Stop using plastic

Since 14 January 2022, the SUP (Single use plastic) Directive is in force, the measure wanted by the European Union to reduce the consumption of disposable plastic and to limit its dispersion in the environment and oceans.

To implement this directive, Italian Legislative Decree No 196 of 8 November 2021 was issued, which includes a wide range of products that too often end up polluting the environment and, in particular, the seas and beaches. More than 80% of marine litter found on European beaches is made of plastic, of which 50% is disposable plastic.

Specifically, in Italy, it is expected that single-use products made of biodegradable and compostable material can be placed on the market, provided they are certified according to the European standard UNI EN 13432 (if they are packaging) or UNI EN 14995 (if they are other plastic artefacts). These biodegradable and compostable alternatives must also have increasing percentages of renewable raw material: at least 40% from now, up to 60% from 1 January 2024.

The active participation of consumers, finally, continues to be a crucial node for the complete implementation of the SUP directive and the reduction of the dispersion of plastic in the environment. However, institutions must also continue to play their part by implementing strategies to protect the health of consumers and, where disposable products remain necessary and irreplaceable, it is urgent that these should also be safe for citizens and for the protection of the environment.

The problem of pollution, as we know, is one of the most important issues of recent years and the European Union together with the member states is implementing measures to remedy a situation that seems to have reached a point of no return, despite the alarm sounded but unheard, even in the seventies.

To safeguard the environment and future generations, therefore, drastic measures must be put in place through the collaboration of companies and national bodies. For this reason DiCOmo, in its small, has already eliminated for years the use of disposable plastic products. In its offices, in fact, there are glasses, cups and spoons reusable and the water is purchased in glass bottles, which are then collected and disposed of directly by the supplier.

These initiatives have also been welcomed by employees, who for example have started using reusable water bottles, a corporate gift from last Christmas, to raise awareness of the environment.

In addition, customers and DiCOmo’s production units have long since embarked on the path of change, moving to 100% recyclable and recycled packaging, replacing among other things polystyrene with cardboard compensators and effectively eliminating disposable plastic. As for the products, for example, they completely abandoned the PVC replacing it with recycled and recyclable plastic as the polymer leaves in RPET while the experimentation on raw materials and related production processes continues to find increasingly ecological and performing materials.

As you can understand, therefore, it takes little to use less plastic and consequently pollute less. Sometimes the costs seem higher if you use disposable products, but the protection of the environment and the future of the new generations is a reward more than valid: money is of little use, in a world devastated by pollution…