Stemming the plastic tide: global partnerships to reduce pollution

Plastic production has skyrocketed, going from 2 million metric tons in 1950 to 380 million metric tons in 2015; and is expected to further triple in the next two decades. The increased use of plastics has resulted in a corresponding increase in plastic pollution. Leakage of plastics into natural systems endangers the quality of soil and water, impacting on marine life and the human food chain. Too often, the way plastics are currently produced, used and discarded, fails to capture the economic benefits of a more 'circular' approach, and harms the environment.

The online event "Stemming the plastic tide: global partnerships to reduce pollution" during GREEN WEEK 2021 will discuss how best the EU can contribute to global efforts to switch to circular models and tackle plastic pollution.

The EU acknowledges the interlinkages between circularity, climate neutrality and the zero-pollution ambition in its Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) and the European Green Deal. The CEAP prioritises action on plastics as one of the key value chains which requires urgent action, including at global level. Building on the European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy, the EU aims to support efforts at international level to reach a global agreement on plastics and to promote the uptake of a circular economy approach on plastics.

Register here.

Visit the Green Week event page for more information on speakers.