Marine Debris: A global problem needing EU leadership

A staggering 6.4 million tonnes of marine litter is dumped in oceans every year, where it may fragment but does not biodegrade, persisting for hundreds or thousands of years.

Single use plastic bags are a significant component of marine debris – more than eight billion plastic bags end up as litter across the EU each year.

Ahead of a meeting of the European Parliament, we urge MEPs to adopt a report of the ENVI Committee designed to bring about a rapid and cost-effective reduction of all single-use carrier bags and to support any amendments which extend the requirements to charge for plastic bags to all retailers.