“In the future, sustainability criteria for plastics will be underpinned by both climate and biodiversity considerations”
Legislation concerning plastics is becoming increasingly more complex with changes on a global, as well as on an EU and Swedish level. A researcher who has been following developments for a long time, and now works within STEPS work package three: plastic governance, is doctor of law Åsa Romson. As the previous Swedish climate and environment minister, and former spokesperson for the Green Party, she has first-hand knowledge of the challenges connected to making a sustainable transition.
Åsa Romson is a researcher at IVL, Svenska Miljöinstitutet, and member of STEPS work package three.
– In European society we are just in the beginning of our journey to regulate plastics. On the one hand, we have very far to go when it comes to changing the way we produce and use plastics and increase plastic recycling. On the other hand, there have been huge steps made in relation to single use plastics in the last five years, says Åsa Romson, researcher at IVL, Svenska Miljöinstitutet, and member of STEPS work package three.
Viewing plastic as a system
Reflecting on the years that have passed, she emphasises the importance of viewing plastics as a system. All aspects of the plastic value chain need to be reviewed to really get to the root of the unsustainable use of the material, including impacts not just on the climate, but also on biodiversity.
– There are many environmental needs to take into consideration, and they are becoming more complex. In the future, sustainability criteria for plastics need to become broader to include factors such as resource efficiency and impacts on habitats and species.
Going forward, she would like to see more focus on reuse of plastics, while at the same time implementing regulation connected to plastic production. Reuse is extremely effective in reducing environmental impacts. Much focus today is on recycling where new regulation is under implementation.
New regulation in place can pave the way for change
She is glad new regulation on packaging waste was passed into Swedish law in 2022. It could be an incentive to increase recycling rates, and make plastic packaging more sustainable. The regulations stipulate that all producers of packaging are responsible for collection and treatment of packaging waste and now this regulation has been updated to better integrate the new EU waste and packaging regulations. Another change is that municipalities will now take over the responsibility of collecting consumer packaging, which means that they can debit the producer responsibility organisations. New price categories will also be implemented, with a lower tariff for packaging that is lighter, and easier to dispose of or recycle.
– It will be interesting to see the effects of these new regulations, and if they can drive the design of more sustainable packaging. Will they in themselves be enough to make companies radically review the way they package goods? It is also a question of costs, and how much of additional costs will be transferred onto the consumers.
Åsa Romson is also following developments within international standardisation with great interest. Work is currently under way to develop a new standard related to the definition of recycled plastics. In 2022, the European Commission submitted a request for such an international standard to the European Committee for Standardisation.
– It is important that not only the industry, but also the authorities and civil society are involved in how we define recycled plastics. Otherwise, there are great risks for greenwashing, if different actors communicate differently.
Exciting to work on a material that is so integrated in modern life
Overall, Åsa Romson is positive about the future. She is also pragmatic; and motivated to work on a material that is so integral to modern life, and also used in every societal sector.
– We are currently in a transition, not only related to plastics, but to the survival of our planet. What we do in the next couple of years will decide our descendants’ future. That is daunting but also very exciting and challenging. It is great to see so many things happening at the same time, not least the upcoming legally binding UN Treaty to end plastic pollution, and a growing consumer awareness on material use, says Åsa Romson.