European sustainability vs food waste: Erasmus+ Project

Plastics are important for our economy. In the EU, industry figures indicate that the plastics sector employs 1.5 million people and generates a turnover of 340 billion EUR. However, today around 25.8 million tonnes of post-consumer plastic waste are generated in Europe every year, and of this less than 10% is actually re-injected into the economy. According to estimates, 95% of plastic packaging material value, i.e. up to 105 billion euros annually, is lost after a very short first-use cycle. Globally, up to 10 million tons of plastics leak into the environment every year, generating significant economic and environmental damage. According to the often quoted estimate, by 2050 there will be more plastic waste than fish in the oceans. Economic costs for coastal and beach cleaning across the EU were assessed to reach almost 630 million EUR per year. So, what's next for the EU? Design & Production: more durability, reuse and high-quality recycling, all plastic packaging designed to be recyclable by 2030, and promotion of alternatives to single use plastic items. Recycling: more sorting, better recycling, and 200,000 new jobs in Europe. From waste to resource-improve cooperation between different players in the plastics value-chain: products to be designed for recycling and re-use, infrastructure for collection and sorting improved, plus new quality and safety standards.