sanitary napkins (pads), tampons and swab applicators, tobacco products with filters and filters sold separately.

However, aerobic reading plastic products, disposable plastic products and unlabeled disposable plastic products purchased from suppliers located in Lithuania before July 2, 2021, may be distributed or consumed after July 3. Therefore, all these changes will not be felt by consumers immediately, but gradually, with the gradual sale of waste, they will have to be replaced by more sustainable alternatives and informatively labeled products.

A transposition package for the Directive has been drawn up. The labeling requirements are established in a binding regulation and directly applicable as of July 3, 2021. in all the Member States of the European Union.

Fines are imposed on manufacturers and importers (importers) of these products for failure to comply with all these requirements, and their specific amounts are still being agreed with the Ministry of Justice, ”the Ministry responded.