Plastics

Derived from fossil fuels, plastics are a major source of land and maritime pollution. Corporate actors in the plastics supply chain, including packaging manufacturers and major food companies, have opposed tougher rules to regulate these toxic products.

Plastic bottles

Tackling global plastic pollution... and plastic polluters

09.11.2023
As negotiators gather to discuss the Global Plastics Treaty, fossil fuel and plastics lobbyists oppose any deal that limits plastics production. But such limits are the only way to protect the health of humans, ecosystems, and the climate. We need a lobby firewall between policy-makers and industry.
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Picking up the plastics trail: how Ireland cooperated with the plastics industry

13.11.2019
Documents on the lobby battle over restrictions on single-use plastics shine a light on how industry was given privileged access to influence member state decision-making in the Council of the EU.

Plastic pressure

Industry turns up the heat to avoid plastics regulation spurred by public demand
26.11.2018
Industry lobbies continue their push to avoid robust obligations in the EU's proposal for dealing with single-use plastics.

Plastic promises

Industry seeking to avoid binding regulations
22.05.2018
The plastics industry mounted a significant lobby campaign to influence the European Commission’s recent Plastics Strategy. With the Commission likely to publish its proposal to tackle single-use plastic products any day, will it adopt an ambitious approach towards binding regulations on industry?

Packaging lobby’s support for anti-litter groups deflects tougher solutions

28.03.2018
As political support for radical solutions to tackle the scourge of single-use plastics grows, we look at the links between the packaging industry and anti-litter NGOs in Brussels and beyond.

Leaked industry slides reveal insights on the chemical industry’s lobbying strategy

Will EU countries accept DG Health’s flawed proposal on hormone disruptors regulation?
17.05.2017
Remember the story of how the EU was going to take action against hormone disruptors, or EDCs? This week will see another make-or-break moment for the regulation of these harmful chemicals, fought heavily by the chemical industry, when a group of Member State experts will meet.

Brussels-based lobby firm accused of running ‘litter prevention’ industry front group

05.10.2016
Flemish daily De Standaard last week reported on the remarkable fact that Clean Europe Network – a coalition of litter prevention organisations – is run by Eamonn Bates, a veteran Brussels lobby firm that also chairs Pack2Go, the lobby group of companies producing plastic bottles, disposable cups and other packaging.