UNEP-联合国环境规划署：限塑报告（英文）-2020.7-118页_40mb

Summary of Legal Limits on Single-Use Plastics and Microplastics

Core Content

This report provides a global overview of the legal frameworks adopted by 192 countries to regulate single-use plastics and microplastics, with a focus on plastic bags, other single-use plastic items, and microbeads. It aims to highlight the types of regulatory approaches used, such as bans, taxes, levies, and extended producer responsibility (EPR), and their implications for reducing plastic pollution and protecting marine ecosystems.

Main Sections and Key Findings

Plastic Bags

• 127 out of 192 countries (66%) have adopted legislation to regulate plastic bags as of July 2018.
• The first regulations targeting plastic bags were introduced in the early 2000s, with an increasing trend over the decade.
• Regulatory approaches include:
  • Bans or restrictions on the manufacture, import, sale, and use of plastic bags.
  • Thickness requirements (e.g., below 50 or 15 microns).
  • Material composition restrictions (e.g., banning certain plastics).
  • Production volume or number restrictions.
  • Promotion of reusable bags through mandates or incentives.
  • Exemptions for certain products, materials, or industries.
• Market-based instruments such as taxes, levies, and deposit-refund schemes are also used.
• EPR is included in the legislation of 43 countries.
• 63 countries have implemented EPR for single-use plastics, including deposit-refund schemes, product take-back, and recycling targets.
• 27 countries have banned specific single-use plastic items or materials (e.g., polystyrene, straws, cups, etc.).
• 27 countries have instituted taxes on plastic bag production.
• 30 countries charge fees to consumers for plastic bags.
• Seven countries have implemented microbead bans, and four have proposed such laws.
• Microbead laws typically focus on personal care products, but New Zealand has expanded the scope to include abrasive cleaning products.
• Voluntary measures are also used in some countries, especially for microbeads.

Single-Use Plastics

• Single-use plastics are defined as products used once before disposal or recycling, such as food packaging, bottles, straws, and cutlery.
• EPR is implemented in 63 countries for single-use plastics.
• Market-based instruments include:
  • Taxes on manufacturers, importers, and retailers.
  • Levies on consumers.
• Recycling mandates are present in many countries, often as part of broader waste management laws.
• Deposit-refund schemes are implemented in 28 countries.

Microplastics (Microbeads)

• Microbeads are small synthetic plastic particles (≤5 mm) used in consumer and industrial products.
• 8 countries have established microbead bans.
• 4 countries have proposed new legislation.
• EPR and tax incentives are used in some countries to manage microplastics.
• Voluntary measures are also common, especially in regions where formal legislation is not yet in place.

Key Regulatory Approaches

• Bans or restrictions are the most common regulatory tools, applied at both national and subnational levels.
• Market-based instruments such as taxes, levies, and deposit-refund systems are widely used to reduce plastic consumption.
• EPR is a significant regulatory approach, aiming to shift responsibility from governments to producers and encourage sustainable practices.
• Recycling targets and waste management mandates are also part of the regulatory landscape, promoting circular economy models.

Regional Overview

• Europe has the most comprehensive regulations, including EPR and microbead bans.
• Asia and the Pacific have a high number of plastic bag bans and taxes.
• Latin America and the Caribbean show increasing interest in plastic bag regulations.
• Africa has fewer regulations, but some countries have started to implement bans and levies.
• North America includes Canada and the US in the coalition to eliminate single-use plastic bags.

Conclusion and Recommendations

• The report highlights the diverse regulatory approaches used globally to address plastic pollution.
• It does not assess effectiveness or enforcement, but provides a comprehensive legal overview.
• Recommendations include:
  • Learning from existing regulatory models.
  • Encouraging international collaboration.
  • Promoting EPR and circular economy practices.
  • Implementing taxes and levies to reduce plastic consumption.
  • Supporting voluntary initiatives in the absence of formal laws.
  • Enhancing public awareness and education on plastic pollution.

Key Statistics

• 127 countries regulate plastic bags.
• 27 countries have banned specific single-use plastics or materials.
• 27 countries impose taxes on plastic bag production.
• 30 countries charge fees to consumers for plastic bags.
• 43 countries have EPR elements for plastic bags.
• 63 countries have EPR for single-use plastics.
• 8 countries have microbead bans.
• 4 countries have proposed microbead bans.

Limitations

• The report is current up to July 2018.
• It does not assess implementation or enforcement.
• Subnational legislation is not comprehensively analyzed.
• Some laws may not be fully confirmed due to lack of official translations or responses from local experts.
• The indicators used are yes/no questions and may not capture full legal nuances.

Conclusion

The report serves as a reference tool for policymakers and stakeholders interested in understanding the current state of plastic regulation globally. It underscores the importance of legal frameworks in reducing plastic pollution and achieving SDG 14.1, which aims to prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution by 2025.