The European Union (EU) plans to require cosmetic corporations to make financial contributions to the fight against microplastic contamination, which is a step in the right direction towards environmental responsibility.
This ground-breaking action demonstrates the rising awareness of the cosmetics industry’s environmental effects and demonstrates a shared commitment to sustainable methods. We examine the specifics of the EU’s effort, the ramifications for cosmetic industries, and the wider ramifications for environmental preservation in this piece.
The menace that is microplastics
The microscopic plastic particles known as microplastics, which are frequently present in makeup and personal hygiene items, are a major environmental problem. The marine life and ecosystems are seriously threatened by these microscopic pieces, which are hardly noticeable to the unaided eye. Microplastics damage aquatic life when they make their way into seas and other bodies of water, and eventually, they make their way up the food chain.
Following a new agreement reached by EU negotiators to treat sewage, beauty industries will now be required to pay more for the removal of microplastic pollution.
Companies that sell pharmaceuticals and cosmetics will be required to pay at least 80% of the additional expenses required to remove the microscopic pollutants that are contaminating municipal wastewater under draft regulations that adhere to the “polluter pays principle.” Members of the bloc stated that governments would cover the remaining costs in an effort to keep essential goods from going out of stock or becoming excessively costly.
The environment commissioner for the bloc, Virginijus Sinkevičius, stated that the actions will protect people from dangerous cosmetic and pharmaceutical spills into waterways. “This will safeguard our health and make our water cleaner.”
EU’s ambitious water regulations: Stricter standards and timelines for wastewater treatment
The regulations, which have not yet been legally implemented but have been approved by the European Parliament and Council of Europe, strengthen the need to remove nutrients from water and establish new micropollutant criteria. They also expand the sphere of the law’s application.
In all settlements with more than 1,000 residents, EU member states will be required by 2035 to remove organic matter from urban wastewater before releasing it into the environment. Nitrogen and phosphorus removal will be required in all treatment facilities serving water to over 10,000 people by 2045. The European Parliament claims that to eliminate a “wide spectrum” of micropollutants, they will also need to add an additional step.
Moreover, microplastics, “forever chemical” per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and important health markers like antibiotic resistance will need to be observed by governments in sewage.
However, member states have taken their time enforcing the current sewage treatment laws. Spain was referred to the European Court of Justice by the European Commission last month for violating the wastewater regulations that are in place in 225 towns.
EU’s landmark water legislation: Advancements and implications amidst Brexit environmental divide
“The agreement we reached today is a breakthrough for significantly improved water management and wastewater treatment standards in Europe, especially with new rules on removing micropollutants coming from medicines and personal care products,” said User Nils Torvalds, a liberal MEP from Finland who was in charge of the proposal. We have made sure that this legislation won’t have an unjustified negative effect on the cost of medications.
With Brexit, the deal is expected to widen the gap between environmental protection in the EU and the UK. The UK is lagging behind the EU in practically every environmental legislation category, according to information published by the Guardian earlier this month, and efforts to address the nation’s sewage pollution crisis have been postponed by the water sector.
Worldwide effects
The EU is leading the way in combating microplastic contamination, yet this directive has far-reaching effects. The EU is a big market, thus its regulatory choices frequently affect international industry norms. Internationally operating cosmetic companies might have to implement comparable procedures to satisfy changing client demands and adhere to new laws in other areas.
Working together to find solutions
The fight against microplastic contamination necessitates international cooperation. The EU’s directive is a global call to action for policymakers, business leaders, and consumers. Stakeholders can cooperate toward practical solutions and promote a shared commitment to reducing the environmental impact of microplastics by combining their resources and skills.
The European Union’s innovative decision to hold cosmetic corporations financially accountable for mitigating microplastic pollution is a noteworthy stride towards a more ecologically sensitive and sustainable beauty industry. In addition to putting pressure on businesses to innovate and implement environmentally friendly methods, this order also represents a larger worldwide trend toward responsible shopping.
Cosmetic firms have the chance to set the standard for a more sustainable future for the beauty industry—one in which innovation and environmental stewardship coexist—as they adjust to this new climate.
(Tashia Bernardus)