![]() These account for 15-31% of microplastics found in the ocean. ![]() The first is small particles directly released from washing synthetic clothes, tyres worn down when driving, and microplastics in personal care products, like facial scrubs. There are two sources of microplastics pollution. They can be ingested by animals and then accumulate as they make their way up the food chain. Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic, usually smaller than five millimetres. The six countries call on Brussels to follow suit and “introduce the necessary measures to reach the proposed reduction target” for microplastics. Last year, the European Commission ran a public consultation on an initiative “to tackle microplastics unintentionally released into the environment” to create a law to label, standardise, certify and regulate the main sources of microplastics.Īccording to the EU executive, this would improve knowledge about the risks and occurrence of microplastics in the environment, tap water and food, and reduce the environmental impact and potential health risks. In addition, there are indications that microplastics can harm human health and ecosystems, including aquatic species,” they continue. “They spread through the air, water and soil and are even found in biota and human bodies. They take on various shapes and sizes,” the six countries write in a joint statement dated Wednesday (26 April). ![]() “Microplastics end up in the environment at all stages of the plastics lifecycle – production, use and disposal. However, the document insists that this must be underpinned by EU legislation. The joint statement, seen by EURACTIV, and signed by Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Norway, welcomes the EU’s aim to reduce microplastics entering the environment by 30% by 2030. Five EU countries and Norway have called on the European Union to propose an ambitious law to prevent microplastics pollution further clogging up the environment.
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