Plastics today: Key challenges and EU strategies towards carbon neutrality: A review

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2023-10, Vol.334, p.122102-122102, Article 122102
• Main Authors: Beghetto, Valentina, Gatto, Vanessa, Samiolo, Riccardo, Scolaro, Cristina, Brahimi, Salim, Facchin, Manuela, Visco, Annamaria
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agenda 2030; Circular economy; European legislative regulation; Plastic pollution; Plastic waste; Pollution
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122102

Never as today the need for collaborative interactions between industry, the scientific community, NGOs, policy makers and citizens has become crucial for the development of shared political choices and protection of the environment, for the safeguard of future generations. The complex socio-economic and environmental interconnections that underlie the EU strategy of the last years, within the framework of the Agenda 2030 and the green deal, often create perplexity and confusion that make difficult to outline the definition of a common path to achieve carbon neutrality and “net zero emissions” by 2050. Scope of this work is to give a general overview of EU policies, directives, regulations, and laws concerning polymers and plastic manufacturing, aiming to reduce plastic pollution, allowing for a better understanding of the implications that environmental concern and protection may generate from a social-economical point of view. [Display omitted] •Updated Overview of EU directives, laws on plastic industry.•Consequences of EU environmental policies on the plastic industry.•Socioeconomical and environmental impact of EU strategies on fossil based plastics.•EU Industrial initiatives towards net zero plastic production.