Signal EU, Japan, South Korea and several African states move on polymers and single-use plastics

Summary

The Microplastics Watch Initiative lists a range of government moves on plastics and synthetic polymers. Under its Green Deal Chemicals Strategy, the European Union plans to restrict 500 types of synthetic polymer by 2030. The European Chemicals Agency is pressing for tighter polymer rules, which is prompting brands to switch to biobased or natural materials. Japan and South Korea have imposed taxes on the production of virgin plastic. Several African countries have gone further and banned single-use plastics outright. The Initiative presents this regulatory convergence as a source of compliance risk for some brands and first-mover advantage for others.