Microplastics and leakage to water courses and the oceans

Transcription

1 Microplastics and leakage to water courses and the oceans G7 Plastics Workshop in the context of 2030 Agenda implementation and towards G7 collaborative activities Brussels, March 2018 Giulia Sagnotti General-Directorate for Waste Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea / T.A. Sogesid - ITALY

2 EU and Italy s Measures on Plastics and Microplastics 1) EU Waste Framework Directive (2008/98/EU); Packaging and Waste Packaging Directive (94/62/EU); EU Action Plan on circular economy as set in COM(2015) 614 of 2 December 2015; Waste package: new target on recycling of municipal and packaging waste European Strategy for Plastics in a Circular Economy as set in COM (2018) 5477 of 18 January 2018;

3 EU and Italy s Measures on Plastics and Microplastics 2) Italy Ban of traditional plastic shopping bags since 2014; Law 28/12/2015 N.221, so-called «Collegato Ambientale» art 40 on micro-waste; Ban of cotton swabs with plastic stem from 1 January 2019 as set in Law 27/12/2017 N. 205 (2018 Budget Law); Ban of microplastics from cosmetics from 1 January 2020 as set in Law 27/12/2017 N. 205 (2018 Budget Law). Decree 15/02/2017 on cigarettes residues and other micro-waste Guidelines on comunication against littering Research partnership with ENEA for the study of plastic recycling and strategies

4 LIFE+ Projects on Marine Litter MERMAIDS (LIFE13 ENV/IT/001069) The main objective of the project is to contribute to the mitigation of the impact caused by micro and/or nanoplastics resulting from laundry waste water on European seas ecosystems, by demonstrating and implementing innovative technologies and additives for laundry processes and textile finishing treatments. In particular, the MERMAIDS project has aimed: To demonstrate innovative additives to improve textile finishing treatments, To implement innovative additives for detergent products and laundry products, To develop a set of policy recommendations based on the analysis of international and participant country policies and legislation, To elaborate good practices guidelines for textile industry, detergent manufacturers and consumers, To estimate the environmental, social and economic impact of the project.

5 Results achieved 1. Microplastics release a. effect of detergent : Powder products increase the release b. effect of textile characteristics : Woven polyester (PEC) fabrics release more than knitted ones (PEP) and polypropylene (PP) c. role of liquid products : Softener products produce the lowest amount of released fibres form PEC d. effect of washing conditions : High temperature, water hardness and higher mechanical action damage the fabrics e. effect of industrial washing : Industrial washing increases fibre loss. Powder products increase more the release 2. Environmental Benefits of MERMAIDS solutions (% microplastics release reduction) a. Industrial laundry : 6,96% in current scenario - around 70% in future scenario b. Domestic laundry : 23,58% in current scenario - 69,90% in future scenario 3. Mitigation strategies a. New textile auxiliaries to be applied on fabrics by padding b. Polysilk CTE reduces the fiber release, specially in washing with detergent

6 LIFE+ Projects on Microplastics CLEAN SEA LIFE (LIFE15 GIE/IT/000999) Clean Sea Life is an awareness campaign up to 2020 aiming to: Increase awareness of marine litter, empowering citizens to become part of the solution, Remove existing litter, including lost fishing gear, and prevent further littering, Promote fishing for litter initiatives and to train fishing industry professionals in responsible practices, Provide guidelines for the management of marine litter, increase exchange of knowledge, the uptake of best practices and assist authorities in achieving a Good Environmental Status of the sea, as required under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD).

7 Expected Results Increased awareness through reaching people, having the code of conduct signed by stakeholders, and ensuring that some 600 diving teachers and school teachers highlight the problem in their lessons curriculum; Training of 200 coast guard officers and 100 teachers; Organization of litter clean-ups on 160 beaches and 128 seafloors with participants and assessment of litter clean-ups on 100 beaches and 128 seafloors; At least 640 beach and coastal operators and local authorities committed to organizing more than clean-ups; and Produce maps of critical areas and distribute them to stakeholders. As for microplastics, MedSharks, a project partner, has been assessing the amount of cosmetics currently on sale in Italy which contain microplastics in order to: -shed light on an up-to-now unknown way of polluting; -illustrate the quality ofmicroplastics present inproducts; -support consumers in making informationbased purchase choices so as to reduce leakage to water courses;

8 Research partnership Between the Environmental ministry and ENEA On recycling of plastic from WEEE into 3D printer

9 Research partnership Between the Environmental ministry and ENEA on strategies for the achievement of recycling targets

10 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION